2009 Harvey's Lake Tahoe
Event 17 - $300 Buy-in Ladies No Limit Holdem. Final Results. 2009 Harvey's Lake Tahoe WSOP Circuit Events.
| 2009 Harvey's Lake Tahoe World Series of Poker Circuit Events Official Results |
2009 Harvey's Lake Tahoe Event #17 Results
2009 -2010 World Series of Poker Circuit
Season Six
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Event #17
No-Limit Hold’em
Ladies Championship
Buy-In: $300 (+40)
Total Entries: 96
Total Prize Pool: $27,936
Season Six
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Event #17
No-Limit Hold’em
Ladies Championship
Buy-In: $300 (+40)
Total Entries: 96
Total Prize Pool: $27,936
| Greg Sessler |
Final Results:
Place
Name
Hometown
Prize
To view the complete schedule and results for the 2009 Harevey's Lake Tahoe WSOP Circuit Events, click on the link below:
2009 WSOP Circuit Harvey's Lake Tahoe Schedule and Results
2009 WSOP Circuit Harvey's Lake Tahoe Schedule and Results
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Greg Sessler
Mariance "Mimi" Kalem
Corinn Ignatieff
Candy Alexander
Linda Peverini
Tera Brown
Persia Bonella
Rebecca Burnside
Rose Erhart
Mariance "Mimi" Kalem
Corinn Ignatieff
Candy Alexander
Linda Peverini
Tera Brown
Persia Bonella
Rebecca Burnside
Rose Erhart
Danville, CA
Cameron Park, CA
Templeton, CA
Cameron Park, CA
Clovis, CA
Austin, TX
Castro Valley, CA
San Francisco, CA
Ione, CA
Cameron Park, CA
Templeton, CA
Cameron Park, CA
Clovis, CA
Austin, TX
Castro Valley, CA
San Francisco, CA
Ione, CA
$9,932
$5,308
$3,715
$2,626
$2,100
$1,592
$1,229
$894
$629
$5,308
$3,715
$2,626
$2,100
$1,592
$1,229
$894
$629
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That’s No Misprint: Greg Sessler Wins “Ladies
Championship” at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Non-Lady Collects $9,932 in Latest WSOP Circuit Event
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.
How is this possible, you may ask? Easy. The WSOP isn’t a political organization and can’t
be expected to get involved in debates about sexism, discrimination, or other polarizing
issues which may be applicable to poker tournaments. While the WSOP makes a sincere
effort to promote women in poker and offers quasi-exclusive tournaments designed to
increase female participation in the game, officials generally do not turn away those who
want to play in the event, based solely on gender. In short, the WSOP hopes that by
offering and supporting ladies-only poker tournaments and providing an event for which
there is considerable interest (by women), others (namely men) will respect and
understand the spirit of competition.
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 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.
Sessler, the winner, has previously won a few smaller buy-in events, including the Mega-
Stack Series held at Caesars Palace earlier this year in Las Vegas. But this was his biggest
live tournament win to date, following several big cashes in tournaments played online.
Sessler, who is studying communications and film in college, justified his participation into
the ladies event by saying that this was his first and only day off in two weeks. He badly
wanted to play in a poker tournament, and the ladies championship was the only one-day
event within driving distance of his home. For the record, there were four men who
entered the tournament.
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.”
The final hand of the tournament came when Mimi Kalem tried to bluff and steal and round
of blinds and antes pre-flop with Q-6 suited but ran into Sessler’s monster hand –
appropriately enough pocket queens. Kalem flopped a six and had a chance to put a bad
beat on the wicked male intruder. But the cards ultimately fell in Sessler’s favor and Kalem
was unable to strike a blow for global sisterhood. Kalem, a techer from Cameron Park, CA
received $5,308 as the runner up.
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.
With 17 events now completed at this year’s WSOP Circuit at Harvey’s, the tournament
series has attracted more than 2,600 entries and has awarded more than $1.3 million in
total prize money. Still to come is the WSOP Circuit Main Event championship, which takes
place Nov. 15-17.
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. Indeed, truth is
sometimes stranger than fiction. Perhaps the only consolation prize proponents of ladies-
only poker tournaments can take from the horror show of a stag male crashing the party
was the fact that Sessler’s victory came at the unbearable late hour of 5:45 in the morning,
inside a nearly vacated tournament room. Except for a few baffled onlookers, there was no
cheering section for the college kid from UC-Davis. Which now begs the question – if a tree
falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?
For more information, please contact:
Nolan Dalla -- WSOP Media Director at (702) 358-4642
e-mail: nolandalla@aol.com
Or visit our official website: www.worldseriesofpoker.com
Executive Staff at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Tournament Director – Janis Sexton
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Race and Sportsbook Manager – Steve Schorr
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Poker Room Manager – Vince Contaxis
Championship” at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Non-Lady Collects $9,932 in Latest WSOP Circuit Event
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.
How is this possible, you may ask? Easy. The WSOP isn’t a political organization and can’t
be expected to get involved in debates about sexism, discrimination, or other polarizing
issues which may be applicable to poker tournaments. While the WSOP makes a sincere
effort to promote women in poker and offers quasi-exclusive tournaments designed to
increase female participation in the game, officials generally do not turn away those who
want to play in the event, based solely on gender. In short, the WSOP hopes that by
offering and supporting ladies-only poker tournaments and providing an event for which
there is considerable interest (by women), others (namely men) will respect and
understand the spirit of competition.
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 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.
Sessler, the winner, has previously won a few smaller buy-in events, including the Mega-
Stack Series held at Caesars Palace earlier this year in Las Vegas. But this was his biggest
live tournament win to date, following several big cashes in tournaments played online.
Sessler, who is studying communications and film in college, justified his participation into
the ladies event by saying that this was his first and only day off in two weeks. He badly
wanted to play in a poker tournament, and the ladies championship was the only one-day
event within driving distance of his home. For the record, there were four men who
entered the tournament.
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.”
The final hand of the tournament came when Mimi Kalem tried to bluff and steal and round
of blinds and antes pre-flop with Q-6 suited but ran into Sessler’s monster hand –
appropriately enough pocket queens. Kalem flopped a six and had a chance to put a bad
beat on the wicked male intruder. But the cards ultimately fell in Sessler’s favor and Kalem
was unable to strike a blow for global sisterhood. Kalem, a techer from Cameron Park, CA
received $5,308 as the runner up.
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.
With 17 events now completed at this year’s WSOP Circuit at Harvey’s, the tournament
series has attracted more than 2,600 entries and has awarded more than $1.3 million in
total prize money. Still to come is the WSOP Circuit Main Event championship, which takes
place Nov. 15-17.
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. Indeed, truth is
sometimes stranger than fiction. Perhaps the only consolation prize proponents of ladies-
only poker tournaments can take from the horror show of a stag male crashing the party
was the fact that Sessler’s victory came at the unbearable late hour of 5:45 in the morning,
inside a nearly vacated tournament room. Except for a few baffled onlookers, there was no
cheering section for the college kid from UC-Davis. Which now begs the question – if a tree
falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?
For more information, please contact:
Nolan Dalla -- WSOP Media Director at (702) 358-4642
e-mail: nolandalla@aol.com
Or visit our official website: www.worldseriesofpoker.com
Executive Staff at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Tournament Director – Janis Sexton
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Race and Sportsbook Manager – Steve Schorr
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Poker Room Manager – Vince Contaxis
