The Muck: 15-Way Chop in Wynn Ladies Event Sparks Debate

Jun 21, 2024

The ending to a $600 buy-in Ladies Event at Wynn Las Vegas brought about a bit of controversy, which we discuss in this edition of The Muck, when the final 15 players decided to just chop up the pot.

According to results for this event on The Hendon Mob, the no-limit hold'em tournament attracted a field of 209 players, more than than doubling its guaranteed prize pool of $50,000.

A total of 27 players reached the money, with a min-cash worth $1,187. At the time the chop was agreed, the latest elimination had received $1,469 for her 16th-place finish.

After the deal, the remaining 15 players locked up at least $4,032, with winner Lisa Childers walking away with $9,868 and the trophy.

Wynn Summer Classic $600 Ladies Event Deal Results

Kludt Voices Strong Opinions

Many players and poker fans tweeted their thoughts on the tournament, with Lindsey Kludt, aka "@Lindseyisrad," especially vocal on X.

Kludt, who finished second to Kyna England in the NAPT Ladies Event last November, also spoke to PokerNews about the chop.

"I prefer to stay and battle"

"I think ending a game with a large amount of gameplay left feels like an easier way out, when I prefer to stay and battle," Kludt told PokerNews. "I think there are many elements of shorthand gameplay and final table strategy that are vital to be successful."

She also reiterated that chops like the one that took place should be avoided in order to preserve competitive integrity, maintain tournament prestige and to encourager skill development.

"Not playing out the tournament takes away the opportunity to gain experience in those scenarios. If they chopped a certain amount but played out I’d have zero reaction, as the money aspect with the structure makes sense."

Going forwards, Kludt says that it's important to the health of the women's poker ecosystem that large chops are avoided.

"I am concerned [it will] create a standard that for the sake of unity and camaraderie, we have to say yes to a chop when maybe not everyone wants to. New players may not know better and think 15 ways is standard practice, and veterans may not be retained because they don’t want to be put in the position."

Kludt admitted that her original tweet "didn't promote unity" and apologized.

"I love to be surrounded with women in the poker community and look forward to ladies events at every opportunity. My hope is moving forward when a woman is faced with this proposal they feel safer and more secure to say ‘no chop’," Kludt concluded.

Poker Twitter Sounds Off

Many other poker players chimed in on X to give their two cents about the issue of 15-way chops, which are a rarity. As per usual when it comes to a hot button issue, the comments were polarized.

"Weird.. like 95% of the time when someone asks me to do some nonsensical bullshit chop, it's a man," @thegroupie claims.

"Wish I knew I could've asked for a 95-way ICM chop before I blasted off with a flush draw into a made boat in this thing two summers ago," PokerNews photographer Rachel Kay Winter joked.

"11 people made a great deal…what’s the problem?" Katherine Brandt argues.

"Honestly I don’t like chopping. I get it but at the same time I still do it if the majority wants to. I think publicly post people’s faces in a judgmental post for all of poker X to see says a lot more about women in poker," Jami Lafay wrote in response to Kludt's tweet.

More Discussion on the PokerNews Podcast

Want to hear further debate on the 15-way Ladies Event chop? Catch the latest episode of the PokerNews podcast for an interesting discussion from Chad Holloway and the crew.

Managing Editor

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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