WPT announces women's tour

The World Poker Tour today announced the WPT Ladies tour, a five-event tour exclusively for women that starts on Jan. 20 culminates with the $1,590 buy-in WPT Ladies' Championship at Bellagio in April that will be filmed for TV.

Other tour events will have buy-ins that range from $350 to $1,065, and be held at Borgata in Atlantic City, Commerce in Los Angeles, Bay 101 in San Jose and Foxwoods in Connecticut.

Players can donate to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer organization at each stop, and 15 percent of each championship entry will be donated to the charity.

- SCOTT

Comments

[NickG]

I know this will definitely be praised in the realm we all enjoy, but does anyone else feel that it will barely make a splash in the outside world? It's sad to think that if they had gotten their act together a few years ago, this would be HUGE, but ever since the decline of poker started, I think that less people care about what goes on in our world now.

//2 cents

[yzerman]

Sorry to the female listeners, but what could be worse than a female tour. The women don't even want to play in women only tournaments, so lets start a whole tour of people that you have never heard of. Maybe we can make celbs out of more women who aren't that good. Vanessa Russo anyone?

yzerman

[KIrk]

I have to disagree with the others. I think it is great to have a ladies tour because so many women want to get in to the Poker world but do not like the fact that it is dominated by men. As far as yzerman's comment about Vanessa Russo. Well I have to say that when you are an instructor with the WPT Boot Camps then you must be a good player. Besides who else gets tired of watching a bunch of butt ugly dudes on TV. Bring in the Ladies.

[Sharkey]

I think Jose Canseco will be player of the year

[Sports Guy]

I have to agree with Kirk. I see no problem with this at all.

Even if they only get 10 gals to sign up at each event, that's $500 to $1,500 at each stop that will be donated to cancer research (not figuring in any other donations). It's probably a drop in the bucket for what's needed to fight breast cancer, but every little bit helps.

Regarding Rousso, perhaps winning $1.5 million playing cards doesn't qualify as "good" in yzerman's book, but it does in mine. Even without her $700,000 cash in the WCOOP event she still ranks 11th in the world in total money earned. I'm not saying she's the greatest player in the world, but on the ladies' side, she's Top 15. 'Nuff said.

[Sports Guy]

*** Edit -- Even without her $700,000 cash in the WCOOP event she still ranks 11th in the world (on the ladies' side) in total money earned.

[gadzooks64]

I have played one live Ladies event at Binion's and a few online ones.

I have to say I would prefer NOT to play with a bunch of women.

It's hard to define exactly why but because I play with mostly men it's what I am used to.

The women I play with on a regular basis tend to be just as skilled and aggressive as the men so I really can't distinguish between them.

I think I just prefer the spirit of events that aren't limited to just women.

[FrodoNL]

While I understand how special poker events where ladies could play were probably needed in earlier decades, I really don't see the need for them these days.

In those sports where physical differences between men and women makes it impossible for them to compete in one game/race/meet, it makes perfect sense to have separate events. In poker though, women are perfectly able to play against and beat even the best male players. If we did not know it yet, an 18 year old girl winning the main event of the WSOPE showed it once again.

As to the charity part of it - nothing is stopping the WPT from organizing a tournament (open to all players) that raises money for the same cause, that would probably bring in more anyway since more players could join.

[Sports Guy]

I agree that women can more than hold their own at the table, but the problem is there are so few who play professionally that the odds of a gal winning a big-time event are skewed heavily against them.

[Poker Geek]

I have very mixed feelings about this one. (I am a guy for those who don't know.) First I'd like to see more women playing poker. I think everyone should be represented at the table.

I do like the idea of having ladies events to allow some women who may be intimidated by men at the table a chance to learn how to play in a less threatening environment.

When it comes to the professional / competitive arena, I have some misgivings. Poker is a cerebral activity. Everyone should be able to compete on an even footing. I'm not sure we should have WSOP Bracelet events that only a certain segment of the population can play in. Or WPT etc. But at the same time I don't have a problem with having some smaller events that are segregated to allow people to play in comfortable environments.

But once you reach the big time, you should play against the best regardless of sex or age or anything else.

Having said all this, I'll probably watch the WPT ladies tour. And if it brings more women into poker it will probably be a good thing.

[Lincoln]

Was that Jose Canseco or Josie Canseco?

[Rant2112]

I think they should have a corresponding men's tour.

[Michelle from Tampa]

As a woman who is a newcomer to poker, I'm inspired that the WPT would want to host an event like the Ladies' Tour, esp. when part of the money is going toward a wonderful cause such as cancer research rather than into the giant vortex that is the coiffers of some casino.

That being said, I agree with several posters here that it would be equally as wonderful if men and women alike could play in a poker tournament that benefited breast cancer research. Men are the husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends of women suffering from breast cancer; the cause and the fight is relevant and meaningful thus to men as well as women. Why not have a Susan G. Komen poker benefit that invites both men and women?

[Gabriel]

I don't see how anyone could have a problem with this tour. Many women, especially newcomers, might feel more comfortable playing only against other women. I think anything that brings new players (and new money) into the game is good for poker. The fact that some of the money goes to help brest cancer research is another plus.

The simple fact is that if there was no need for these events women wouldn't be signing up for them. The fact that they are shows that there is a need for them. I don't think you can compare this to the Ladies Only WSOP event. The problem with that is the winner gets a WSOP bracelet that is equal (in the eyes of the WSOP at least) to any other bracelet they give out, and that is something I don't agree with. Women only events in general however are a good thing for the game I think.