It looks like more and more players, including Phil Hellmuth, have tested positive for COVID at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.
WSOP management and organizers were confident in opening again its doors for all poker players to take part in their annual poker event for the year 2022, but unfortunately, in the opening weeks, the coronavirus has reared its ugly head once again.
To get a glimpse of how many people there are at the venue, see this June 5 video clip from the WSOP opening ceremony.
Several poker players have reported they tested positive while at the series, and one of them was Phil Hellmuth who caught the virus despite being already vaccinated.
He revealed his positive COVID test on Twitter Tuesday night after playing two tournaments on the WSOP schedule. He joined in Event #7: $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better Championship, and Event #10: $10,000 Six Handed Dealer's Choice Championship. This means every dealer and player that was at the table with him would have to monitor their health and if they become symptomatic, would have to pull out from any tournament they are taking part in.
It comes days after another poker player, David Baker, contracted the virus.
Meanwhile, Baker has initially remained quiet about his positive test for the virus, only informing WSOP officials. Afterwards, he announced it on Twitter.
Doyle Brunson skipping the 2022 WSOP
In light of recent events, Doyle Brunson wrote on Twitter a disappointing yet understandable news on Sunday, June 12.
looks like covid is everywhere at the WSOP. I'm gonna have to miss some tournaments I wanted to play but there are 2 unvaccinated in my house.
The poker legend's wife Louise has pre-existing health conditions that make her vulnerable to the virus. Therefore, he has decided to skip this year's WSOP so that he doesn't risk infecting the woman he's been married to for the past 60 years.
For those following poker Twitter recently, everyone already knows that the virus has been spreading around Bally's and Paris. The current coronavirus strain is deemed more contagious than the previous strains, say experts. With poker players, dealers and other people present in close proximity for hours on end, an outbreak is bound to happen at some point.
Lara Eisenberg, who won the 2021 WSOP Ladies Championship, also tested positive for the coronavirus. She has left some advice for those who also get infected during the WSOP.
Other players who tested positive include:
Dylan Weisman
Mike Gorodinsky
Chris Wallace
Above are some of the well-known players who have tested positive, but you will see that COVID appears to be widespread right now at the series when you Twitter search the words ‘tested positive WSOP'.
Under the best circumstances, Hellmuth, Baker and anyone else who tests positive will be out of action for five days. After that, they need to show they have tested negative for the virus to be allowed back in to the tournament tables at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
The WSOP Main Event kicks off on July 3, and the 53rd annual WSOP is being held for the first time at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
This year there are no mask or vaccination requirements enforced at the WSOP and the responsibility is on the players to follow the CDC guidelines of self-reporting.
Source:
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-star-tests-positive-for-covid-at-wsop-2589249/
https://www.pokerstrategy.com/news/world-of-poker/COVID-cases-are-rising-at-the-WSOP_122975/
https://www.pokernews.com/news/2022/06/doyle-brunson-covid19-2022-wsop-41383.htm
