Ema Zajmović is a well-known a Bosnian-Canadian poker professional, who got her first live cash in 2011 and became the first woman to win an open World Poker Tour Main Event in 2017.
That victory not only earned her $183,788, but also shattered a norm around Women in Poker. Beyond the felt, Zajmović balances a thriving academic career in public relations with high-stakes tournament play.
Early Life and Introduction to Poker
Ema Zajmović was born on April 7, 1990, in the war-torn former Yugoslavia. Competitive by nature, she excelled in games and sports from a young age. In 1996, at age six, she emigrated with her family to Quebec City, Canada, following the end of the Yugoslav Wars. Zajmović, who initially wanted to become a lawyer, later shifted her focus to public relations.
She earned a master’s degree in Political Communication from Université Laval and even contributed to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2015 election campaign. Today, she continues to work part-time in PR alongside her poker career.
In an interview, Zajmović revealed that her ex-boyfriend first introduced her to poker; despite his advice to not get into poker, she was fascinated by the game’s psychological depth—and never looked back.
Poker Career Highlights and Winnings
Zajmović’s first recorded cash came in 2011, when she finished ninth in the EPT Barcelona Turbo Bounty for $1,556. The following year, she claimed an eighth place in the EPT Campione €2,000 NLH 8-Max Turbo, earning €3,814. After placing fifth in the 2015 WPT Montreal Kahnawake C$3,850 Main Event for C$76,108, she rose to international fame in February 2017.
Entering the WPT Playground Kahnawake $3,500 Main Event as chip leader, Zajmović knocked out four opponents en route to victory and a $183,788 payday—making her the first woman in the 15-year history of the World Poker Tour to win an open Main Event.
She nearly doubled down on that success in 2018, finishing runner-up in both the WPT Amsterdam €3,300 Main Event ($123,598) and the WPT Montreal Kahnawake C$5,000 Main Event (C$424,511). In 2019, she ventured into high rollers, placing 17th in the partypoker MILLIONS World Bahamas $10,000 High Roller for $25,000.
The 2021 WSOP online series saw her cash five times, including a 12th-place finish in the $888 PLO Crazy 8 Handed event ($4,583). Zajmović continued to pick up scores with money finishes at the 2022 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship ($9,300) and the WPT World Championship ($18,450), and she earned $46,500 at the 2023 PCA $25,000 Players NLH Championship.
Her most recent recorded cash came in 2024 when she finished 74th in the Wynn Summer Classic $2,200 event for $6,901, and she also participated in the 2024 WSOP without cashing. As of May 2025, Zajmović has amassed over $1.2 million in live tournament earnings from just 38 cashes—cementing her status as one of poker’s top female professionals.
Where Is Ema Zajmovic Now?
Although no longer a regular on the live tournament circuit, Zajmović still plays cash games and selective events. While not very active now at the felts, her legacy continues to inspire many women across the world. Off the felt, she is a Chargée de cours (Course Lecturer) in Advanced Public Relations at Université Laval, sharing her strategic communication expertise with the next generation. Her dual career in academia and poker exemplifies the power of psychological insight, whether negotiating crisis communications or bluffing on the final river.
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