Top Female Poker Players in the World

Introduction

Many female players have earned acclaim in the Poker field as some of the finest in the game. Fans of Poker often debate who is the best among them, citing different players’ expertise and achievements on the felts.

Here is our roundup of the most remarkable female poker players in the world that you should know about.

Best Female Poker Players in the World

Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst is a prominent figure in the world of Poker due to her bold and proactive approach. Though she began her career at a law firm, she decided to dedicate herself fully to playing poker. As well as being an accomplished player, Vanessa is also active within charitable causes.

Career Highlights:

• Vanessa Selbst entered the poker industry in 2006 and quickly emerged as one of the most dominant players of her generation.Won three WSOP bracelets: in 2008 ($1,500 PLO), 2012 ($2,500 10-Game), and 2014 ($25k Mixed-Max NLH).
• Earned nearly $12 million in tournament winnings.
• Holds a JD Degree from Yale University and announced a comeback to poker in 2023 as part of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Thrill Team.
• She is the only woman to have reached the top spot on the Global Poker Index. Her lifetime tournament winnings are $11.8 million and growing.
• One of her major victories came at the Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure, where she claimed the high-roller event title and earned a cool $1.4 million.

Kathy Liebert

Kathy Liebert was born in New York and began playing poker in underground games before making her mark in major tournaments. Kathy is also known for her contributions to poker strategy and education. She is recognized for her distinctive playing style and deep understanding of the game.

Career Highlights:

• Kathy Liebert, known as PokerKat, started her Poker career in 1994.
• Her major breakthrough came in 2002 when she won the $8,000 Limit Hold’em PartyPoker Million for $1 million.
• Won her first and only WSOP bracelet in 2004 in a Limit Hold’em Shootout event.
• With consistent performances in lower buy-in tournaments, Liebert has many tournament cashes.
• Has over $6 million in live poker tournament earnings.
• Has an impressive net worth of $6.89 million.

Kristen Foxen (Bicknell)

Starting with online tournaments, Kristen Foxen made her way into live events to pursue her Poker career. Her background in psychology is often credited for the disciplined and analytical approach that she is known for. As an influential figure in women's and open events alike, Kristen has earned numerous achievements throughout her journey as a skilled player of poker.

Career Highlights:

• Started playing live tournaments at 21 and won her first WSOP bracelet in 2013 in the Ladies Championship.
• Won her second WSOP title in 2016 and her third in 2020.
• Married to high-stakes poker player Alex Foxen, she has accumulated nearly $6 million in tournament winnings.
• Has earned the title of Global Poker Index Female Player of the Year for three consecutive years.
• Her live tournament earnings exceed $5.5 million, including three WSOP bracelets. In the 2020 WSOP Online Bracelet Series on GGPoker, she won the $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event, pocketing $356,412.

Maria Ho

Maria Ho is a poker expert who achieved recognition for her diverse talents, encompassing playing ability alongside her roles as a TV host and commentator. Coming from Taiwan at an early age to the States, Maria fostered both professional involvement in poker as well as significant contributions towards its media industry.

Career Highlights:

• Gained recognition in the poker world in 2005 and has since become a well-known player and TV personality.
• Has numerous tournament cashes and notable finishes, including a second-place finish in a 2011 WSOP $5k NLH event.
• Has excelled in mixed games and has been a prominent poker host and commentator, earning the Global Poker Awards Broadcaster of the Year in 2019.
• Her achievements include an astounding 54 World Series of Poker cashes and five World Poker Tour final tables.
• Stands out as the first female ‘strategic commentator’ during season 9 of the Heartland Poker Tour. Her net worth is estimated to be around $4 million.

Olivia “Liv” Boeree

Olivia Boeree’s background in physics has greatly influenced her approach to poker, combining analytical skills with strategic thinking. She has also worked as a presenter and has been involved in several poker-related media projects. Olivia is passionate about science and has participated in various charity events supporting education and research.

Career Highlights:

• Liv Boeree, a physics and astrophysics graduate, gained fame by winning the EPT San Remo Main Event in 2010 for nearly $1.7 million.
• Captured her first WSOP bracelet 2017 in the $10,000 Tag Team Championship with partner Igor Kurganov.
• Has over $3.8 million in tournament winnings and has been less active in recent years, focusing on other interests.

Annette Obrestad

Annette Obrestad burst onto the poker scene with her victory at the WSOPE Main Event at just 19 years old. Her innovative approach, including playing a Sit N Go without seeing her hole cards, drew widespread attention. Since retiring from professional poker in 2018, Annette has leveraged her popularity to establish a successful YouTube channel and engage with fans through makeup tutorials.

Career Highlights:

• Became a poker sensation in 2007 by winning the WSOPE Main Event at just 19, earning £1 million.
• Followed this with a second-place finish at EPT Dublin, earning nearly $2.5 million in those two events alone.
• Obrestad retired from professional poker in 2018 and runs a successful YouTube channel focused on makeup tutorials.
• One of her standout accomplishments is winning a 180-player Sit N Go without glancing at her hole cards unless faced with an all-in bet.

