Maria Lampropulos of Argentina has claimed victory in the inaugural PokerStars Women’s Winter Festival Main Event, held at London’s Hippodrome Casino. The festival, designed to empower women in poker, saw a total of 271 entries in the Main Event, culminating in Lampropulos securing the top prize of £20,000.
A New Era for Women’s Poker
The PokerStars Women’s Winter Festival marked a significant milestone, becoming the largest women’s poker event ever held outside of Las Vegas. Spearheaded by PokerStars ambassador and Hippodrome Casino Poker Director Kerryjane Craigie, the festival aimed to encourage more women to participate in live poker.
Key Takeaways:
- The festival featured a £100,000 guaranteed Main Event with a £400 buy-in.
- A new £1,100 Women’s High Roller was added to the schedule.
- The event included a unique 50/50 NLH Freezeout, requiring male and female pairs.
- Online satellites and live qualifiers were available to facilitate participation.
Lampropulos Dominates the Main Event
The £400 Main Event attracted a strong field, with 271 total entries across three starting flights. Maria Lampropulos navigated the competitive field to reach the final table and ultimately secure the championship title. Her victory followed a strong performance in the UKIPT Women’s High Roller, where she also took first place.
Main Event Final Table Results:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Lampropulos | Argentina | £20,000 |
| 2 | Ann-Roos Callens | Belgium | £12,610 |
| 3 | Marta Porter | United Kingdom | £9,000 |
| 4 | Franky Green | United Kingdom | £6,850 |
| 5 | Lisa Roberts | USA | £5,280 |
| 6 | Jennifer Steele | United Kingdom | £4,070 |
| 7 | Kim Dockery | United Kingdom | £3,260 |
| 8 | Celine Diot | France | £2,730 |
| 9 | Berivan Dag | United Kingdom | £2,280 |
Lampropulos expressed her excitement and the positive atmosphere of the event, noting the camaraderie among players. She hopes the festival’s success will inspire more women to engage with poker and contribute to the event’s future growth.
High-Profile Participants and Festival Highlights
The festival drew several notable players, including Katie Swift, Marle Spragg, Rania Nasreddine, and two-time EPT Main Event winner Victoria Coren-Mitchell. Kyna England, Jen Shahade, and Alex O’Brien were also among the confirmed attendees for the Women’s High Roller.
While many familiar faces participated, including Kyna England and Soraya Estrada, none managed to advance past Day 1b of the Main Event. Christina Solli entered Day 2 as the chip leader, eliminating PokerStars Pro Jen Shahade, but was ultimately eliminated in 11th place on Day 3. The heads-up battle between Lampropulos and Ann-Roos Callens concluded swiftly, with Lampropulos securing the win with a queen on the flop in the final hand.