Tom Dwan in British Hospital for Apparent Mental Health Issues

The American poker legend and former Full Tilt Poker poster boy Tom ‘Durrrr’ Dwan is currently in a U.K. hospital for issues around his mental health. In a series of messages on X, formerly known as Twitter, Dwan posted about alleged mistreatment from British authorities before detailing his situation amid rising panic among his many fans around the world.

Dwan Reaches Out Online

The exact details of Tom Dwan’s temporary residency at the Park Royal Centre for Mental Heath in Middlesex, London aren’t yet clear. What is known is that Tom Dwan has been sending out messages asking for help and alleging incarceration since he was admitted to the hospital in England’s capital.

These messages range from alleging violence to tagging the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and the U.S. President Donald Trump. Over several messages, it was clear that Dwan, who inspired a generation of poker players over a decade ago when he represented Full Tilt Poker, perceived trouble and put out a genuine cry for help.

“Can we have some NHS supervisor[s] unaffiliated as my bodyguard so they can’t kill me or wreck my brain and my heart can relax. Need some friends pls. Feels like they hoping I heart attack wtf.”

Clearly in a bad place, responses to Dwan on the site were mostly kind and sympathetic, with fellow professional Jaime Staples saying “I think it’s clear Tom Dwan is going through psychosis. He is in a medical facility in the UK or at least was a few hours ago. People should encourage him to relax and trust the people around him. I don’t know him so he won’t trust me but he has just gotta reset. Be well Tom.”

When former EPT champion Kevin MacPhee argued that “only Tom knows” how he might feel, Staples responded kindly, “My view is that they are experts and the best trained to help people going through exactly this experience. And yeah they operate like an ER where they aren’t going to fix long term problems, but can get someone back to level to make the next steps.”

Staples then revealed that his familiarity with the situation dates back to his own successful efforts in recovery.

“That’s kinda why I decided to tweet about it because I’m familiar with mental health struggle myself. And it’s so clearly that to people that have dealt with it before but if you haven’t, you may think it’s a hack, or a plot, or something like that.”

PokerNews Attend Hospital to Help

Based around the corner from the hospital treating Tom Dwan, PokerNews’ Managing Editor Will Shillibier visited Tom and afterwards, updated poker fans on Tom’s situation in this video on X.

Shillibier’s quick act of kindness appeared to have helped but in the moments following his attendance of the ward, Dwan’s response hinted that all wasn’t well as he took to social media again.

“Can the PokerNews reporter who just left and was promising he was coming up to this classified area bring a bottle of non-drugged water please[?]”

After a brief pause in posts, Dwan returned online to post a simple apology to poker fans, not that anyone required one.

“Finally feeling a bit better, I got a bit stressed sorry.”

With UK medical practice determining that patients admitted to a mental health ward requite 72 hours before a decision is made on treatment or release, doctors and other medical professionals will be monitoring Tom’s progress over the next 24-48 hours as they continue to support him in his recovery. Over 150 messages of support have flooded in to Tom’s latest post on X in the meantime.

The Record Breaker Who is Sure to Return

Tom Dwan is a vastly popular figure in the world of professional poker, having held the record for the largest pot won in a televised poker game at over $3 million on Hustler Casino Live. This broke his own previous records in the Full Tilt Poker Million Dollar Cash Game and the $919,000 he scooped in one hand during the fifth season of High Stakes Poker.

Tom Dwan is clearly in need of recovery right now but everyone at Tight Poker wishes him a helpful rest and a full recuperation under the best medical care. With millions of poker fans around the world, poker needs Tom Dwan, but the real world needs him even more.

If you or someone you know is struggling and needs mental help, you can contact Mind in the UK on 0300 123 3393 or visit http://mind.org.uk for advice, helplines, and local services. In the United States, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) provides support at http://nami.org/help.