the Hard Rock Poker Showdown 82 women and one man participated in the women’s event.
David Hughes, a 70-year-old poker player from Florida, was one of 83 total participants in the $250 buy-in tournament, which is traditionally a women-only event.
His unwanted presence was noticed almost immediately by others in the field, including poker professional Ebony Kenney, who placed a $300 bounty on his head for anyone who knocked him out. A number of others jumped, including people who followed the tournament on social media.
By the time the field reached the money bubble, Hughes’ bonus was up to more than $2,100, which was the equivalent of third-place money.
You can see a video of Hughes in action below, taken by Kenny.
play the @employee Ladies event today, and Dave here is the only guy. (Photographed with permission!)
While we appreciate dead money, I really hope you guys get what these events stand for.
So a $300 bounty was placed on his head and Tamra and Noah Bidrett matched it.
Let’s get it. pic.twitter.com/dXVZVlriAP
– Ebony Kenny | Poker and meaningful fun (Ebony_Kenney) April 29, 2023
To his credit, he wasn’t upset about the bonus and even threw an extra $100 on his head. However, Kenny reported that his demeanor changed once he got a heads-up with Diana Sabaton, and that he “spoke completely disrespectful to the dealer” while his “nice guy facade fell apart”.
Unfortunately for Ciabaton, Hughes returned in the heads-up match to win the championship, but as the last woman standing, she was awarded the prize.
The event was part of World Poker Tour Series takes place at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. the WPT She pledged to grow the game among female poker players, announcing a series of 13 new events for their season. xxi schedule leading up to WPT Women’s Championship At Wynn in December this year.
Of course, men have participated in women’s poker tournaments before.
In 2007, former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco made headlines when he and five other men demanded to be allowed to play at a women’s event at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles.
In 2009, Abraham Korotky won the $300 women’s event at the Borgata in Atlantic City. In this case, Korotky pledged a portion of his $20,982 to cancer research in honor of the woman he defeated, who was also battling breast cancer at the time.
Sean Depp infamously wears clothes while competing in… Women’s World Series of Poker in 2011, stating that he would also donate his earnings to charity.
After seeing 11 men enter the tournament overall, the chain responded by raising the men’s entry fee to $10,000 while keeping women’s participation at just $1,000. It was a move designed to circumvent the state’s anti-discrimination laws.
Despite signing up 10x, Tony Roberto played in the event in 2017 after losing a base bet.
A man named Tom Hammers also entered the tournament in 2021, giving away any winnings to charity. However, he had no cash, and had to finish eighth or better in order to win.
Another controversy occurred in 2019 Battle of Malta Poker Series, where tournament organizers decided the women’s event needed topless male dealers at every table. The majority of the ladies on the field were upset by the distraction, and the dealers were told to put their clothes back on after the first tournament break. To apologise, the tour donated all tournament and rake fees to a women’s organization.
For his part, Hughes reportedly cited WSOP‘s The rule change was one of the reasons he competed in Hard Rock, and he would continue to play in women’s events. In this case, his “protest” also netted him $5,555 in cash, even though he bought into the tournament three times.
The first major women’s tournament was held in 1977 WSOP With a $100 stud event.
Linda Johnson, known as the First Lady of Poker, warned that the bonus could have a Streisand effect and encourage more men to play.
“I love women-only poker tournaments,” Johnson wrote. “I wouldn’t have any problem with them being men only, and I wouldn’t get in because I wouldn’t qualify for it. I wouldn’t have any problem if they had a 26-year-old, motorcycling, mohawk-cutting tournament and I wouldn’t be in because I wouldn’t qualify.”
“I don’t think men should play in women’s tournaments only. Having said that, I think there’s an overreaction to the few guys who get in. They’re usually looking for attention, so why give it to them? I think we should just ignore them and do our best.”
While most of the poker community felt that Hughes should not have played at the event, which was designed as an outlet for women to learn the game in a friendly and informal atmosphere, a small minority of players engage with women-only tournaments. , and feels that events should be open to all, regardless of gender.
Meanwhile, the WSOP Circuit The women’s event in Tunica, Mississippi, also took place this weekend, and was won by Cynthia Compton for her third gold ring overall.
Poker world reaction
How did you do that?
How do we highlight that men continue to come to spaces created for women without speaking about it publicly?
Want us to add extra protection for a man who feels entitled to be in a woman’s space?
– Ebony Kenny | Poker and meaningful fun (Ebony_Kenney) May 1, 2023
I got 3rd place in the women’s event!! She didn’t do well when it mattered. gg to all the ladies. And the man who won it? do not do that again
– Abby Merck (@abbypoker34) April 30, 2023
2/2
… make new friends and collect a few cherries on top.
I’m not going to argue with trolls but these events are fun and I can tell every woman was relaxed and having a great time.
the man? He was angry
Thanks for a very enjoyable night ladies!
– spicy (@ElleSriracha) April 30, 2023
Those men who enter women’s events have the worst “main character syndrome”. Let other people enjoy things, not it’s all about you.
Jamie Kerstetter April 30, 2023
Had a blast connecting with all the women who played the game wpt Ladies event yesterday.
I met many of the Trust Embodied members and had many beautiful encounters and moments.
And that’s all there is to it.
a period. #poker #safespace pic.twitter.com/wF9fizW1cP
– Ebony Kenny | Poker and meaningful fun (Ebony_Kenney) April 30, 2023
How is there not some solutions to the problem of women’s event?
Like, men can enter but only get one 100 chip.
Or, if it’s a separate private event, you need to have an “invite” made at registration.
etc.
It must be somehow around it.
– Vanessa Kade May 1, 2023
As much as I’m an anti-PC troll, you’re a rat-trash if you’re a guy and you play ladies’ events
They aim to make the game more inclusive and less scary for the first time
You are hurting the growth of poker (which makes everyone a dollar) on top of being just a weasel causing diarrhea– Ryan DePaulo: degenerate gambler (@depaulo_ryan) May 1, 2023
So a guy won the women’s event at Hard Rock and everyone was upset. I’m sure the guy is an idiot and it sure is a phallic move. But what I don’t get is that if this same man decided he wanted to “get to know” as a woman and then played, no one would say anything about it. All you have to do is calm down. pic.twitter.com/bLqJxXS3Wp
– Matt Glantz (@MattGlantz) April 30, 2023
Ladies only events are to create a safe and comfortable space for women. Entering a poker room full of men can be intimidating for most women. Especially new players. We help women feel comfortable in this amazing live game.
– Char (@char47507985) May 1, 2023
With all this talk of women’s poker events, it seems some men’s heads are going to explode when they find out about women’s chess events and women’s math co-parenting.
– sammie g (@thefakesammieg) May 1, 2023
Are you looking for events for women? Check cardplayer.com/women to visit the Women In Poker page for full schedules, results and the latest news.
