The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has evolved over the years, only getting bigger and more and more competitive with time. The series overall as well as the Main Event today is much different from what it was when it initially started.
As more and more players become aware of the poker landscape they continue to be drawn to the ultimate competitive poker event, the WSOP. Playing and winning at the WSOP, especially the Main Event, is the dream of every poker player who grinds out there. Similarly, the female participation in the event has also considerably increased.
The Main Event over the years has witnessed remarkable performances from female players, signifying significant milestones in the history of the Main Event. These achievements highlight the skill and competitive spirit that female players bring to the poker table, particularly in a male dominant sport.
In a flashback, we remember some of the top finishes by women at the WSOP Main Event, thus celebrating their impressive runs and the norms that they have defied in what’s traditionally considered as a “man’s game”. Their noteworthy results have not only inspired a new generation of female poker enthusiasts but also symbolised the evolving landscape of professional poker across the globe.
Here are the top five finishes by female players at the WSOP Main Event in terms of the position they finished, or the closest they managed to get to the ultimate WSOP Main Event title.
Barbara Enright finishes 5th at WSOP 1995 Main Event
Even nearly three decades after her run, female poker player Barbara Enright is to date the closest a female has managed to get to the coveted WSOP Main Event title. Back then it was a six-day event, with just the final table of six players being televised.
Thus, Barbara Enright created history as it was the first time in the history of the main event that the final table was not composed entirely of men. Additionally, Barbara Enright had not only made it to the final table but also the television table of six.
The 1995 WSOP Main Event had a competitive field of 273 entries, which Barbara Enright managed to surpass to take the fifth spot for a handsome $114,180 back then.
Unfortunately, the Ladies didn’t favour her as she moved all in with pocket eights and was called by 6 and 3. She was in the driver’s seat until a 6 and a 3 made their way onto the board and thus the last woman standing was eliminated in fifth place.
Gaelle Baumann takes the 10th spot at WSOP 2012
The 2012 WSOP Main Event saw another female poker player make it to the top 10 after more than a decade. This was in the form of Gaelle Baumann. This Main Event had 6,598 entries, out of which Gaelle Baumann finished at the 10th place and took home her share of $590,442 from the $62,031,385 total prize pool.
Annie Duke finishes 10th at WSOP 2000
Annie Duke also managed to make it to the top 10 at the WSOP Main Event in 2000. She surpassed a field of 512 total entries to reach the 10th spot. She cashed $52,160 from the total prize pool of $5,120,000 collected at this event.
Susie Isaacs takes 10th spot at WSOP 1998
Two years before Annie Duke, Susie Isaacs had also finished 10th at the WSOP 1998 edition. She collected $40,000 from the total $3,500,000 prize pool. She emerged at the 10th spot from among 530 entries in total.
Before Barbara Enright’s history making 1995 WSOP Main Event run, the best score by a female at WSOP Main Event was recorded by Barbara Samuelson at the 1994 WSOP. Barbara Samuelson had finished 10th in the event which had 268 entries in the field. The female poker pro pocketed her share of $26,880 from the $2,680,000 prize pool for her 10th place finish.
Top 10 finishes by female poker players in WSOP Main Event
| Rank | Year | Name | Place | Amount cashed |
| 1 | 1995 | Barbara Enright | 5th | $114,180 |
| 2 | 2012 | Gaelle Baumann | 10th | $590,442 |
| 3 | 2000 | Annie Duke | 10th | $52,160 |
| 4 | 1998 | Susie Isaacs | 10th | $40,000 |
| 5 | 1994 | Barbara Samuelson | 10th | $26,880 |
| 6 | 1997 | Marsha Waggoner | 12th | $33,920 |
| 7 | 2005 | Tiffany Williamson | 15th | $400,000 |
| 8 | 2008 | Tiffany Michelle | 17th | $334,534 |
| 9 | 2022 | Efthymia Litsou | 18th | $323,100 |
| 10 | 1993 | Marsha Waggoner | 19th | $12,000 |
Top Female Finishes in WSOP Main Event 2023
From India, WSOP bracelet winner Nikita Luther is the best female finisher in the Main Event. She showcased remarkable performance last year, finishing for a commendable 96th place for $78,900. Luther’s deep run in the main event was loaded by many poker superstars, including Phil Hellmuth.
Finishing ahead of her in last year’s main event was France’s Estelle Cohuet who finished deepest with a 68th place for $ 130,300.
Women Making Waves in WSOP 2024 Main Event
With the 2024 WSOP Main Event underway, it will be interesting to see if any female player manage to break the jinx and make it past the previous fifth place finish by Barbara Enright. The former three-time GPI Player of the Year Kristen Foxen has advanced to Day 6 of the ongoing Main Event with a stack of 5,400,000. Alongside Foxen, there are three more women remaining in the mix , with Ma Li (4,050,000), Shundan Xiao (3,205,000) and Danielle Andersen (1,725,000) with each of them hoping to become the first female final table player since 1995 when Barbara Enright finished fifth and banked $114,180 for her historic feat.
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Image Credit: WSOP & PokerNews
