Florida man sparks backlash after winning all-women’s tournament

An American man has blitzed the field to reign supreme in an all-women tournament, sparking a flurry of serious backlash.

David isn’t fazed.

He needed a better poker face.

A Florida man is facing backlash after competing in a women’s poker tournament and winning, the NY Post reports.

David Hughes, 70, from Delton, Florida, participated in a $US250 ($A375) no-limit Texas Hold ’em game at the World Series of Poker’s Ladies event at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, over the weekend. And social media was quick to skewer the gambler for his entry into the $US17,430 ($A26,245) prize pool, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.

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Hughes was allowed to enter the all-female tournament alongside 82 other women.

Per its anti-discrimination legislation, Florida casinos by law cannot ban men from entering into a women’s tournament.

Nevada also prohibits excluding men from competing in a women’s tournament.

The event had a hefty price tag: $US10,000 ($A15,000) buy-in, with women earning a 90 per cent discount to deter males from entering.

Hughes took home $US5555 ($A8364), beating out poker player Dayanna Ciabaton, who placed second.

Hughes’ disregard for the all-female competition set off a wave of controversy.

David isn’t fazed.

Pro-poker player Ebony Kenny took to Twitter to put out a bounty — which rewards players for trying to eliminate another — on Hughes.

“Dave here is the only man. While we appreciate the dead money, I really wish men would get what these events stand for. So I put a $US300 ($A451) bounty on his head and Tamra & Noah Piderit matched it,” Kenny tweeted.

Playing the @WPT ladies event today, and Dave here is the only man. (Filmed w/permission!)

While we appreciate the dead money, I really wish men would get what these events stand for.

So I put a $300 bounty on his head and Tamra & Noah Piderit matched it. 🥳🥳

Let’s get him. pic.twitter.com/dXVZVlriAP

— Ebony Kenney | Poker & Purposeful Pleasure (@Ebony_Kenney) April 29, 2023

Others, like British male professional poker player Charlie Carrel, also chimed in on Twitter.

“It pokes fun at the idea that anybody can identify as a woman and be allowed to enter women’s spaces,” Carrel wrote. “It does suck that it comes at the expense of the women’s only space. I wouldn’t do it.”

He added, “It does speak loudly to the insanity that’s playing out on a larger scale.”

1) Hilarious that he won.

2) It pokes fun at the idea that anybody can identify as a woman and be allowed to enter women's spaces.

It's a real issue that people are taking advantage of in many different areas, including sports, prisons, and changing areas. This has lead to… https://t.co/EKgnPgU9sO

— Charlie Carrel (@Charlie_Carrel) April 30, 2023

Poker Hall of Famer Linda Johnson said via Poker News: “I love ladies-only poker tournaments. I would have no problem with them having a men’s only and I wouldn’t enter it as I would not qualify for it.”

She added that she would have no qualms about a “tournament for 26-year-old, motorcycle riding, Mohawk-haircut seniors and I wouldn’t enter it because I wouldn’t qualify.”

Hughes isn’t the first man to go all-in on a women’s poker tournament. Former World Series of Poker circuit event winner Abraham Korotki won the pot in a ladies no-limit Hold ’em event at Atlantic City’s Borgata Poker Open.

This article originally appeared on the NY Post and was reproduced with permission.