Hellebuyck keeps WSOP Ladies title in female hands, despite male entries

Vanessa Hellebuyck won the $1,000 buy-in Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship at the World Series of Poker on Sunday night, claiming $192,132.

The Paris resident capped a tournament that was marked with controversy at the start, as several men entered the "ladies-only" tournament, including some — like well-known professional poker player Shaun Deeb — dressed in drag. The men cited discrimination laws saying they should not be kept out of tournaments because they are men.

WSOP Communications Director Seth Palansky told Card Player that there may be repercussions for men who chose to enter the event.

"There are consequences for action, and they'll pay the price," Plansky said. "We can't prevent anyone from entering a ladies tournament. If they're scumbags, they're scumbags. The good news is at the World Series of Poker, we have the right to refuse service to anyone at any time at any point that we deem, as operators of the event."

Despite Plansky's strong statement, no suspensions or bans have been announced as of Monday afternoon.

While the men took the attention on Day 1, the women ruled at the final table, especially Hellebuyck, who won her first WSOP bracelet. She has made three European Poker Tour final tables in Berlin, San Remo, and Monaco,

"This is my first World Series," said Hellebuyck. "It means the world to me. I can't describe it. Cashing in Europe was very exciting for me. But I don't know what more I can do now, except maybe win another event that is not the Ladies event. That is the next step."

She became only the second non-American ever to win the Ladies Championship. The first was Svetlana Gromenkova from Russia, who won in 2008.

The runner up was Sidsel Boesen, from Copenhagen, Denmark, who won $118,897.

Timmi DeRosa from Los Angeles, Calif., finished third. DeRosa is engaged to poker pro and WSOP gold bracelet winner Lee Watkinson. Allison Whalen-Lannel from Atlanta, Ga., finished fourth, Kami Chisholm, from San Francisco, Calif., was fifth, Holly Hodge, from Windsor, Ont., was sixth, La Sengphet, from Dallas, Texas was seventh, Bonnie Overfield, from East Wenatchee, Wash., was eighth, and Loren Watterworth, from Temple, Texas, was ninth.

This year's Ladies Championship attracted a strong turnout, as 1,054 players attended. The tournament began with former WSOP gold bracelet winner Linda Johnson, the "First Lady of Poker," welcoming the huge field and encouraging more women to participate in and enjoy the game of poker. The top 117 finishers collected prize money. Former WSOP gold bracelet finishers who cashed in this event included Johnson (31st), Gromenkova (33rd) and Carol Gardner (55th). Gromenkova and Gardener were former Ladies event champions. Gromenkova won in 2008, while Gardner won in 1983.

Modified from notes provided by Nolan Dalla for www.wsop.com