The World Poker Tour has denied legal accusations that it’s breaking image rights and competition laws, and fired back at the very players that filed the lawsuit.

In August, we reported that seven top poker players – Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson, Andrew Bloch, Annie Duke, Phil Gordon, Joe Hachem, Howard Lederer and Greg Raymer – had jointly filed legal action against the WPT for using their names and images without their permission.

The WPT has denied all the accusations, countering with the claim that the players themselves are actually making a calculated move, which will benefit rival online poker companies at the WPT’s expense.On the offensive

The WPT’s legal defence document stands as a bitter rebuke to the original complaint and fiercely re-raises the players’ allegations by stating: ‘This is a case brought as a competitive tactic by seven multi-millionaires who WPTE shepherded from unknowns to wealthy poker personalities with interests in competing enterprises in an ever-competitive poker entertainment marketplace.’

Lederer and Ferguson take the brunt of the wrath because of their interest in FullTiltPoker.