List of World Series of Poker ladies champions

The World Series of Poker (WSOP), held annually in Las Vegas, is "the oldest, largest, most prestigious, and most media-hyped gaming competition in the world".[1] The WSOP bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win.[2] Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP, but titles won before 1976 are still counted as "bracelets".

Susie Isaacs is one of only two women to win the Ladies Championship in back to back years.
Jennifer Tilly, Academy Award nominee, won the 2005 Ladies Championship.

The first WSOP was not a freeze out tournament, but rather an event with a set start and stop time and the winner determined by secret ballot.[3] In 1973, a second event, five-card stud, was added. Over the years, most of the major poker variants have been played at least once. In 1977, the first Ladies only event was introduced in the form of $100 buy-in Stud Poker Tournament. Jackie McDaniels won that event to become the first Ladies Champion. She won one of the smallest prizes ($5,580) in WSOP history. By 2007, the popularity of the Ladies Event had grown to the point that it became the first Ladies-only event to have a prize pool greater than $1,000,000. The Ladies played Seven Card Stud for the event's first two decades, but have been playing Texas hold 'em since 2001.[4]

Since its inception, three players have won multiple Ladies Championships: Barbara Enright, Susie Isaacs, and Nani Dollison. Dollison and Isaacs won the event in consecutive years. Between 1991 and 1997, Isaacs set an event record by qualifying for a cash prize, known as finishing in-the-money, five times.[4] The 1983 Ladies World Poker Championship was the first time that a person "of color", Carolyn Gardner, won a WSOP bracelet.[4]

Traditionally, the Ladies event was the only event held on Mother Day. Due to complaints from mothers, the event was moved to a different day in 2004.[4] Potential conflicts with Mother's Day no longer exist as the WSOP's new owner, Harrah's Casino, moved the event from late spring to the late summer.[4]

The WSOP started offering a "WSOP Academy Ladies Only Poker Camp" in 2007. This week-long event is held at Caesars Palace and is designed to equip women with the tools to compete at the World Series of Poker. It is held the week leading up to the Ladies Championship. Every year since its inception, a participant from the camp has made it to the final table. In 2007, Ladies Champion Sally Anne Boyer participated in the camp.[5] Patty Till, a 2008 attendee, finished in third place at the 2008 Ladies Championship.[6]

WSOP Ladies Championship events

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Elected to the Poker Hall of Fame.
Prize (US$) The amount of money won for winning the Ladies Event that year.
Bracelet # The bracelet number from the total number of bracelets won during their career.
Year Event name Entrants Winner Prize (US$) Bracelet # Runner-up References
1977 $100 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 93   Jackie McDaniels $5,580 1   unknown [7]
1978 $200 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 84   Terry King $10,080 1   unknown [8]
1979 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 53   Barbara Freer $12,720 1   Pat Sovoia [9]
1980 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 62   Deby Callihan $14,880 1   Linda Davis [10]
1981 $400 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 88   Ruth Godfrey $17,600 1   Jackie Jean [11]
1982 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 64   June Field $16,000 1   Jackie Jean [12]
1983 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 64   Carolyn Gardner $16,000 1   Kim Bye [13]
1984 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 62   Karen Wolfson $15,000 1   Marsha Waggoner [14]
1985 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 74   Rose Pifer $18,500 1   Kathy Hudson [15]
1986 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 82   Barbara Enright $16,400 1 (of 3)   Betty Carey [16]
1987 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 84   Linda Ryke-Drucker $16,800 1   Barbara Putterman [17]
1988 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 85   Loretta Huber $17,000 1   Ester Rossi [18]
1989 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 93   Alma McClelland $18,600 1   Adrienne Zoia [19]
1990 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 110   Marie Gabert $22,000 1   Jenny Kaye [20]
1991 $500 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 141   Donna Ward $28,200 1   Toni Brown [21]
1992 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 155   Shari Flanzer $38,000 1   Kim Alford [22]
1993 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 82   Phyllis Kessler $32,800 1   Becki Vincent [23]
1994 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 96   Barbara Enright (2) $38,400 2 (of 3)   Natalie Ryke [16]
1995 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 88   Starla Brodie $35,200 2 (of 2)   Karen Wolfson [24]
1996 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 105   Susie Isaacs $42,000 1 (of 2)   Nikki Harris [25]
1997 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 95   Susie Isaacs (2) $38,000 2 (of 2)   Karen Wolfson [25]
1998 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 100   Mandy Commanda $40,000 1   Jerri Thomas [26]
1999 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud 85   Christina Pie $34,000 1   LaVonne Joyce [27]
2000 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud 133   Nani Dollison $53,200 1 (of 3)   Martine Oules [28]
2001 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud 106   Nani Dollison (2) $41,130 3 (of 3)   Patty Gallagher [28]
2002 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud 107   Catherine Brown $39,880 1   Marie Sohn [29]
2003 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em/Seven Card Stud 112   Barb Rugolo $40,700 1   J. J. Liu [30]
2004 $1,000 Ladies' Limit Hold'em 201   Hung Doan $58,530 1   Millie Shiu [31]
2005 $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em 601   Jennifer Tilly[a] $158,335 1   Anh Le [32]
2006 $1,000 Ladies' No Limit Hold'em 1,128   Mary Jones Meyer $236,094 1   Shawnee Barton [33]
2007 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 1,286   Sally Boyer $262,077 1   Anne Heft [34]
2008[b] $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 1,190   Svetlana Gromenkova $224,702 1   Anh Le [35]
2009 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 1,060   Lisa Hamilton $195,390 1   Lori Bender [36]
2010 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 1,054   Vanessa Hellebuyck $192,132 1   Sidsel Boesen [37]
2011 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 1,055   Marsha Wolak $192,344 1   Karina Jett
2012 $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship 936   Yen Dang $170,587 1   Debbie Pechac
2013 $10,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 954   Kristen Bicknell $173,922 1 (of 3)   Leanne Haas
2014 $10,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 793   Haixia Zhang $153,470 1   Mikiyo Aoki
2015 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 795   Jacquelyn Scott $153,876 1   Hope Williams
2016 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 819   Courtney Kennedy $149,108 1   Amanda Baker
2017 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 718   Heidi May $135,098 1   Deborah Worley-Roberts
2018 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 696   Jessica Dawley $130,230 1   Jill Pike
2019 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 968   Jiyoung Kim $167,308 1   Nancy Matson
2020 not held
2021 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 644   Lara Eisenberg $115,694 1   Debora Brooke
2022 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 1,074   Jessica Teusl $166,975 1   Julie Le
2023 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 1,295   Tamar Abraham $192,167 1   Shiina Okamoto
2024 $10,000/$1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship[c] 1,245   Shiina Okamoto $171,732 1   Jamie Kerstetter [38]