Vanessa Rousso

Vanessa Rousso, a dual citizen of the USA and France, has been a prominent figure in poker and popular culture. Her distinctive look and approach to the game have made her a recognizable personality. Vanessa has also been involved in various media projects and reality TV shows, further expanding her influence beyond the poker community.

Career Highlights:

• Vanessa Rousso, also known as Lady Maverick, has earned over $3.5 million in tournament winnings since starting her career in 2005.
• Her biggest win was $700,000 at the 2009 EPT Monte Carlo High Roller Championship.
• Has dual citizenship in the USA and France and has appeared on reality shows like Big Brother.
• Known for her unique style, including a cap, headphones, and designer sunglasses, Vanessa was associated with the PokerStars pro team from 2007 to 2015.
• In online poker, Vanessa made her mark by finishing second in the WCOOP main event in 2007, earning more than $700,000.

Jennifer Harman

Jennifer Harman commands great respect within the Poker community, thanks to her specialization in mixed games. Alongside this expertise, she has also taken part in charitable events and media related to the game of poker. Due to these accomplishments and efforts towards enhancing the game's reputation, Jennifer maintains an esteemed position among players worldwide.

Career Highlights:

• Jennifer Harman, a legend in Poker, started her career in the nineties, specializing in limited mixed games.
• Won two WSOP bracelets in 2000 and 2002 and has over $2.8 million in tournament winnings.
• Was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2015.
• Her net worth is approximately $15 million, and she is well-established in high-stakes cash games in Las Vegas.
• Has made regular appearances on popular shows such as ‘High Stakes Poker’ and ‘Poker After Dark.’
• She is credited with a prestigious chapter in Doyle Brunson’s Super System book in its second edition.

Victoria Coren

Victoria Coren's success as both a Poker player and broadcaster has granted her distinctive recognition in the world of Poker. Her commentary and writing skills have significantly contributed to the popularization of this game. Moreover, Victoria holds an eminent position among writers and journalists due to her contributions for leading publications.

Career Highlights:

• Victoria Coren is the only player to win two EPT Main Events: in London (2006) and San Remo (2014).
• Her poker winnings total nearly $2.5 million.
• Coren is a well-respected figure in the poker community and continues to contribute to the game.

Barbara Enright

With three WSOP bracelets to her name, Enright has demonstrated her versatility across various poker formats. Her exceptional career earned her induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007, highlighting her influence and success in the sport. Barbara's career highlights include various appearances on televised poker events and contributions to the broader community.

Career Highlights:

• Barbara Enright has a career spanning over five decades, starting in the 1970s.
• She won her first WSOP bracelet in 1986 and added two more in 1994 and 1996.
• Enright remains active in poker, showcasing her enduring skills and dedication to the game.

Annie Duke

Annie Duke is a well-known professional poker player and author. She gained fame for her success in poker tournaments, including winning the 2004 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Tournament of Champions. In addition to her poker career, Annie Duke has written several books on decision-making and poker strategy. Her book ‘Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don't Have All the Facts’ explores decision-making processes and how to make better choices under uncertainty.

Career Highlights:

• Often called the ‘Duchess of Poker’, Annie Duke is not just a Poker player but also an author and business founder.
• Has some impressive tournament victories, like winning a WSOP bracelet, the 2004 WSOP Tournament of Champions, and the 2010 National Heads-Up Poker Championship.
• For a long time, she held the title of the highest-earning female player at the World Series, though Vanessa Selbst has now surpassed that. Her net worth is around $9 million USD.
• Also a writer and has penned strategy and instructional poker books, such as ‘The Middle Zone’ and ‘Decide to Play Great Poker’.
• I started a charity called Ante Up for Africa, which raises money for organizations that help out poor African nations.
• Co-founded the ‘Epic Poker League’ and played a role in creating the Global Poker Index.
• Her brother is Howard Lederer, the founder of Full Tilt Poker.

JJ Liu

Originally hailing from Taiwan, JJ Liu now resides in Palo Alto. JJ Liu’s success in poker has earned her a place among the top female players globally. Her consistent performances on the game tables have set a high standard for female players.

Career Highlights:

• JJ Liu is originally from Taiwan and now resides in Palo Alto.
• One of her notable achievements was finishing as the runner-up in the World Poker Tour Bay 101 tournament in 2004, making her the highest-placed female player in WPT history.
• They also succeeded at the WSOP, even making it to the final table.
• JJ’s outstanding contributions to the poker world led to her induction into the Women’s Poker Hall of Fame.
• Has accumulated an impressive $1.7 million in tournament winnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the woman who won the World Series of Poker?

Barbara Enright won a WSOP bracelet in open events, and she is the only woman to have reached the final table of the WSOP Main Event, achieving this in 1995.

Has a woman won the WPT?

Ema Zajmović made history by becoming the first woman to win a World Poker Tour (WPT) open event. She achieved this milestone in 2017 at the WPT Playground event.

Who was the first woman inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame?

Linda Johnson, the ‘First Lady of Poker’, was the first woman inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2011.

Conclusion

Poker is among the most loved card games worldwide. Many female players play the game as part of their full-time careers. Their success on the poker table encourages more women to learn the basics of the game and join online and offline platforms to hone their skills.