10 Famous Female Poker Pros
Female Poker Pros are a massive inspiration for women. Poker allows people to partake in an activity that is both fun and lucrative. So, why should men have all the fun? Women can now take part in online gambling without submerging themselves in the male-dominated poker rooms where women only went to entertain the men without any part in the actual play.
The following article touches a bit on the leading role of women in poker and a list of the most notable female names in poker. Reading such inspiring stories of women in poker will encourage them to be a part of online poker rooms, play, and win big.
But before that, an interesting fact:
One of the pioneers of Poker was Alice Ivers, known as “Poker Alice.” She first joined the poker game as a businesswoman. During her poker career, she earned more than $250,000, which is about $ 3.6 million today.
Table of Contents
- The Rising Trend of Women in Poker
- 2000 vs. 2021 Comparison of Female Pro Poker players
- 10 Best Female Poker Players
- #10: Loni Harwood
- #9: Maria Constanza Lampropulos
- #8: Liv Boaree
- #7: Annie Duke
- #6: Kathy Liebert
- #5: Vanessa Rousso
- #4: Maria Ho
- #3: Vanessa Selbst
- #2: Victoria Coren Mitchell
- #1: Jennifer Harman
- Final Word
The Rising Trend of Women in Poker
Poker was believed to be a men’s only game. Women would often only accompany men in the casinos while they played and had all the fun.
However, women have started showing interest in poker and we can see increased female participation in poker tournaments. The increasing interest and participation of females in poker can be attributed to the internet.
The internet allowed women to play the game without revealing their identities. It allowed them to play the game without having to fear any frowning faces or lewd remarks from others.
Moreover, it became easier to learn the game due to the available resources required to learn the game, such as articles, rules, and strategic skills. The increasing trend gave way to many women-only poker tournaments that allowed women to participate in a comfortable atmosphere.
Now, many women have become professional poker players and participated in live poker tournaments (even against men, in many cases). These professional female poker players not only participated in the tournaments but also won several tournaments.
Poker is increasingly becoming a gender-equal game.
2000 vs. 2021 Comparison of Female Pro Poker players
In the 2000s there was a sudden popularity in poker. Since then more women have become involved in poker. Both online and casino poker have also become increasingly popular.
Women players have started getting recognition with Gaelle Baumann and Elisabeth Hille having entered the top twenty of the WSOP Main Event.
Poker has always been a traditional male-dominated quest for men. Although this is still the case in some respects, the number of women’s games of chance has increased, and this trend will undoubtedly continue in the years to come.
This is, of course, driven by many factors, not only high parity but also certain factors in poker itself. Poker is now more accessible to the masses, both men and women.
Many female poker players are succeeding and winning generous cash prizes. This gives rise to an increased Women’s Championship. There is no doubt that the number of these poker commercials, especially on television, is also constantly growing.
Poker players have made significant progress in the professional arena so far. Nearly 10,000 women have been generously recognized on the Women’s All-Time Money List.
10 Best Female Poker Players
#10: Loni Harwood
Loni Harwood (USA) was coached by her father; she won the 2012 WSOP circuit rings and took the poker world by storm. In 2013, she became the second woman to reach the third table of the final and received a bracelet. Loni’s total poker winning is approximately 2.9 million US dollars.
#9: Maria Constanza Lampropulos
Maria Constanza Lampropulos (Argentina). Maria is a 39-year-old playing poker since 2014, and he has become the best player in a few years. Her most significant success was in Nottingham, where she won a place with 7,000 competitors. Loni’s total poker winning is approximately 3 million US dollars.
#8: Liv Boaree
Liv Boaree (UK) – Liv Boaree, or “Iron Maiden,” is one of the youngest on the list, appeared impressively in the poker world after studying Phil Hellmuth’s reality show. Her most notable achievement was a cash prize of almost $ 1.7 million, which she won at the 2010 Sanremo EPT. Liv Boaree has received more than $ 3.8 million in poker winnings to date.
#7: Annie Duke
Annie Duke (United States) – she is the only woman to win the National Championship. National poker champion Anne Duke has always been at the top of the list for years. In 2004, she won $ 2 million at the WSOP Tournament of Champions. Annie’s total poker winning is approximately $ 4.3 million US dollars.
#6: Kathy Liebert
Kathy Liebert (USA) – Kathy Liebert has been a regular player in the poker industry for almost 20 years. She has won four cash games worth approximately $ 250,000. Her biggest win was at the 2002 Party Poker Million, where she won her first million-dollar prize. Kathy’s total poker winning is approximately $ 6.2 million US dollars.
#5: Vanessa Rousso
Vanessa Rousso is the third professional woman on our list and is affiliated with PokerStars. In 2007–2015 she was part of a pro team. Known for her unique looks, designer sunglasses, headphones, and cap, Vanessa is an excellent gambler in poker tournaments and games. Although she did not win a WSOP bracelet, her tournament’s cash prize exceeded $ 3.5 million US dollars. Kathy’s total poker winning is approximately $ 6.5 million US dollars.
#4: Maria Ho
Maria Ho was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States with her family at four. She is one of the most famous and respected poker players. Although Maria Ho’s net worth is just over $ 4 million and ranks fifth in the Women’s All-Time Money list, her contribution to poker is impressive. Maria Ho’s poker involvement extends far beyond her environmental achievements.
#3: Vanessa Selbst
Vanessa Selbst (USA) – Vanessa Selbst retired in 2018 and is still considered the best poker player in the world. She is the only woman at the top of the World Poker Index. She has earned a total of $ 11.8 million in live matches in past years.
#2: Victoria Coren Mitchell
Victoria Coren Mitchell’s net worth: USD 10 million
Victoria Coren is recognized as the 2nd best female British poker player. However, she shares some similarities with Liv Boere, another professional poker player from the UK. Both have joined the PokerStars online poker room. However, Victoria Coren resigned in 2014 after the opening of PokerStars Casino. She is a regular live poker player in London’s casinos and has contributed to various publications since the age of 14. Her best score came at the EPT 2014 in San Remo, where she took first place with a net worth of almost half a million euros. Victoria Coren’s competing lifetime earnings are approximately $ 2.5 million US dollars.
#1: Jennifer Harman
Jennifer Harman Net Worth: USD 15 million
Jennifer Harman is a longtime player in Las Vegas, one of the most famous players, and has played some great games. She also has two WSOP bracelets and a $ 2.8 million prize pool in live tournaments. Jennifer grew up in Reno, Nevada, and used a fake identity to win small bets. While studying at the University of Nevada-Reno, she worked as a cocktail waitress at Harrah’s. She played cards at a poker room during her shift.
The 55-year-old poker player soon took up stakes and moved to Los Angeles. She became a regular at Bicycle Club Casino. Jennifer’s first major poker tournament score came in 2000 when she won a No-Limit Deuce $ 2,000 bet with a prize pool of $ 146,250 in 7 rounds of the WSOP Championship. Two years later, she added another bracelet to the Texas Hold ’em Championship with a limit of $ 5,000 and a prize of $ 212,440 US dollars.
Jennifer became one of the top female players in the poker industry when women were barely recognized in the poker world. She is now the mother of two children and continues to play at the highest stakes.
Final Word
We saw how female participation in poker, a male-dominated game, rose in these past couple of decades. Women have not only shown great interest in the game but also excellent ability.
So, what are you waiting for? Start playing!