a 2005 Ladies Champion Jennifer Tilly was the first non-poker celebrity to win a WSOP bracelet. Tilly had been nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Bullets over Broadway.[39]

b On 10 June 2008, three events awarded bracelets, including the Ladies event. This was the first time in WSOP history that three people living in the same city, New York, won bracelets on the same day.[6] It was also the first time that a new "excessive celebration" penalty was implemented to minimize disruption from exuberant players.[6]

c From 2013, the entry fee was officially changed to $10,000 with a $9,000 "discount" for ladies. This was done to close a legal loophole used by men to enter the ladies event in several prior years.

References

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  1. ^ "World Series of Poker History". ESPN.com. ESPN. July 28, 2006. Archived from the original on May 28, 2004. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
  2. ^ "Poker's glory is about the bracelet, not the money". Albuquerque Tribune. Associated Press. July 28, 2006. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  3. ^ "A History of the WSOP: The Champions". PokerRoom.com. Ongame Network Ltd. June 13, 2007. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e Smith, Barry (June 11, 2008). "WSOP Event 15 - Facts and (36-28-36) Figures". Betting@betfair. Betfair. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
  5. ^ "From poker camp to world champ". WSPN Poker. ESPN. July 2, 2007. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
  6. ^ a b c "WSOP Notes". Poker Pro Magazine. Retrieved January 22, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "Jackie McDaniels". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  8. ^ "Terry King". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  9. ^ "Barbara Freer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  10. ^ "Deby Callihan". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  11. ^ "Ruth Godfrey". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  12. ^ "June Field". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  13. ^ "Carolyn Gardner". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  14. ^ "Karen Wolfson". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  15. ^ "Rose Pifer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  16. ^ a b "Barbara Enright". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  17. ^ "Linda Ryke Drucker". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  18. ^ "Loretta Huber". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  19. ^ "Alma McClelland". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  20. ^ "Marie Gabert". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  21. ^ "Donna Ward". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  22. ^ "Shari Flanzer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  23. ^ "Phyllis Kessler". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  24. ^ "Starla Brodie". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  25. ^ a b "Susie Isaacs". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  26. ^ "Mandy Commanda". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  27. ^ "Christina Pie". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  28. ^ a b "Nani Dollison". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  29. ^ "Catherine Brown". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  30. ^ "Barb Rugolo". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  31. ^ "Hung Doan". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  32. ^ "Jennifer Tilly". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Archived from the original on August 16, 2009. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  33. ^ "Mary Jones Meyer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  34. ^ "Sally Boyer". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  35. ^ "Svetlana Gromenkova". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  36. ^ "Lisa Hamilton". World Series of Poker. Harrah's Casino. Retrieved November 7, 2009.
  37. ^ "Vanessa Hellebyck". World Series of Poker. Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  38. ^ Johnson, Roxanne (July 2, 2024). "Runner-Up No More: Shiina Okamoto Wins Ladies' Event With Fierce Determination and Confidence". PokerNews. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  39. ^ "Jennifer Tilly Of Harbour City, CA". Cardplayer Magazine. Cardplayer Magazine. Retrieved January 23, 2009.