Reaching the upper echelons of poker requires a blend of talent and dedication, and the journey to the pinnacle is fraught with challenges. Numerous events – both in-person and online – present opportunities for players, but the journey is not without its trials, including periods of poor performance that can be discouraging. It’s a tough landscape where even the most adept players find consistency elusive. variance Considering this competitive environment, let’s explore the Top 10 female poker players throughout history. While opinions may vary on this selection, there’s no denying that these individuals showcase remarkable abilities when they join the action at the tables.
Although she has stepped back from the world of major tournaments, Vanessa Selbst remains the highest-earning female tournament player ever, boasting a remarkable $11.9 million in live tournament earnings. She is also unique in being the sole female player featured among the Top 100 on the All-Time Money List.
Top 10 women poker players of all time are:
1 – Vanessa Selbst
At the age of 35, Selbst has achieved a notable array of poker milestones, including three coveted bracelets, and securing back-to-back titles at the NAPT event in Mohegan Sun in both 2010 and 2011, collectively winning $1.2 million. Furthermore, she triumphed in the 2010 Partouche Poker Tour championship held in Cannes, which netted her an impressive $1.8 million. Additionally, she has participated in various televised cash games.
Originally hailing from New York, the former professional player holds a law degree from Yale University. In 2017, she transitioned from professional poker to a role at Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund located in Connecticut, a career shift that gained attention in the New York Times. Although she plays less frequently now, she still enters tournaments occasionally, including a 14th place finish at the WPT Borgata Poker Open in 2019, earning $39,950. World Series of Poker Following her departure from Bridgewater, Selbst and her wife relocated to Brooklyn, where they are raising their son. In 2017, she participated in one of the most memorable hands at the World Series of Poker, which is detailed below.
Known for her assertive playstyle, Selbst was a formidable presence at the poker tables.
With an outstanding performance in 2018 and 2019, Kristen Bicknell has positioned herself as one of the most exciting players in recent poker history. After securing second place in the Global Poker Index's Player of the Year rankings in 2016, she went on to clinch the title for three consecutive years – 2017, 2018, and 2019. Additionally, she consistently ranks among the top 10 players overall.
The 33-year-old Bicknell, from Ontario, Canada, kicked off her poker journey while attending college in 2006, and today, she has amassed $5.1 million in live tournament earnings along with substantial online winnings.
For more details, check out Vanessa Selbst poker profile .
2 – Kristen Bicknell
Her first significant breakthrough came in 2013 when she won the $1,000 Ladies Championship at the WSOP, taking home $173,922. Three years later, she proudly won her second bracelet in a $1,500 Bounty event, earning herself $290,768, and in 2017, she captured a $5,200 NLHE preliminary event during the Five Diamond World Poker Classic, earning $199,840.
Bicknell’s impressive results have continued globally, including a remarkable victory at a $25,000 Poker Masters NLHE event in 2019, where she took home $408,000. Showing no signs of slowing, she also finished as a runner-up in March 2020 at the $5,200 Bay 101 Shooting Star, winning $141,520. playing poker online She remains a formidable opponent at the poker tables.
Jennifer Harman is one of the most recognized female players in poker and has made her mark in some of the biggest games in the industry. Holding two WSOP bracelets, she has amassed $2.8 million in live tournament earnings.
Growing up in Reno, Nevada, Harman used a fake identification card to enter small-stakes games where she quickly began to win. While studying at the University of Nevada-Reno, she worked as a cocktail waitress at Harrah’s and soon found herself playing poker after her shifts.
Now 55, Harman advanced through the stakes, eventually moving to Los Angeles, where she became a fixture at the Bicycle Club Casino. Her initial major tournament success occurred in 2000, where she took down a $2,000 No-Limit Deuce to Seven event at the WSOP for an impressive $146,250. Just two years later, she won her second bracelet in a $5,000 event.
3 – Jennifer Harman
A long-time Vegas cash game player Harman’s success continued, and she was one of the early women advocates in poker when it was not fashionable to encourage female participation. Today, she is a proud mother of two while still competing at the highest levels.
