Slot Break Leads 88 Year Old Player to Surprise Poker Cash at Beau Rivage

Linda Hammons only walked into the poker room because her favorite slot machine was busy. A few hours later, the 88 year old grandmother found herself deep in one of the largest tournaments ever held at the Beau Rivage Casino in Mississippi.

Hammons entered a $500 event from the property Heater series and ended up finishing 14th out of 2,628 entries in the $1 million mystery bounty tournament. It marked her first ever poker tournament cash.

Good to Know

• Hammons entered the event on a whim
• She finished 14th in a field of more than 2,600 players
• The run earned her over $10,000

The finish paid $8,400, along with another $1,700 from bounty prizes. Hammons later said she had no idea the tournament was that large and described the experience as welcoming and fun.

She told the Gulf Coast Poker Tour she was surprised by how friendly the table felt and how supportive other players were throughout the run.

From Slot Machines to Final Tables

Hammons said gaming has always been part of her life. As a child, she watched adults play dominoes before the kids took their turn. Poker came much later.

Online viewers rallied behind her during the tournament. One message posted on Facebook read, “Go get ’em gramma.”

She ended the event as the top finishing female player. When her run finally ended, players and spectators applauded her performance, according to the Sun Herald. Hammons said she focused on playing her best and leaving a good impression.

She also offered advice for anyone thinking about entering a big poker event. She said people should go for it rather than waiting.

Casino management later added another surprise. Staff awarded Hammons a free entry into the next tournament. When she opened the envelope and saw the $400 seat, she reacted with a smile. “Oh my goodness,” she said in response. “I’ll be over there at 4.”

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