From Records to Firsts: 2024 Was the Year for Women in Poker

Maria Konnikova: From Circuit Ring to WSOP Bracelet

It’s safe to say that Maria Konnikova began 2024 on the right foot. The writer-turned-poker-pro claimed her first WSOP Circuit ring in the $525 NLH Main Event. Competing in the WSOP Circuit Online, Konnikova outplayed an impressive field to win $57,531 — more than just a notable start to her year. AAnd yet, her ambitions didn’t stop there.

Fast-forward to October 2024 and the $888 NLHE Fall Crazy 8s event at WSOP Online. It was here that Konnikova secured her first WSOP bracelet. This time, the player pool was a bit bigger, counting a total of 468 entries.

In the final stages, Konnikova proved why she was one of the greats, particularly during a critical hand where she turned a straight against an opponent’s two-pair, doubling up and gaining momentum. The night ended with Konnikova ultimately clinched the win, walking away with $68,477 and a long-coveted WSOP bracelet.

Kristen Foxen’s Fifth WSOP Bracelet: A New Record

As it turned out, October was the month for women in poker. Shortly after Konnikova took home her first WSOP bracelet, Kristen Foxen solidified her status as one of poker’s greats by winning her fifth WSOP bracelet – the most any female players has ever won. Her victory came in Event #19: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max during the WSOP Online series, where she outlasted a field of 172 players to claim the $56,703 top prize.

Foxen, known for her calculated and methodical approach, executed a stellar heads-up performance against “dmatkr.” In the decisive hand, Foxen held pocket tens against her opponent’s ace-king. The board ran out clean for her, securing the bracelet and further extending her record as the most decorated woman in WSOP history.

This latest triumph marked Foxen’s third online WSOP bracelet, complementing her previous wins in live events. Earlier in the year, she also made a deep run in the live WSOP Main Event, finishing 13th and reminding the poker community of her consistent excellence.

Women’s Winter Festival: A Community Triumph in London

November brought something a little bit different to the poker tables, the return of live women-only events with the Women’s Winter Festival, held at London’s iconic Hippodrome Casino. The three-day series featured every poker format you’d expect from a live tournament, including the Women’s Winter Festival High Roller.

The £400 Main Event drew a record-breaking 270 players, making it the largest women-only poker tournament field outside the U.S. For many of the players, the Women’s Winter Festival marked a stepping stone to broader participation in mixed-gender fields, something to look forward to in the poker year(s) to come.

Liv Boeree’s $2.8 Million Payday at WSOP Paradise

Closing the last month of 2024 on a historic note was none other than Liv Boeree, who earned the largest single cash by a female player in live poker history. Her fourth-place finish in the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event earned her $2.8 million, setting a new benchmark for women in the game.

Held at the Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas, the The $25,000 Main Event attracted nothing short of the grates, all playing for a share of the record-breaking $50 million prize pool. Boeree entered the final table in fourth place and navigated critical moments with precision. A pivotal double-up with pocket queens against an aggressive opponent helped her maintain her position among the chip leaders. However, her tournament run ended when her ace-queen suited couldn’t improve against Stephen Chidwick’s pocket kings in a key all-in confrontation.

Boeree’s return to competitive poker after years away was nothing short of remarkable. Her deep run in one of the year’s toughest tournaments showcased that her time away didn’t even chip even a piece of her poker talent and skill.