Leonore “Leo” Margets has etched her name in poker history this week by becoming the first woman in three decades to reach the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas. This significant achievement highlights the increasing prominence of women in competitive poker.
Margets expressed her excitement in an interview with PokerGO sideline reporter Jeff Platt, stating, “It’s so unreal, it is a dream,” and added, “How lucky I am to live this!” Her remarkable run in the tournament ended on Tuesday, where she finished in seventh place, earning a substantial $1.5 million in prize money.
The previous woman to achieve this milestone was Barbara Enright, who finished fifth in the Main Event back in 1995. This year’s tournament marked a historic occasion, drawing 9,735 players and becoming the third-largest WSOP Main Event in history.
As of Wednesday, four players remain in the competition: Kenny Hallaert from Belgium, and three American players—Braxton Dunaway, John Wasnock, and Michael Mizrachi. The grand prize for the winner is set at an impressive $10 million.
Margets’ achievement brings a hopeful narrative to the evolving landscape of poker, inspiring aspiring female players and proving that barriers continue to be broken in the realm of professional gaming.