Chaos Erupts at WSOP Circuit Main Event as Man Flips Poker Tables
The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee took a shocking turn on Sunday when a man, seemingly in a fit of rage, flipped over three poker tables, sending chips and cards flying.
The incident occurred on Day 2 of the $1,700 buy-in Main Event, with only 65 players remaining. A video shared on X by four-time Circuit ring winner David Moses captures the aftermath, showing multiple overturned tables and stunned players trying to process what had just happened.
“Somebody’s banned for life,” Moses can be heard saying in the video.
Unidentified Man Causes Major Disruption
The individual responsible for the chaos has yet to be officially identified, though speculation quickly spread across social media. According to a PokerNews report, a player at the scene stated that the man was shouting that “God told him to do it” as security intervened.
Security quickly removed him from the tournament area, but the disruption forced an extended pause in the event. With chips scattered and stacks disrupted, tournament officials faced the difficult task of reconstructing the affected tables.
Moses later noted on X that there were two possible solutions:
1. Attempting to recreate stack sizes using a combination of player input and security footage.
2. Having the remaining 65 players agree to an even chop—a rare but possible resolution.
Video Footage Shows the Outburst
Additional video footage shared by World Poker Tour (WPT) Executive Tournament Director Matt Savage provides a clearer look at the shocking moment. The clip shows a man with long dark hair lifting and flipping a table before being wrestled to the ground by several players.
“Get off of me! I’m not hurting anyone!” he yells as players and staff restrain him.
Savage called the situation a “tournament director’s biggest nightmare”, emphasizing the difficult process of restoring fairness to the event. He also noted that resolving the situation required “honesty, patience, and assistance” from players.
Tournament Resumes After Hours of Reconstruction
Despite the chaos, the tournament eventually resumed a few hours later after WSOPC staff painstakingly reconstructed chip stacks at the three affected tables using surveillance footage. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, and play continued.
Harrah’s Cherokee remains one of the premier WSOP Circuit stops, with its current 18-ring series running from Feb. 13 to Feb. 24 in Cherokee, North Carolina. However, this incident will likely be remembered as one of the most bizarre moments in recent WSOP Circuit history.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/02/man-flips-three-poker-tables-48003.htm
The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee took a shocking turn on Sunday when a man, seemingly in a fit of rage, flipped over three poker tables, sending chips and cards flying.
The incident occurred on Day 2 of the $1,700 buy-in Main Event, with only 65 players remaining. A video shared on X by four-time Circuit ring winner David Moses captures the aftermath, showing multiple overturned tables and stunned players trying to process what had just happened.
“Somebody’s banned for life,” Moses can be heard saying in the video.
Unidentified Man Causes Major Disruption
The individual responsible for the chaos has yet to be officially identified, though speculation quickly spread across social media. According to a PokerNews report, a player at the scene stated that the man was shouting that “God told him to do it” as security intervened.
Security quickly removed him from the tournament area, but the disruption forced an extended pause in the event. With chips scattered and stacks disrupted, tournament officials faced the difficult task of reconstructing the affected tables.
Moses later noted on X that there were two possible solutions:
1. Attempting to recreate stack sizes using a combination of player input and security footage.
2. Having the remaining 65 players agree to an even chop—a rare but possible resolution.
Video Footage Shows the Outburst
Additional video footage shared by World Poker Tour (WPT) Executive Tournament Director Matt Savage provides a clearer look at the shocking moment. The clip shows a man with long dark hair lifting and flipping a table before being wrestled to the ground by several players.
“Get off of me! I’m not hurting anyone!” he yells as players and staff restrain him.
Savage called the situation a “tournament director’s biggest nightmare”, emphasizing the difficult process of restoring fairness to the event. He also noted that resolving the situation required “honesty, patience, and assistance” from players.
Tournament Resumes After Hours of Reconstruction
Despite the chaos, the tournament eventually resumed a few hours later after WSOPC staff painstakingly reconstructed chip stacks at the three affected tables using surveillance footage. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported, and play continued.
Harrah’s Cherokee remains one of the premier WSOP Circuit stops, with its current 18-ring series running from Feb. 13 to Feb. 24 in Cherokee, North Carolina. However, this incident will likely be remembered as one of the most bizarre moments in recent WSOP Circuit history.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/02/man-flips-three-poker-tables-48003.htm
