The Top 5 Most Cringe Poker Moments in 2024

#5 The Incident With Two Marias at the WSOP

At the dawn of the 2024 World Series of Poker, two of the most famous Marias in poker history found themselves at the center of a shameful and confusing situation.

During a 10-minute break in Event #1, the $5K NLH Freezeout Champions Reunion, professional players Maria Ho and Maria Konnikova stepped outside the casino. Upon re-entering, they were stopped by a security guard who delivered what would become the meme phrase of the year:

“Poker players only beyond this point. You’re going to have to leave.”

The situation escalated quickly and was only resolved when David Williams, a male player, intervened. Unsurprisingly, his voice carried more weight with the guard than the Marias’.

This event became a glaring example of systemic sexism in poker, reigniting conversations about how to make the game and its environment more inclusive for women.

#4 Tom Dwan’s Debt Saga

For Tom “durrrr” Dwan, 2024 wasn’t just the year he signed an ambassadorship deal with Winning Poker Network; it was also the year his long-standing debts came back to haunt him.

In February and March, three players publicly reminded Tom of significant debts dating back to the 2010s:

• Peter “Apathy” Jetten – $226K
• Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris – $350K
• Dan “Jungleman” Cates – at least $500K

The controversy played out in fiery public exchanges on X (formerly Twitter), with a mix of shaming, blaming, and private chats. Eventually, Tom repaid at least $30K to Peter.

Interestingly, after a face-to-face meeting at Triton, Jungleman defended Dwan, expressing optimism about his intentions:

Re the @TomDwan drama, I have realized is that in fact he does intend on paying back his debts and has worked tirelessly towards that

I think he has made a lot of mistakes but also had some fucked up things happen to him, and I think it's important to focus on the most mutually…

— Daniel Cates 🇺🇸 🌎 (@junglemandan) March 9, 2024

#3 Misogynistic Confusion Around Ben Rolle

In 2024, amidst team changes and sharing poker wisdom, Benjamin “bencb789” Rolle slipped up — and it was a big one. He unintentionally became a poster child for sexism in poker after a series of controversial comments and posts.

When asked why men seem to have an advantage over women in poker, Ben’s response suggested an innate male superiority. His comments triggered widespread criticism, particularly from female players and scientists, who countered with logical, social, and scientific arguments. However, Ben’s subsequent posts only worsened the situation.

Whether his remarks stemmed from poor wording or a deeper belief, the damage was done. On the bright side, the controversy sparked broader, constructive conversations about gender dynamics in poker. Yet, even months later, players like Vanessa Kade continued to cite the incident as an example of what not to do.

#2 Alleged Solver Usage at the WSOP Main Event Final Table

For years, laptops on the rail at WSOP final tables were a common sight, rarely raising eyebrows. That changed during the 2024 Main Event when Jonathan Tamayo and his rail were spotted with a solver on a laptop. The photo went viral, sparking accusations of cheating.

The poker community quickly abandoned discussions about the new champion to roast both Tamayo and his coach, Dominik Nitsche. Even after it was confirmed that no cheating occurred, public opinion had already taken its toll.

The controversy didn’t end there. It prompted WSOP to introduce new rules for devices on the rail and TV tables, aiming to make poker safer and fairer. While the situation was undeniably cringe-inducing, its long-term impact was positive.

#1 GGPoker’s “Privatization” of High Stakes

Dan Cates might argue that making high-stakes cash games invite-only was a good move, but most of the poker community saw it as a slap in the face.

In December 2024, GGNetwork replaced its publicly accessible $25/50 and higher cash games with Exclusive Cash Games, available only to players approved by a host.

The decision caused uproar among high-stakes pros, who scrambled to find alternative games on platforms like WPT Global and CoinPoker. GG’s move alienated many players and sparked intense debate about the future of poker’s most prestigious games.

The Greatest Cringe of the Year: $000,000 Mystery Bounty

Of all the cringe-worthy moments in 2024, one stood out above the rest: a bizarre $000,000 bounty ticket pulled by Jason Christopher during the ClubWPT Gold $5 Million Invitational Freeroll.

Despite walking away with $250K as the runner-up, Jason — and the poker community — won’t soon forget the devastating moment he revealed his bounty ticket to find nothing but zeroes.