Only man Busts Out Of Ladies WSOP Event


Monday July 4, 2011 : "I didn't think it would be such a big deal," says the only man to enter this year's women's competition
 
Jonathan Epstein, the only man with the temerity to enter the World Series of Poker women's event this year, made the final table but was eliminated in ninth place, earning $13,701…and a lot of animosity from the railbirds.
 
In fact, Epstein was barracked more from the rail than from the actual contestants as he played through the three days of the event.
 
WSOP organisers can do little about men who choose to crash the women's event due to gender-discrimination laws.
 
Epstein was one such male – the only one this year – and he claims that it was not in any attempt to make a statement. The young Los Angeles amateur was in Las Vegas for the weekend and with a scheduled departure Monday it was the only event that could fit his timetable.
 
“I figured it wasn’t going to be a big deal but I was clearly wrong,” he said. “Obviously there are a lot of people who are upset.”
 
Carol Tomlinson, who at one stage played at his table in the event, said: “I really didn’t have a problem with it because I think that poker is an individual sport but a lot of ladies feel it’s disrespectful to the event. I kinda feel sorry for the guy, he’s really been reamed for the last two days.”