Site's technical problems removed chip leader from tourney -- help

The question I pose to you folks at 2+2 is: Should a player removed from a tournament, due to the online casino's fault, have claim to potential winnings?

Here are the facts of my dispute as summed up by a third-party mediator:

• On 29 September 2005 you entered a $200 + $15 single table Holdem Poker Tournament.
• Technical issues, for which Pokerroom accepts responsibility, at the time of the tournament affected you and 3 other players remaining in the tournament.
• Of the last 4 players, you were the only player to be affected to the point where you were not able to actively participate in the game.
• For this reason you were eligible to receive a refund of your ticket value.
• The remaining three players also experienced connection problems on a smaller scale but were able to return to the game until the point the tournament ended.
• For this reason, they were eligible to claim winnings based on their standings at the completion of the tournament.

Is it reasonable to then assume the 3 non affected players reached the
prize structure more easily than if I, the chip leader, was allowed to defend his chips, blinds and play his hands--in essence compete
for the substantial prize winnings at stake?

This was not a small stakes SNG. At $200 +$15 buy-in,
$2000 prize money was at stake. Even if it were
only a $5 +$.50 buy-in, the integrity of the
tournament should have been maintained per Pokerroom's rules:

Pokerroom tournament rule #13. In the event of a server crash, the tournament will be restarted from the position it was halted. If that’s not possible, the remaining portion of the prize pool will be divided between the remaining players.

This did not occur.

I believe I should have shared in the winnings of the tournament but Pokerroom.com does not.


I value input from the 2+2 community. Thanks

[CountDuckula]

I suspect the refund is the best you're going to get out of them. The problem is, there's no way of knowing what would have happened if you'd stayed in; sure, you stood a good chance of making the money, but you could have had a bad run of cards or blundered. If it were up to me, you'd get a bit more for your trouble, but they are following their rules, and I don't see much recourse for you. Sorry. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

-Mike

Wish it were up to you. Thanks for the reply.