The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,000 buy-in Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship is extra meaningful this year to Texas poker pro Ruth Hall, who is competing in the tournament for the 20th time. But due to health concerns, it could be her last.
“Ruthless,” her moniker, chatted with PokerNews Friday during the Day 1 dinner break to explain her situation. As always, she was in good spirits, and of course busy dominating her opponents on the felt.
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What Motives Her to Play?
There are few who’ve played the same WSOP event for 20 years, outside the Main Event. So, what does Hall love so much about the Ladies Championship?
“The camaraderie, the friendships, the women that you only get to see once a year,” she explained. “You want to come in here, give them a hug, and tell them to keep trying and keep playing, and try to grow the game.”
Hall has relentlessly promoted women in poker for many years. She shows up at various women-only events around the country, not just at the WSOP, including one at Choctaw Casino in May during the World Poker Tour (WPT) series.
When Hall, who resides in Round Rock, Texas, first began playing in the Ladies Event at the WSOP, the tournament was a mixture of seven card stud and limit hold’em. Back then, 200 or fewer players were entering the tournament each year. On Day 1 this year, there were over 1,200 entrants, and last year’s event, won by Tamar Abraham for $192,167, had a record 1,295 entrants. She explained why the event has seen so much growth over the years.
“Well, you know, it started very small, but when it was a freezeout, we never had the one optional rebuy,” Hall said. “So, the one optional rebuy is obviously contributing to the prize pool. I love that part of it. I also believe that you’re seeing more and more young women who are wanting to get into the game.”
Hall also said that the increase in attendance is partially due to the promotions (charity events, etc.) offered by organizations such as the Women’s Poker Association (WPA), which she supports.
“Poker Will Always Be There”
While Hall enjoys traveling to Las Vegas to play in the WSOP, she says this year could be her last trip. Not only has she been suffering from a heart condition and battling cancer, her husband, Keith Hall, is terminally ill.
“I believe this will be my last Ladies event. I have had some health issues as everyone knows, and my husband is chronically ill. And so we’re going to do a little traveling, and do just whatever he’d like to do,” Hall said.
Despite the couple’s health issues, “Ruthless” isn’t giving up the game. She said she’ll continue to play regularly at her local poker room in Texas — The Lodge Card Club, which is co-owned by Doug Polk, Andrew Neeme, and Brad Owen.
The trio of poker pros have purchased Rounders Card Club in San Antonio, and will take it over July 3. Hall would love to be there for the grand opening, but her husband has a visit with the oncologist that day.
Hall explained that her own health issues have progressed, and that the “cancer turned into a brain tumor, which turned into heart failure.” On a positive note, she has seen some improvement in her condition with her heart function going from 10% to 50%. Health issues or not, there’s simply no keeping this poker player with nearly $500,000 in Then Hendon Mob cashes away from the felt.
“I don’t think you can ever take the poker out of the girl, can you?” Hall asked with a smile.
Hall got off to a strong start on Day 1, then lost a chunk of her stack, but battled back quickly. At the time of publishing, late Friday night, she had built up a stack of around 100 big blinds, which put her among the chip leaders.
