Despite being considered a male-dominated game, there is a long history of great female players in poker, and it’s important to recognize them. It requires an exceptionally sharp mind and a niche skill set, blending mathematical probability with astute social awareness. We pick out our top three women who owned poker in the article below.
Barbara Enright
There is no one more qualified to top a list of the most influential women in poker than Barbara Enright. She was the first woman to win three World Series of Poker bracelets. These are the most sought-after non-cash prizes in the game. They are awarded to those who manage to win an event at the WSOP.
Barbara’s life in poker began in 1976 when she played in cardrooms while working as a hairstylist and cocktail waitress. In 1995, she became the only woman to ever make the last table of the $10,000 buy-in event. She has also been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. It is estimated that her total winnings from live events will be around $1,650,000.
Liv Boeree
Liv Boeree is the modern face of women’s poker. Dubbed the Poker Queen and the Iron Maiden, having retired in 2019, she still remains in the top five female poker players of all time by winnings at live games. She currently holds the record for the largest payout given to a female poker player in a tournament at $2,800,000.
Born in Kent, Boeree has had a number of occupations. She studied astrophysics at the University of Manchester while modeling and playing guitar in heavy metal bands. Her affiliation with poker came when she was selected for a television show that aired in 2005 and was trained by several top poker players.
Boeree’s success hit at a time when the so-called “poker boom” was just starting to surge. Televised events had begun to take place, and online poker rooms were becoming a viable way of playing. Today, these online spaces have become a crucial outlet through which many of the world’s 120 million poker players compete.
With these new ways to play and enjoy poker, it’s no wonder that more women than ever continue to follow in Boeree’s footsteps. Today, numbers are further bolstered by attractive offers like the WSOP promo code, which gives people credit to play games online. Playing online has also allowed new players to develop their strategy without dipping too far into their bankroll.
In 2019, Boeree retired to concentrate on other work. This has included roles in movies, hosting television shows on The Weather Channel, and starring in several game shows.
Jennifer Tilly
Jennifer Tilly is famous as both an actress and a poker player. She’s amassed a whole host of awards for her on-screen pursuits, such as the American Comedy Award and MTV Movie Award.
She has been in everything from animated classics like Stuart Little to horror slashers like Bride of Chucky. And, if that’s not enough, when it comes to poker, she’s achieved a WSOP bracelet, a win at the third WSOP Ladies Invitational, and a sum of winnings to date that eclipses $1 million. She is also one-half of a poker power couple with well-known player Phil Laak.
So, with opportunities to play more plentiful today than ever, the next queen of poker may yet be found.
