Tom Dwan has the poker community worried after apparently being sectioned in a mental health hospital in London. Dwan has tweeted multiple bizarre posts over the past few days.
Dwan began to post about UK and US government yesterday, mentioning or tagging the likes of US president and vice-president Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, along with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Secretary of State for Home Department, Yvette Cooper.
It is unclear what sparked Dwan’s problems but he hinted at some form of altercation on a flight, presumably to London.
“I have never considered suicide or self-harm and everyone close to me knows that. If I’m in pain, I’ll just let them hit me n take deep breaths, so there’s no need for me to ever be restrained (on plane I flailed bc I didn’t clock out n they were trying to get me to).”
Dwan was soon tweeting that he was in the Park Royal Centre for Mental Health and pleading that he not be given drugs or assaulted…
I do not want any drugs and if ppl come in, I’ll sit in the corner so no excuse for me to be assaulted etc
— Tom Dwan (@TomDwan) April 30, 2025
“People who love me or care about me, please help me survive the next few hours/day… I can’t do it alone. Should be no reason for any drugs or people to come in room etc.”
Dwan claimed that he had already been attacked, tweeting: “They broke my rib, likely punctured lung, 20-30% broken hand. For week+ basically no medical care.”
His most recent tweet came in a reply to Nate Silver’s offer of help: “Thank you. I am so scared. They are trying to kill either me or most of my brain. All the doctors and nurses said ofc I don’t need drugs, yet they try to force them anyway. Please I beg you, anyone who can, help. Calls, amplify msg- etc.”
Sectioned and Mental Health Act
There is no evidence as yet that anything physically untoward has happened to Dwan, although it is possible he has been detained – known as “sectioned” – under the 1983 Mental Health Act. According to UK law, you can be sectioned if your own health or safety are at risk, or to protect other people.
An assessment is made, usually by three health professionals, and if you are sectioned, you can be kept in hospital, stopped from leaving the ward and given treatment for your mental health problems, possibly without your consent.
Tom is currently tweeting as this article goes out and several poker players are trying to help, offering to talk to him, etc. Hopefully he will recover quickly from this current mental health crisis. VIP Grinders will keep you updated as and when appropriate.
For UK based readers, here are some useful contacts if you or a loved one require help with mental health issues:
