Poker pro Angela Jordison believes players using fake vaccination cards are responsible for the recent Covid cases at the 2021 World Series of Poker. Several players appear to have caught the virus during the Main Event.
View the WSOP Main Event Final Table
Jordison explained the how and why of her claims, tweeting: “You put fake dates and take a pic of any vax card…doesn’t even have to be your own.”
She added: “You’ll be immediately cleared. I do not have any names, but common sense says when you can put false info and be approved instantly…it’s 100% happening.”
Could the 2021 WSOP become a Superspreader event?
Fears that the 2021 WSOP could prove to be a super-spreader event haven’t so far materialized. There are some isolated high-profile cases such as Chris Hunichen and Vanessa Kade proving to be the exception rather than the norm.
This past week, however, has seen a number of pros take to Twitter to reveal they have contracted the Covid-19 virus, Ryan Laplante claiming he knows of at least five…
I now know 4 poker players who have very recently came down with covid.
If you feel off at all, please take proper precautions.
Also note: You can be lightly symptomatic and test negative for days yet.
— Ryan Laplante🏳️🌈 (@Protentialmn) November 15, 2021
More and more poker players test positive
Jacki Burkhardt was among them. She played at the Wynn, Resorts World and the Rio recently, with fellow pro Melanie Weisner also catching the potentially deadly virus.
Been a little tired last few days. Hit harder this morning so got tested after seeing this. Got a positive covid result as well.
I've only played the Main at Rio in the last week.
Have a fever off and on and a sore throat. A little tired but smell and taste are just fine. https://t.co/GVot8g5kjy
— melissa2141 (@melissa2141_pkr) November 14, 2021
While more COVID-19 positive cases were making themselves known, including commentator and pro Nick Schulman, Dan Zack gave up his stack in Event 74, the $2500 buy-in Big Bet Mix, because of his symptoms…
More and more coming out of the woodworks. It feels like there will be more coming. https://t.co/NqtyRNGKuZ
— Jacqueline Burkhart (@jackiburkhart81) November 15, 2021
The WSOP organisers created a bit of an uproar in advance of the series when they mandated fully vaccinated status as a condition of entry, leaving a few anti-vaxxers on the sidelines, unable or unwilling to get the jab in order to play.
One of the most outspoken, Kristen Bicknell, was quick to pick up on the claims. She is unhappy that unvaxxed players were being blamed for the recent outbreak.
Any proof that an unvaccinated player was C19 +? I've only heard cases of vaccinated players testing +.
Shouldn't this be verified before making claims and blaming those who aren't vaccinated? Otherwise it's pure speculation.
Perhaps the 💉 isn't as effective as we'd hoped?
— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) November 15, 2021
Of course, with hundreds of thousands of players taking part across the Series, it’s perhaps surprising there haven’t been many more cases.
The fact that the vast majority of players are likely fully vaccinated has also helped to reduce the number who would get seriously ill if contracting the virus.
Vanessa Kade, who tested positive a couple of weeks ago and had to sit out 10 days of the WSOP, was “the most sick” she’d ever been, but still fully recovered rather quickly and made it to the Main Event.
❤️❤️❤️
Not gonna lie, that was the most sick I’ve been in my life, and being relatively healthy & vaccinated I didn’t think it could be that bad.Almost normal now except absolutely no taste or smell.
Technically I could play tomorrow (ok’ed by WSOP) but plan on firing Sat 🔥 https://t.co/T3CioYGEqz
— Vanessa Kade (@VanessaKade) November 5, 2021
This week’s player revelations of their Covid+ status is a stark contrast to last week, when Justin Bonomo called out Chris Hunichen for failing to let his fellow players know he had tested positive.
Justin is talking about me here! First, this is very dramatic and overblown. I didn’t know I had Covid until after the 50k. After playing, I hung out with 7-8 of my best friends as well as my wife and cousin. I smoked hookah, blunts, joints etc with everyone. Also was in much https://t.co/WRzcwJV87R
— Chris Hunichen – OTCtrade.com (@BigHuni) November 7, 2021
What the WSOP has shown, though, is that the vast majority of poker players want to get back to the felt and are also happy to put up with vaccinations, testing, and various inconveniences in order to do so.
Following the rules and doing what’s best for the wider community might not always be first and foremost in some players’ minds. However, if it’s the only way to ensure the game goes ahead…well, it’s a no brainer!
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