Controversies are nothing new in the world of poker. Just when we thought the WSOP Paradise 2024 was going to wrap up without any sort of controversy, the WSOP sparked an uproar ahead of the big WSOP Paradise Main Event final table – by far the biggest final table of all time.
What Sparked The Controversy At 2024 WSOP Super Main Event?
When the WSOP Paradise Main Event came down to the final 16 players, WSOP informed Justin Bonomo that he would be disqualified from the tournament if he did not remove the Palestinian black-and-white keffiyeh. It came as a big shocker for the three-time WSOP bracelet winner and he quickly informed his X followers that he had been threatened with a disqualification from the WSOP Main Event for wearing a keffiyeh.
Bonomo has expressed his pro-Palestine views on social media several times and has even faced criticism from many players within the poker community, including poker legend Daniel Negreanu and Mike Matusow.
Matusow escalated his anti-Bonomo stance as he not only asked WSOP to ban him from the WSOP events but also urged US President Donald Trump to have the high-stakes legend jailed for his pro-Palestine beliefs.
Despite the criticism, Bonomo, who is currently second on the all-time money list behind Bryn Kenney with over $64 million in The Hendon Mob cashes, continues to stick to his belief. He has been wearing the keffiyeh at Paradise and had even recently announced that he will be donating some of his winnings at Paradise to charities in order to support Palestinians.
Is The WSOP Rulebook Really Against Keffiyeh?
This controversy sparked ahead of the big WSOP Super Main Event final table on Thursday when the WSOP staff threatened Bonomo with a disqualification for wearing keffiyeh. Although shocking for Bonomo, the decision came as part of the WSOP’s Policy of not allowing objectionable clothing. As per Section 54D in the WSOP rulebook, the host property has a full right to consider the keffiyeh as grounds for disqualification.
“Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules,” the rulebook says.
The 2024 WSOP Super Main Event is already down to the final table with Michael Addamo in lead and Liv Boeree being the only female player in the hunt for the coveted title. Bonomo is one of the shortest stacks at the table but is already guaranteed at least $1 million. Although a short stack, his eyes will be eying the whopping $6 million guaranteed up top prize.
After the WSOP staff asked Bonomo to remove the distinctive keffiyeh, a traditional square scarf worn in the Middle East, he was left with no choice but to remove the scarf, although he was not happy in doing so. For Bonomo, it was simply a nice scarf made in Palestine. According to him, it should not have been objectionable especially for the WSOP brand that had recently supported Israeli charities. He referred to the $10,000 buy-in charity event, which was hosted at the WSOP Paradise to raise funds for IDF Widows and Orphans, a decision that really upset Bonomo.
However, this is not the first time that a controversial attire has been banned or has led to disqualification from a tournament. In the past, PokerStars had also banned displays of political statements in 2014 during European Poker Tour (EPT) events. Two players who teamed up to ship the Tag Team event at the 2021 WSOP also wore “Free Palestine” shirts during the event, but the images were removed from the winner photos.
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Image Credit: WSOP & Tomas Stacha
