A World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas took quite an unexpected turn after Brazilian player João Siqueira was disqualified during competition for violating tournament rules.
The incident occurred on June 19, 2026, during Event 56, a $3,000 buy-in six-handed No Limit Hold’em tournament held at Paris Las Vegas.
Tournament officials say Siqueira proceeded to light a cigarette while still seated at the poker table, clearly breaching long-standing rules that do not allow smoking inside poker rooms in the United States.
A video of the controversial incident quickly spread across social media after being shared by the World Series of Poker’s official account. The footage shows a tournament supervisor approaching Siqueira and asking him to put out the cigarette.
Instead of immediately complying, the player is seen arguing with staff while continuing to hold the cigarette, drawing even more attention from nearby players and spectators.
Eventually, Siqueira extinguished the cigarette by placing it inside a water bottle. However, the situation escalated further when he reportedly placed tournament chips into his pocket, another violation of World Series of Poker regulations.
Tournament chips used during events remain the property of the organizers and are not permitted to leave the playing area.
Reports from the tournament also indicated that excessive alcohol consumption may have contributed to the player’s behavior throughout the confrontation.
He Was Taken Out
Security personnel later escorted Siqueira from the tournament area. In spite of the dramatic scenes, organizers decided not to impose a wider ban. Instead, his punishment included disqualification from the specific event in which the incident occurred.
As expected, the episode quickly sparked heated debate among poker fans online, with some saying his punishment was justified, while others joked about the incident and praised Siqueira’s defiant attitude.
While player disqualifications at the World Series of Poker are a relatively rare occurrence, tournament officials have occasionally taken action against competitors who ignore house rules or disrupt play.
The 2026 World Series of Poker continues in Las Vegas through mid-July and is expected to attract thousands of players from around the world. The prestigious Main Event begins on July 2 and will once again crown poker’s world champion after one of the biggest tournaments in the game.