Vanessa Kade is having her best year in poker, but she’s had to put WSOP aspirations on hold for at least a week after testing positive for COVID-19.
The Canadian pro informed her social media followers last night that she’s tested positive for COVID after displaying symptoms.
Kade isn’t 100% sure when and where she caught the virus. However, she believes it was at some point before Event #51, the $3,000 six-max event, on Tuesday. Therefore, as a precaution, she’s urged anyone she was in close proximity to this week to get tested.
Bad Beat for Vanessa Kade
The WSOP had been going well for Kade up until this week. She came into the series off the back of a career-defining win in PokerStars’ 15th anniversary Sunday Million. She parlayed that result into two final table appearances at the US Poker Open and a seventh-place-finish at the PokerGo Cup.
Since then, she’s cashed five times at this year’s WSOP, with a 19th place finish in the $5,000 six-max event being her best performance so far. However, thanks to COVID-19, Kade won’t be adding to her tally for the next few days.
https://twitter.com/VanessaKade/status/1453860412508672010
Aside from the WSOP’s rules preventing anyone with a positive COVID test from entering events, Kade has been sick. She slept for 18 hours a day for three days and hasn’t left her hotel room.
She’s also had a fever and fluid on her lungs.
The good news is that she’s been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Kade has also been active on social media and, despite some discomfort and disappointment, she’s maintaining a positive outlook.
Hopeful for WSOP Main Event
Kade will miss a variety of WSOP events, including the Colossus and the team tournament. She’s also going to miss out on some Halloween celebrations. However, she plans to rest, recover, and, all being well, return in time for the Main Event, which begins Nov. 4 and offers Day 1s through Nov. 9.
It comes as little surprise that at least one poker player has contracted COVID-19 during the WSOP. There have been thousands of people filtering into the Rio since late September and, even with vaccine passes and face mask requirements, completely shutting out a highly infectious virus is almost impossible.
Kade complied with the rules, made sure she was vaccinated, and wore a mask when required. On this occasion, she was simply unlucky. However, it should serve as a note of caution of anyone currently at the WSOP or planning to attend.
CardsChat wishes Vanessa Kade a speedy recovery and a safe return to the poker table.