Another prominent figure in the poker circuit is Maria Ho, originally from Los Angeles, known for her versatility not only at the tables but also as a commentator and host for major events on platforms like PokerGO and ESPN.
Once she completed her education, Ho transitioned into high-stakes poker. With $4.1 million in live tournament winnings, she has also shown her aptitude on television, participating in popular game shows like The Amazing Race and Deal or No Deal . Limit Hold’em event for $212,440.
One of her most notable achievements came in 2011 when she finished as the runner-up in a $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event, earning $540,020. Her success continued as she captured a title at WPT Deepstacks in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2018, earning $69,166. Ho has accrued numerous impressive scores, narrowly missing a WPT title in 2019 with a third-place finish at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, for $344,960.
4 – Maria Ho
Recognized as one of the game's favored players, her background in communications has proven advantageous as she entered broadcasting in 2013.
After playing low-stakes games Her skill set and determination consistently translate into success both at the tables and in her broadcasting endeavors.
Though her career totals may not rival those of some contemporaries, Cyndy Enright has maintained a steady presence in the poker world since 1986. Based in Los Angeles, she has accumulated over $1.7 million in live tournament winnings, notably during an era when the poker scene was predominantly male.
In 1996, Enright made history as the first woman to win a WSOP bracelet in an open event by clinching a $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em tournament for $180,000.
In the preceding year, she made headlines in the WSOP’s $10,000 Main Event, becoming the first woman to reach a final table in this prestigious competition, where she ultimately finished fifth for $114,180. She further established her legacy by winning two WSOP Ladies Seven Card Stud titles in 1986 and 1994.
For more details, check out Maria Ho poker profile .
5 – Barbara Enright
Enright's achievements also feature a WSOP Circuit ring and her induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007. Beginning her casino journey in 1976, she discovered that playing cards part-time provided more lucrative earnings than her three other jobs, which included a hairstylist and a cocktail waitress.
Cyndy Enright is indeed a trailblazer and an icon in the poker community.
Kathy Liebert is another influential player who embraced poker at a time when it was not broadly accepted among women. At 52 years old, her journey began in 1995, during which she accrued $6.1 million in live tournament earnings.
Her first notable achievement came in 1997 at the WSOP, where she finished second in a $3,000 NLHE event, pocketing $123,690. A significant breakthrough came in 2002 when she won an $8,000 tournament as part of a Card Player Cruises series, earning herself a whopping $1 million.
In 2003, Liebert claimed another runner-up spot in a $1,500 NLHE event at the WSOP for $91,700. The following year, she celebrated her first bracelet victory with a win in a $1,500 Shootout for $110,180.
6 – Kathy Liebert
Further accolades followed during the poker boom, including a runner-up finish at the $5,000 WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic in 2007 for $103,984, and a third-place finish at the $10,000 WPT Borgata Poker Open in 2005 for $427,115.
Liebert continues to be a figure of success on the tournament circuit, boasting an impressive record.
This British player has established her unique presence in the poker world with $3.9 million in live tournament earnings over the last decade. Liv Boeree's journey began with her first tournament win in 2008 in a £2,000 ladies’ event in the UK, where she secured $42,000. Numerous cash finishes in smaller events soon set the stage for a monumental payday at the EPT.
In the €5,300 Main Event in San Remo, she emerged as the champion, winning $1.7 million. Major accomplishments continued, including a third-place finish in 2015 at the €25,500 High Roller during EPT Barcelona, netting $449,383. Boeree also etched her name in history by winning a WSOP bracelet in 2017 during the $10,000 Tag Team Championship along with her boyfriend, Igor Kurganov, for $136,982.
At just 35, Boeree holds a degree in physics from the University of Manchester and is a three-time winner of the Global Poker Index's European Female Player of the Year . Beyond her poker pursuits, she invests her time in a charitable foundation she established. woman players in history .
