Mucking

[motson]

3 players are still in. Player 1 goes all in and is called by the other 2, forming a pot. Player 2 and 3 carry on playing forming a side pot.
Player 2 eventually folds to a bet from player 3 who does not show his cards but throws them into the muck, face down and collects the side pot. Player 1 objects and states that he is still in the game and should collect the main pot as player 3 has mucked his cards. Player 3 says he didn't realize player 1 was still in, he retrieves his cards showing the winning hand and wants the main pot as well.

What is the ruling here?

[HalfSugar]

Player 1 collects the main pot.

After Player 3 mucks, his hand is dead. The only reason he gets the side pot is because Player 2's hand is already dead and Player 1 is not eligible for it. Cards can never be retrieved from the muck and played so Player 1 collects the main pot. Player 1 is now not obliged to show his cards by the way.