Riley Gaines Vows to Pay Prize Money for Women’s Pool Player Who Refused to Play Transgender Opponent

Hannah Schoenbaum/AP

OutKick’s Riley Gaines announced her intention to pay the prize money for a women’s pool player who forfeited her match against her transgender opponent in protest.

On Thursday, Irish pool star Kim O’Brien was scheduled to face Harriet Haynes — a transgender woman — in the European Pool Championships final. As soon as the match began, however, O’Brien turned to Haynes and revealed her decision to concede the match. She shook Haynes’ hand and was met with applause from her supporters at the venue.

Gaines also praised O’Brien for the move and offered to pay her the money she would have earned if she won the match.

“Absolutely incredible,” Gaines tweeted. “At the European Pool Championships, female player, Kim O’Brien, forfeited the women’s final where she was set to play male player, Harriet Haynes.

“I am happily paying her the prize money she lost out on. Stop playing their game. More of this!!”

Absolutely incredible.

At the European Pool Championships, female player, Kim O’Brien, forfeited the women’s final where she was set to play male player, Harriet Haynes.

I am happily paying her the prize money she lost out on. Stop playing their game. More of this!!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/MAKH5KUm15

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) February 29, 2024

The previous year, as BNN Breaking reported, O’Brien faced Haynes in the same competition. Haynes won by a “significant” margin, prompting further debate within the pool community about the fairness of allowing transgender players to compete with women.