7 – Liv Boeree
Boeree has become a familiar face on television, participating in various game shows and science-related programming, known for her warm personality and active YouTube channel where she shares science content.
Liv Boeree continues to shine as one of the leading female stars in the poker realm.
While Annie Duke has stepped away from competitive poker, she remains one of the most accomplished female players in history. After the closure of two unsuccessful poker ventures – one an online platform and the other a professional tour – she chose to leave the poker scene in 2011.
Duke's live tournament winnings total approximately $4.3 million, including a remarkable 10th place finish in a tournament in 2000, where she was nine months pregnant at the time. In addition, she earned a WSOP bracelet in 2004 by winning a $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo event, securing $137,860, and she also clinched the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship title in 2010.
At 54 years old, a mother of four, and sibling to fellow poker player Howard Lederer, Duke once held the record for the highest female earnings in WSOP before being surpassed by Vanessa Selbst. Following the conclusion of the Epic Poker League,
8 – Annie Duke
Duke has seemingly shifted her focus away from poker to work as a corporate speaker and strategist. In 2018, she authored the book Thinking In Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts and continues to excel in the business strategy sector.
Regardless of opinions about her, it’s undeniable that Duke has accumulated a wealth of winnings at the poker tables. WSOP Main Event This Norwegian player made history in 2007 by winning the first World Series of Poker Europe, netting over $2 million at just 18 years old. This achievement alone propels her into the spotlight as one of the most recognized female players in the game. The victory made her the youngest player ever to win a WSOP event.
Just two months prior to this historic win, Annette Obrestad gained attention by playing an entire 180-player tournament for a mere $4 without ever peeking at her cards. Using tape to obscure her computer screen, she remarkably secured victory in that event.
Female poker players are increasingly competing with their male counterparts for top rankings and substantial winnings in the poker industry. 888poker highlights the leading women players who have successfully established their presence.
Excelling in poker requires significant talent and dedication, and reaching the pinnacle of success is no simple feat. Numerous competitions exist, both in-person and online, and
9 – Annette Obrestad
experiencing periods of losses can be quite discouraging. Maintaining consistent success is challenging, even for the most proficient players.
With that in mind, let's explore the Top 10 female poker players throughout history. While this list may be subjective, it's undeniable that these women possess remarkable skills when they take their places at the tables. online tournament Although she has mostly stepped back from high-profile tournament play, Selbst continues to hold the title of the most successful woman tournament player ever, boasting an impressive $11.9 million in live tournament earnings. She also stands out as the sole female player to break into the Top 100 of the All-Time Money List.
At 35 years old, Selbst's poker resume is extensive, featuring three
bracelets, consecutive NAPT titles at Mohegan Sun in 2010 and 2011 totaling $1.2 million, and a championship win at the 2010 Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes that brought in $1.8 million. Additionally, Selbst has made appearances in cash games that were broadcasted on multiple platforms.
Hailing from New York, this former professional poker player earned a law degree from Yale University. She transitioned away from professional poker in 2017 to join Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund based in Connecticut. This career change was even covered in the New York Times. Currently, she plays poker occasionally, and in 2019 participated in the WPT Borgata Poker Open, finishing 14th and winning $39,950.
10 – Maria Constanza Lampropulos
After her tenure at Bridgewater, Selbst and her partner moved to Brooklyn, where they are raising their son. In 2017, she was part of one of the most memorable hands in the World Series of Poker (details below).
Known for her aggressive strategy and determination, Selbst was a formidable force at the poker tables.
During an impressive span in 2018 and 2019, Bicknell emerged as one of the hottest players in the poker scene. Following a second-place finish in the Global Poker Index Player of the Year rankings in 2016, she went on to secure the title for three consecutive years – 2017, 2018, and 2019. She often ranks among the Top 10 in overall standings.
A 33-year-old from Ontario, Canada, Bicknell started her poker journey
while in college in 2006. She has since accumulated $5.1 million in live tournament earnings, along with a considerable amount in online play.