Published on: June 20, 2026, 12:12h.
Updated on: June 20, 2026, 12:18h.
- João Siqueira, a poker player from Brazil, was disqualified from Event 56 at the WSOP due to smoking at the table.
- Siqueira had a disagreement with a floor supervisor and then placed his lit cigarette into a water bottle before taking tournament chips.
- While he was escorted out by security, he has only been banned from that particular event and is anticipated to return for the tournament on Saturday.
Brazilian poker player João Siqueira faced disqualification from a $3,000 buy-in tournament at the World Series of Poker held at Paris Las Vegas on June 19 for smoking at his table and subsequently pocketing tournament chips.
Siqueira was competing against 340 other participants in Event 56, a 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’Em tournament. Smoking has been banned in all U.S. poker rooms since 2003.
The WSOP’s X account shared video footage of the incident as a caution for others.
“The use of smoking devices within the poker room is strictly forbidden and can lead to disqualification,” the WSOP cautioned in the post. “Take note of what happens when this rule is violated.”
The video features the text: “Man Smokes $3,000 Cigarette.”
Anger Unleashed
The footage shows Siqueira engaged in a verbal exchange with a floor supervisor requesting he extinguish his cigarette. Siqueira defiantly ignores the request, escalating the situation.
“Don’t be scared, I’m here!” he tells the supervisor in Portuguese, seeking validation from his peers. “I’m here for you. Don’t worry, son.”
Eventually, Siqueira puts his cigarette inside a water bottle to extinguish it, but then he pockets his chips — another serious violation. According to WSOP Rule 38: “Non-value WSOP chips are meant for use in all Events and remain the exclusive property of the Host Property and may not be taken from the Event space.”
Reports also suggested that excessive drinking may have contributed to his disqualification. Security removed him without further issues.
Despite his blatant disregard for the rules, Siqueira faced a ban solely from that specific event and is set to return to the WSOP on Saturday.
The reactions on the X post were a mixture of support and criticism concerning Siqueira’s actions.
“A rule should be established allowing smoking at poker tables; they complement each other. It’s ridiculous to be banned for a cigarette,” commented @VERTIGO007420.
“This is why many casino employees can’t stand poker players!” @chetcosgrove retorted.
Poker professional Nick Schulman shared a photo of Siqueira on his X account, stating: “There’s no denying it. Legend.”
This is not the first incident of disqualification at the WSOP due to smoking-related offenses, although such penalties remain uncommon and have never been enforced against a high-profile professional player.