The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is known for rewarding its players with not only money but also prestige and a name that will be remembered for generations and years to come. Over the years, there have been several players who have etched their names in the books of WSOP history.
While all these players have earned their fame and titles with great efforts, there are several female players too, who deserve a special mention. Although poker may be considered by some as a male-dominated game, a few women players have gone against all odds to prove that this game does not have gender as a barrier.
Women have been playing poker at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) since the first tournament in 1970. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that women began to achieve success at the WSOP. In 1995, Barbara Enright became the first woman to win a WSOP bracelet. Since then, women have won 10 more bracelets, including Annette Obrestad’s victory in 2007, when she became the youngest player to ever win a bracelet at the age of 18.
Today, there are many successful female poker players who compete at the WSOP. Some of the most notable include Vanessa Selbst, Annie Duke, and Maria Ho. These women have helped to pave the way for other women who want to play poker professionally.
The number of women participating in the WSOP has been steadily increasing in recent years. In 2023, there were over 2,000 women who entered WSOP events. This is a testament to the growing popularity of poker among women.
As the number of women playing poker continues to grow, it is likely that we will see even more female winners at the WSOP in the years to come.
These female players have not only proved their game and their worth but also taken home impressive sums of money to flaunt as their earnings from the game. So let’s have a look at the WSOP Women All-Time Money List.
Position | Name | Earnings |
1 | Wenling Gao | $2,759,710 |
2 | Vanessa Selbst | $2,201,877 |
3 | Annette Obrestad | $2,176,725 |
4 | Maria Ho | $1,959,554 |
5 | Loni Harwood | $1,933,164 |
6 | Kathy Liebert | $1,681,627 |
7 | Jen Harman | $1,503,592 |
8 | Esther Taylor-Brady | $1,394,122 |
9 | Kristen Bicknell | $1,370,442 |
10 | Annie Duke | $1,166,567 |
The first female pro on the WSOP Women All-Time Money List will leave you surprised. It’s China’s Wenling Gao. The surprising thing about her is that she has just two cashes at the WSOP, including one final table finish and zero WSOP bracelets to her name. With just two cashes, Gao tops the WSOP Women All-Time Money List boasting a total earning of $2,759,710 from the series.
Gao was born in Chengdu, China, in 1987. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in China. She began playing in WSOP events in 2015, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
Gao’s best finish at the WSOP was a runner-up finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2020 WSOP, which earned her $2,748,605. This was the largest ever cash for a female player at the WSOP.
Well-known female pro Vanessa Selbst ranks second on WSOP Women All-Time Money List. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the world. She is known for her aggressive playing style and her mastery of the game of No-Limit Hold’em. Selbst has three WSOP bracelets and 29 cashes at the series accounting to $2,201,877 in earnings.
Selbst is a true pioneer for women in poker. She was one of the first female players to achieve success at the highest levels of the game, and she helped to pave the way for other women to follow in her footsteps. She is a role model for female poker players all over the world, and her legacy will continue to inspire for years to come.
Norway’s Annette Obrestad is the third player on the WSOP Women All-Time Money list, with one WSOP bracelet and 13 cash grabs at the series. Obrestad has a total of $2,176,725 in earnings from the WSOP.
Obrestad was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1988. She started playing poker online when she was 14 years old, and she quickly became one of the best players in the world. In 2007, she won the World Series of Poker $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event, becoming the youngest player to win a bracelet.
Female pro Maria Ho flaunts a total of $1,959,554 in earnings from the WSOP from an impressive 80 cashes. Ho does not have any WSOP bracelets yet. However, she ranks fourth on the WSOP Women All Time Money list.
Ho was born in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1983. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in Asia. She began playing in WSOP events in 2007, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
Ho’s best finish at the WSOP was a second-place finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2011 WSOP, which earned her $540,020.
Ho is also a successful online poker player. She has won several major online tournaments, including the Sunday Million and the Sunday Warm-Up. Ho is a well-respected member of the poker community. She is known for her aggressive playing style and her friendly personality. She is a role model for many female poker players, and she is a regular on the tournament circuit.
Loni Harwood is a professional poker player from New York. She has won five World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit rings, and she has cashed in over 100 WSOP events. Her total live tournament winnings exceed $3 million.
Harwood was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1976. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the New York City area. She began playing in WSOP Circuit events in 2007, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
In 2013, Harwood won her first WSOP Circuit ring in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event at Harrah’s Atlantic City.
Harwood has also cashed in several WSOP bracelet events. Her best finish was a third-place finish in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2017 WSOP, which earned her $333,243.
Kathy Liebert, another renowned pro, flaunts a total of $1,681,627 in live earnings from the WSOP. She has one WSOP bracelet, one ring and a whopping 138 cashes at the series, which have helped her rank at the sixth place.
Liebert was born in Ventura, California, in 1969. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the Los Angeles area. She began playing in WSOP events in 1995, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
In 2004, Liebert won her first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event. She followed that up with a third-place finish in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2005 WSOP, which earned her $275,225. Liebert is known for her aggressive playing style and her flamboyant personality. She is a popular figure in the poker world, and she is often featured in poker magazines and websites.
With two bracelets and 41 cashes, Jen Harman ranks seventh on the WSOP Women All Time Money List. Harman has a total of $1,503,592 in earnings from the series.
Harman was born in Reno, Nevada, in 1973. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the Las Vegas area. She began playing in WSOP events in 1998, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
In 2000, Harman won her first WSOP bracelet in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event. She followed that up with a win in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the 2004 WSOP, which earned her $603,875.
Esther Taylor-Brady is a professional poker player from Portland, Oregon. She has won no World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, but she has cashed in over 20 WSOP events. Her total live tournament winnings exceed $1.4 million. Esther Taylor-Brady has $1,394,122 in live earnings from WSOP, giving her the eight spot on the WSOP Women All Time Money List. She has a total of 40 cashes to her credit.
Taylor-Brady was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1986. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the Pacific Northwest. She began playing in WSOP events in 2009, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
Taylor-Brady’s best finish at the WSOP was a third-place finish in the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better event at the 2016 WSOP, which earned her $174,118.
Canada’s Kristen Bicknell takes the ninth spot on the WSOP Women All Time Money List with $1,300,759 earnings to her credit. Bicknell has three WSOP bracelets and 52 cashes to flaunt.
Bicknell was born in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1984. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the Canadian poker scene. She began playing in WSOP events in 2008, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
In 2013, Bicknell won her first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Bounty event. She followed that up with wins in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Bounty event at the 2016 WSOP and the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event at the 2020 WSOP.
Finally, the last player on the list is Annie Duke with $1,166,567 in earnings coming from one bracelet and 39 cashes. Duke was born in New York City in 1971. She started playing poker in her early 20s, and she quickly became one of the best players in the New York City area. She began playing in WSOP events in 1994, and she quickly racked up a string of cashes.
In 2004, Duke won her first WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em event. She followed that up with a win in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em – Ladies event at the 2007 WSOP, which earned her $250,000.
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Amarylisa Gonsalves is a Content Writer at Gutshot Magazine. Advancing from a marketing background, she found her calling in writing. She takes delight in exploring genres and is a curious learner. Patient and ambivert, she believes in letting her work speak for itself. Apart from content writing, she finds solace in writing poetry by expressing herself through words. Additionally, she adores indulging in anything that satisfies her creative self, like drawing and DIY crafts.
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