The World Series of Poker (WSOP) usually has its share of drama. One of the biggest issues over the past few years has been the appearance of male players in the Ladies No Limit Hold’em Championship, which starts on Friday and has, in the past, featured celebs like Mimi Rogers (pictured). The debate got an early start this year on many message boards due to comments from several top poker players.On Tuesday, David Doc Sands Sands fired off the first salvo by Tweeting, “I will not speak to or buy action from any man who plays the ladies event for the next 12 months. Also, I will slow-roll you whenever possible.”
Upping the ante following Sands’ Tweet was PokerStars pro Daniel Negreanu, who chimed in on Twitter, “If you are a male considering playing the WSOP Ladies Event on Friday, please know you are a douchebag and I hope you end up homeless.”
Comments like these seemed to inflame the passions of people on both sides of the issue. On the Two Plus Two forum, most posters believed that Sands and Negreanu are correct and that the Rio and the WSOP should be able to keep men out of the tournament. Others point out that the reason for a man to enter the Ladies Event is positive expected value. Even if they're badgered, the publicity is worth the abuse.
One poster, "jwa4894" on Two Plus Two, said, “I must say reading views such as this (the +EV argument) has been an eye-opener to me. I assumed the men were entering because of prop bets or to make some sort (of statement against discrimination). This kind of mercenary attitude leaves me speechless.”
He went on to say, “The WSOP is supposed to be the flagship series not just for professional players to turn a profit, but also to advertise the game to the non-playing community. Gate-crashing specialist events such as this demonstrate an ignorance and selfishness beyond that expected from a decent person, let alone a respectful member of the poker community.”
A part of the WSOP schedule since 1977, the Ladies Event has been at the heart of controversy over the last several years. In 2010, the rhetoric ramped up when well-known online players Shaun shaundeeb Deeb (pictured) and David Blue Knight4 Sesso took part (along with a half dozen other men) in the Ladies tournament, with Deeb showing up in drag.Sesso apologized for his entry into the tournament, saying it was due to losing a prop bet. “I apologize to anyone I offended and vow to never participate in another Ladies Event,” Sesso said following the tournament.
Deeb said he was “protesting” the event due to its separation by sex and would donate a portion of his winnings to charity, although he didn’t cash.
HogWild Poker, a free, U.S.-friendly online poker site, makes PocketFives' WSOP coverage possible. The site is staking 10 players with $500 buy-ins to live events at casino tournaments of their choice every month. On top of that, each month, HogWild is throwing in a $2,000 staking package to a WSOP Circuit Main Event. Sign up for HogWild Poker for free today by clicking here. U.S. players are welcome.
The debate came to a head last year when a male made the Ladies Event final table for the first time. Jonathan Epstein (pictured) moved through the field to make the final table before bowing out in ninth place. Epstein is the brother of former ESPN “Inside Deal” host Laura Lane, who commented during last year’s event that she felt “pride and shame” at her brother’s appearance at the tournament’s final table.Whether there will be another flood of men trying to take part in this year’s Ladies Event is, as of yet, unknown. In the past, the WSOP hierarchy has tried to figure out punishments for male participants in the Ladies Event. They considered banning Deeb and Sesso from future WSOP events, for example, but backed away from that.
For last year’s males in the field, and especially during Epstein’s run, officials were less than complementary. For example, Tournament Director Robbie Thompson announced, “Finally, welcome to THE Ladies Event,” upon Epstein’s elimination.
Speaking on the WSOP's position on men entering the tournament, WSOP Vice President of Communications Seth Palansky told the media in May, "We never want men playing in the Ladies Event. It's designed for the ladies only… If men want to enter, they can try to enter. At the end of the day, we will have to let them in."
Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest WSOP coverage of online poker players.
