Four-year Australian poker pro Heidi May (27) has clinched by far her biggest win yet – and her first WSOP bracelet – following victory in the $10,000 buy-in Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship, claiming the main prize of $135,098
May, who hails from Tasmania, mainly plays online tournaments and high stakes cash games, but is becoming more interested in the live tournament international circuit, with ambitions perhaps encouraged by five cashes at this year’s WSOP.
This year the Women’s Championship attracted a field of 718, among them top players like Vanessa Selbst, who finished 56th for $2,040), and Amanda Baker (43rd – $2,647),
On Day 3 of the event five surviving players returned to the felt Sunday with May holding the chip lead and almost half the chips in play. Down to three handed action she was briefly eclipsed by UK player Deborah Worsley-Roberts, but quickly regained the lead, expanding it to 5 to 2 and taking it into the 43-hand heads up.
Both finalists playing fast and skilled poker and it could have gone either way, but May prevailed, expanding her advantage to 6 to 1 before eliminating the plucky Worsely-Roberts and sending her home with a well-earned runner up prize of $83,459.
Other finalists cashed as follows:
Jana de la Cerra $57,930
Julie Dang $40,843
Katherine Ansorge $29,256
Alexis Sterner $21,298
Tiffany Lee $15,760
Meg Zampino $11,858
Karen Hodge $9,075