Jason Koon has decided to let go of the chance to win his second World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet this year to focus on taking care of his second child.
The American poker pro had advanced to Day 2 of Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller but chose not to proceed with the competition after his wife went into labor. He will miss the rest of the events at the ongoing festival to give his full attention to his growing family.
Koon’s Stack Refunded
Koon survived Day 1 in the largest buy-in event of the series with a 1,740,000 chip stack, just above the starting stack of 1,500,000. However, when Day 2 of the tournament was about to begin, Koon requested that his stack be refunded as he needed to be with his wife who had gone into labor. WSOP officials granted the request.
The $250K event would be the last WSOP tournament for Koon this year. It’s family first for the GGPoker Ambassador who won his maiden gold bracelet in 2021. Koon is considered one of the best high stakes players in the world and has over $47 million in career winnings.
Should men stop “complimenting” women at the poker table? This has become the subject of a debate on social media recently after a female player took to Twitter to express her disgust at male players who objectify their female counterparts during poker games and tournaments in the guise of a compliment.
Compliment or Harassment?
In a short video specifically addressed to male players taking part in the World Series of Poker (WSOP), Christina Gollins said there are certain comments from men that make women uncomfortable at the table.
Remarks like “please don’t bust the girl on the table because I’m not done staring yet” or “if you leave, I’ll have nothing good to look at anymore” aren’t compliments, according to Gollins.
Poker Community Reacts
Gollins’ video gained mixed reactions from the poker community, with a fellow female player saying she wouldn’t feel offended if she’d receive the same comments. Tiffany Michelle said she would take it as a compliment if a man appreciates her looks while competing in a game.
Other female players sided with Gollins, saying they’ve had similar experiences too and during those instances, they’d choose not to react as it felt awkward and weird. For others though, it’s all about the delivery of the message and choice of words.
The attitude of men towards female players at the poker table will always invite conversation as it is one of the factors that discourage women from playing the male-dominated game.
Playing online poker at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) poker app just got more exciting with the presence of the Thrill Team! The group is comprised of seven highly-accomplished poker pros, and they are on the app battling it out with other players, pros and amateurs alike, from all over the world.
WSOP Thrill Team Members
The WSOP Thrill Team is made up of three-time WSOP bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst, 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad, prominent high-stakes pro Patrik Antonius, PokerGo Tour champ Adam Hendrix, WSOP Circuit ring winner Landon Tice, former 888poker ambassador Samantha Abernathy, and WSOP bracelet winner and Global Poker Awards honoree Ethan “Rampage” Yau.
Players will know if they’re sharing the same table with members of the Thrill Team via their avatars.
Battle it Out with the Thrill Team for Free
Since the WSOP app is free to play, players are not required to spend anything to enjoy their favorite games. They get the chance to compete with the Thrill Team without risks. The competition is purely for fun, improving one’s skills, and of course, bragging rights for playing against some of the best players in the game.
What’s more, the WSOP app also gives away virtual bracelets, rings, and other rewards to the top players, making the experience more fun!
For the first time in WSOP history, a Badugi bracelet event made it to the festival’s schedule, and it was won over the weekend by Michael Rodrigues for $144,678 in top prize. It was a huge victory for the Portuguese player who has now officially entered the record books as the first WSOP Badugi champion.
Final Table Results
The $1,500 Badugi event pulled in a 516-entry field to create $688,860 in total prize pool. The tournament extended to a fourth day during which the three remaining players battled it out for the gold bracelet and the six-figure top prize.
In the end, it was Rodrigues who claimed the historic title after outclassing Yingui Li heads-up. His Chinese opponent held a slight chip lead as the action began, but Rodrigues managed to turn the tables after pulling off a massive bluff. He never looked back from there.
Completing the final table were Serhii Popovych (3rd, $59,879), Matt Vengrin (4th, $40,996), Danny Tang (5th, $28,270), and Owals Ahmed (6th, $20,557).
Career-Best Score for Rodrigues
Rodrigues’ $144,678 win is the largest score of his career and also represents his first WSOP gold bracelet. His total live earnings have now climbed to $495,282.
Scotty Nguyen has announced that he will be competing in the second half of the 54th World Series of Poker (WSOP) after undergoing successful surgery to treat his slipping rib syndrome. The 60-year-old will be missing the initial events at this year’s series as he recovers from the surgery but is looking forward to getting back in action by the first week of July.
Nguyen Set for WSOP Return this July
In a recent tweet, Nguyen shared with his fans and followers updates regarding his condition. The Vietnamese-American poker pro said that the site of the surgery is still painful, limiting his movement. As per advice from his doctor, he needs to rest for around two to three weeks to fully recover. That means he still has the chance to win his sixth gold bracelet this year.
Nguyen also thanked his fans and supporters for all the love and support and said he wanted to return to the WSOP as soon as possible to see all their smiles.
Hunt for WSOP Glory Continues
Nguyen last won a bracelet in 2008 when he took down the $50K H.O.R.S.E. for more than $1,989,120, his largest score to date. But his biggest and most memorable victory took place 25 years ago when he claimed the $10,000 WSOP Main Event in 1998 for $1,000,000.