Las Vegas, NV — June 22, 2025
With a $100,000 guarantee on the line, the women of poker showed up—and they smashed expectations.

On Day 1, the  Women in Poker High Roller, hosted at the Venetian Poker Room with a $2,500 buy-in, quickly surpassed its guarantee in the early levels and went on to break records. It is now officially the largest high roller tournament for women ever held.

This landmark event is more than just another tournament—it’s the culmination of decades of work by Lupe Soto, the founder and owner of both the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS_TOUR) and Women in Poker. Lupe’s legacy in the industry is unmatched, and this event stands as a powerful testament to what she has built for women in the game.

The event was made possible through a strategic partnership between Women in Poker, the Venetian Poker Room, and Women Poker News, which served as the official media partner for the event.

A Star-Studded Field

The tournament drew top-tier talent from across the country, including:

  • Kyna England – Professional Poker Player, 2021 GPI Breakout Player of the Year nominee, PokerNews Podcast co-host, and standout from Game of Gold

  • Ruth Hall – Founding board member of the Women’s Poker Association (WPA), with three final tables already during Ladies Week

  • Kathy Liebert – Hall of Fame finalist and trailblazer with a decades-spanning resume

  • Jamie Kerstetter – Pro, commentator, and longtime voice for equity in the game

  • Bonnie Weitzel – Consistent presence and advocate within the women’s tournament scene

  • Starr Valdez – WPA member and rising competitor with over $100K in live earnings

  • Chris Read – Founder of Poker Queens, and one of the most seasoned and respected players in the room

  • Deborah Worley-Roberts – Respected UK player aka “The Destroyer,” bringing fearless play and unapologetic advocacy to every table

With the prize pool soaring past $100,000 well before late registration closed, one thing became clear:
This event didn’t just raise the bar—it redefined it.

More Than a Tournament—A Community Victory

Beyond the players, this was also a milestone for Lupe Soto’s decades-long mission to build real infrastructure and community for women in poker. She was joined by members of her inner circle and long-time collaborators who came to help celebrate a victory years in the making.

Among those present was Tara Smith, current President of the Women’s Poker Association (WPA)—the very organization that Lupe Soto herself founded in 2008. Created to elevate and empower women in poker, the WPA has become the most visible nonprofit advocate for gender equity in the game. Its programs, recognition campaigns, and ambassador networks have helped thousands of women find community and legitimacy at the felt.

Also present were:

It was exciting to see how quickly she hit the number of players needed to meet the guarantee in the early levels, but when she smashed the record with hours still left in registration, you could feel the shift. This wasn’t just a poker tournament. You could feel the shift. It wasn’t just a big day. It was a defining one.”

Full coverage, interviews, and final table updates are available now at Women Poker News, the official media partner of the event.

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About Women Poker News

Women Poker News isn’t just about who wins the hand—it’s about who gets to be seen. WPN was created to spotlight the real stories behind the felt: the grit, the growth, and the journey women take to own their place at the table.

It’s the media platform poker didn’t know it needed—until now. We don’t just track chip counts—we introduce characters, amplify voices, and show the full picture of what it means to be a woman in this game. From rising amateurs to seasoned crushers, WPN brings context, culture, and community back to poker coverage.

Because behind every final table… is a story worth telling.