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THAT’S NO MISPRINT: GREG SESSLER WINS “LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP” AT HARVEY’S LAKE TAHOE
Stateline, NV (November 14, 2009) – Ladies-only poker tournaments have a long and rich history. They have been included on the WSOP schedule every year since 1978. Since 2005, most WSOP Circuits have included a ladies-only poker tournament as part of their schedules. The vast majority of these events have proven to be successful. Turnout for ladies-only events easily justifies their offering at most Circuits.
The first ever ladies-only tournament on the WSOP Circuit was held at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe back in May 2005. So, the Tahoe stop has crowned more ladies champions (six) than any other Circuit venue.
Now -- another first. Harvey’s Lake Tahoe has crowned a male winner in a “ladies-only” poker tournament.
Alas, there is some controversy as to whether “ladies-only” tournaments are really necessary in poker. Those who object, including some women, correctly point out that poker is a gender-neutral game. That means women are equally capable of playing and winning, just as men. Detractors also point out that holding ladies-only events demeans women in poker (their view), by suggesting that females need an exclusive event.
However given that the WSOP wants to promote more women in poker and is eager to meet player demands, based on the popularity of tournaments for ladies at many WSOP Circuits, its irrefutable there is a strong demand for their inclusion. And so, ladies-only tournaments are expected to be an offering at most WSOP Circuits so long as there is a demand for these events.
Perhaps then it was inevitable that somewhere, someway, and somehow, a man would enter the ladies championship and manage to win. That dark day (for women) finally arrived at a WSOP Circuit event when Greg Sessler, a 22-year-old student at UC-Davis won the latest Ladies Poker Championship at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe.
This year’s ladies championship attracted a strong field of 96 players, generating $27,396 in prize money. The top nine finishers collected payouts. All the action took place on a Saturday afternoon and evening inside the poker room and special events area, which is part of this year’s only WSOP Circuit stop in Northern Nevada.
The reaction to these men from women was generally favorable. However, when three of the four men busted out, the women broke into spontaneous applause and cheers. It’s almost unheard of for an entire room of players to clap (gleefully) when others bust. But that’s what happened on three occasions in this tournament.
But it didn’t occur a fourth time, as it was Greg Sessler who got the last laugh.
In his defense, Sessler took the catcalls and criticism well in stride. He openly spoke of becoming the first ladies champion and stated this victory was the poker highlight of his life. Sessler collected $9,932 in prize money.
“Me playing in this tournament really had nothing to do with trying to take advantage of the ladies or thinking it was a softer field,” Sessler stated afterward.
“If (poker pro) Jennifer Harman would have come and played in the ladies event, she would have been much tougher competition than me. I came here because I only had one day, and I really like the structures and the payout. This was the only tournament I could play.”
Finishing in third place was Corinn “Princess” Ignatieff, from Templeton, CA. She is the owner of a comedy club. Princess played well, but took a bad beat on her final hand and had to settle for a $3,715 payout.
The fourth-place finisher was Candy Alexander, from Cameron Park, CA. She works as an executive director. She once organized a poker tournament for charity which raised $20,000. Alexander collected a nice payout in this tournament totaling $2,626.
Linda Peverini finished in fifth place. She is a retired teacher from Clovis, CA. This was her highest tournament finish ever.
The sixth-place finisher was Tera Brown, from Austin, TX. She is an airplane pilot. Brown learned to play poker from her grandmother, and once played against Doyle Brunson.
Persia Bonella, from Hayward, CA finished in seventh place. She is a research associate originally from the Philippines. This was Bonella’s first time to make a final table appearance in a WSOP Circuit tournament.
Rebecca Burnside took eighth place. She is a human resources director from San Francisco. This was Burnside’s best finish ever in a WSOP Circuit event.
The ninth-place finisher was Rose Erhart, a small business owner from Ione, CA. She initially started playing poker after receiving an invitation from Harrah’s to play in their monthly freeroll poker tournament.
It’s peculiarly ironic that Greg Sessler won the 2009 Ladies Poker Championship at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe holding two ladies in his final hand – pocket queens.
Which now begs the question – if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?
