Kathy Liebert

First Steps: From Pro Player to Champion

Her professional journey began in Colorado, where she worked as a “prop player”. For many, it’s just a job, but for Liebert, the experience was a starting point: not only was she earning money, but she was also learning the psychology of her opponents, learning how to strategize and gaining confidence.

Eventually, she moved into tournament poker, and in 2002, her name made headlines around the world. She became the first woman to win $1000000 in the PartyPoker Million. This success not only brought her huge prize money, but also proved that women can win big tournaments on par with men.

Breakthroughs in Major Series: WSOP and WPT

Liebert has always been striving for new heights, and her participation in the World Poker Tour (WPT) is proof of that. She has made the WPT final table six times, which is a remarkable achievement in itself. In 2005, she finished third at the Borgata Poker Open, becoming the highest finishing woman in WPT history. Her record was later broken by JJ Liu, and then Liebert made history again by reaching the final of the 2009 Bay 101 Shooting Stars and finishing runner-up.

But her biggest win at the world level came in 2004 when she won her first and so far only WSOP bracelet. It was in the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout, where she beat hundreds of opponents and proved that her skill was no fluke. That same year, only three women won WSOP Open events, and Liebert was one of them.

In 2008, she nearly won her second bracelet by finishing third in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em World Championship for $306,064.

Poker Legacy and Recognition

Her contributions to poker cannot be overemphasized. In 2010, Liebert was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, a recognition of her work in popularizing the game among women. And in 2022 she was nominated to the Poker Hall of Fame, the highest recognition in the world of poker.

Today, she continues to play, compete in tournaments and inspire a new generation of players. Outside of the poker tables, she resides in Las Vegas and California, remaining part of a large poker family.

Liebert is proof that poker is not about gender, but about skill, perseverance and strategic thinking. Her story is motivation for anyone who wants to succeed in this game.

Live Poker Achievements

Liebert is one of the highest scoring women in poker history. Her career has totaled over $7 million in live tournament prize money.

• In 2002, she became the first woman to win one million dollars in a single tournament (PartyPoker.com Million). This breakthrough success changed her career forever;
• In 2004, Liebert won her first (and so far only) WSOP bracelet by winning the $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout;
• She regularly reached the final tables of major events, including the WPT North American Poker Championship, where she finished third and earned $280,000;
• In 2021, she entered the prize pool at the Wynn Millions and earned $27,099.

Liebert isn’t just a player – she’s one of the few women who has proven she can compete on par with the top male pros.

Online Poker Achievements

While Liebert is known primarily as a live tournament player, she has also achieved impressive results online.

• In 2022, she won the BIG $500 8-Max at the WSOP Circuit online series;
• Regularly plays in WSOP.com Online Bracelet Events, where she has made it to the final stages several times;
• Entered ITMs in multiple online tournaments in 2021, proving that even after decades in the game, it hasn’t lost its edge.