Ladies' events have been a staple on the World Series of Poker Circuit since at least 2005, when Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (Now Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe) put the first event on the schedule, and participation has only grown over the years as countless women have made their mark on the felt.
However, back then, instead of a WSOP Circuit ring, stops gave out pendants to the winner of such events, and in 2009, as a fresh-faced college student at UC-Davis, 22-year-old Gregory Sessler became the first man to take down a Ladies Event on the Circuit when he topped a field of 96 entrants, which included three other male entrants, ironically enough, in Lake Tahoe, for $9,932 and the pendant.
Breaking the curse?
“Back then, it really wasn’t like a big deal,” Sessler said of his mindset when he entered the tournament in 2009. “Obviously, I would never play one now, but back then, men did it all the time. I was in college, I wanted to play a tournament, and that was my only option, but after I won, I went a long time without cashing a Circuit event, so I felt like I was cursed.”
Cursed might be an understatement because, according to Hendon Mob, since that fateful day in 2009, Sessler had never cashed another WSOP Circuit event. But now, 16 years later, Sessler found himself at the final table of Event #3: $600 No-Limit Hold’em during the 2025 Grand Victoria stop in Elgin, Illinois. After outlasting a field of 279 entrants, he added a gold WSOP Circuit ring to his collection plus $20,106. It was his first Hendon Mob-recognized tournament win since 2011.
“I was out of poker for like ten years,” Sessler said of his long gap in Hendon Mob results. “I stepped away for personal reasons, nothing to do with winning or losing, just kinda got burned out and wanted to take a break.”
Sessler picked up the game again about a year ago, mainly playing cash games around the Midwest. However, after his friends started to have success in tournaments, he picked up the itch to take some shots in the tournament world once more.
“I moved to the Midwest about five years ago,” the California native explained. “My parents live out here, and my dad’s health isn’t great, so he needs some help around the house, and I had lived in California my whole life. Then, when the Potawatomi (Casino Hotel) Poker Room opened in Milwaukee, I started playing again.”
Back in the swing of things
Since dipping his toes back in the tournament scene, Sessler has scored five cashes in 2025, all during MSPT events, including a pair of final tables culminating in a 10th-place finish during the $1,110 MSPT Spade Championship Main Event at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, Michigan, for $32,368.
“First place in that event was like $370,000, and it stunk when I got tenth,” Sessler said of his run during the Main Event. “I really wanted to win a tournament again, so I'm excited to win a tournament, and even if it's not the big one, it is still a nice one.”
Now, with a WSOP Circuit ring in his pocket, the former online grinder is feeling confident and will have plenty of options as he continues to chase a career-defining score, as he holds a $5,000 Package to Paradise, but according to him, the Wynn might be calling as well with their World Championship right around the corner.
