It was a satellite.
Buy-in: 1,200 CNY
Total entries: 23.
ITM: 3. Top 2 receives entry (10,000) to target tournament. 3rd place gets remaining prize pool (~3,500).
Players remaining: 3.
Hero (60K in chips) at BB, Player A (40K) at BTN, Player B (130K) at SB.
Blinds 1K/2K.
Preflop: BTN calls 2K, SB raises to 7K, Hero calls 7K, BTN re-raises to 12K, SB re-raises to 17K, Hero folds, BTN re-raises all-in 40K, SB folds.
Hero immediately called TD for suspected soft play or collusion. Hero cited: 1. It was known to the house that these two players know each other and are good friends; 2. All re-raises in this hand were min-re-raises; 3. SB was facing ~1/4 pot odds to call. The fold was illogical.
Hero asked to see both players' hole cards, TD rejected.
SB voluntarily showed his hole cards Q9o. BTN showed TD privately his hole cards.
After seeing BTN's hole cards, TD paused the clock and called Chief TD.
After being briefed of the hand, Chief TD issued a verbal warning to SB, and then resumed the tournament.
Chief TD said he could/would only issue a verbal warning on first violation of such kind according to TDA, and the team may revisit this case later and make a final ruling after the tournament is finished.
What are your thoughts about this ruling?