Historically, women had to overcome many obstacles in various areas of life. There is no point in comparing women’s rights struggle to anything happening in the world of poker. But it doesn’t mean no significant milestone was achieved in this area by celebrity poker players.
Barbara Freer became the very first woman to attend the WSOP (World Series of Poker) Main Event in 1978. It caused a few “disgruntled reactions.” However, nowadays, poker is a very inclusive game, although still more men than women play cards, especially at the professional level.
With a deck of cards and some chips, anybody can enjoy the classic game. The best online poker sites and mobile apps make it even easier for the growing number of female players. Another exciting aspect of the game is that women and men compete directly against each other. It is a rare opportunity for a sports contest where differences in physicality do not matter.
The old days
Poker is relatively old. The early influences can probably be traced to the 18th century, but the famous card game truly developed in the 19th century United States. In all fairness, when serious organized playing became a trend, women were there from the start. The stories of “Poker Alice” Ivers and Mayme Stocker seem to disprove the saying that it is a men’s game.
The first of mentioned ladies earned the nickname throughout her lifetime. She started joining her first husband at the tables in the 1880s. After his passing, Alice decided to make a living by playing poker, and she kept doing that until she passed in 1930.
Mayme Stocker, on the other hand, owned her own establishment in Las Vegas, which was a soda shop, but the place allowed people to play some cards. At the time of full real money gaming legalization in Nevada, she applied for the state’s first-ever issued license.
Standing out from the crowd
There are many women these days that decide to play cards professionally or recreationally. A lot of them promote brands and have their own fanbase. Naturally, you cannot conclusively answer the question of who is the most popular.
Perhaps celebrity poker players are the most notable, but a distinction between a hobby and real effort would have to be established to make a point. Jennifer Tilly, for example, who is known for the horror series Child’s Play, effectively combines poker with acting.
When thinking about true professionals, one cannot omit a British poker champion Liv Boeree. With a background in astrophysics and many more interests and enterprises, she certainly outgrew the discipline she represented very well over the years. She still does despite announcing in 2019 a retirement from a professional career.
Recipe for success
During her playing days, Boeree achieved a lot to be called one of the most successful women in this business. Perhaps this title should go to an American player Vanessa Selbst. She also ended her career at some point to work at a lucrative hedge fund but came back to playing live tournaments a while ago.
Some of Selbst’s accomplishments include, but are not limited to, the following: reaching a final table at World Poker Tour on multiple occasions, being the highest-earning female player (nearly $12 million in live tournament winnings), and winning 3 World Series of Poker Bracelets.
