PokerStars introduced earlier this yr that an thrilling program created for girls to be taught extra about poker would return in 2023, and it’ll now culminate in a particular Showdown match on the at the moment underway European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus cease.
The Girls’s Bootcamp, in partnership with Poker Energy, is geared toward freshmen who will then be mentored by PokerStars ambassadors together with Jen Shahade, Lali Tournier and Georgina “GJReggie” James.
The ultimate recruits battled it out in Dwelling Video games Tournaments, the place the winners had been awarded the prospect to journey to Cyprus and compete within the final Showdown, which is slated to happen on Oct. 18.
The winner of the Showdown match in Cyprus shall be awarded a full bundle to EPT Prague in December, giving them an opportunity to chase life-changing cash on the closing EPT cease of the 2023 season.
“We’re delighted to be becoming a member of forces with Poker Energy for the second yr and proceed creating our dedication to encouraging ladies into poker,” stated Rebecca McAdam Willetts, PokerStars’ Director of Partnerships, PR, and Shopper Engagement. “We’re doubling the size of our Bootcamp to eight weeks, and we is not going to solely train ladies how you can play poker, but additionally present them with abilities that may be utilized to their each day lives.”
In keeping with analysis by PokerStars in the UK, 42 p.c of ladies who play poker consider the sport brings improved focus and focus whereas 38 p.c consider it may enhance their means to make selections. Regardless of this, over half of ladies surveyed (55 p.c) stated they really feel that poker shouldn’t be inclusive.
This is a take a look at the ladies that shall be competing within the PokerStars x Poker Energy Girls’s Bootcamp Showdown in Cyprus.
Be taught Extra Concerning the Girls’s Bootcamp!
Yvonne Mai
Born and raised in Germany, Yvonne Mai moved to New York after which London, the place she acquired her Advertising and marketing diploma – the primary in her household to take action. With a level beneath her belt, she adopted her desires to grow to be an actress, starring in hit TV exhibits, unbiased movies, and Hollywood motion films. She likes to attempt new issues and push boundaries, maintaining in thoughts her persona, her good friend, Alexandra O’Brien recommended she attempt poker. Yvonne feels intimidated at first, with many alternative shifting items to be careful for in each the net and dwell video games. As soon as she obtained the dangle of it, her confidence grew and he or she loved taking part in poker greater than she thought she would – profitable her first match and got here first in stack measurement. She is in it to win it.
Laura Lebailly
23-year-old Laura Lebailly is from France, and is about to begin her closing yr in Enterprise College (Luxurious Advertising and marketing). She has at all times been intrigued about poker particularly the principles and techniques however have at all times thought it too tough. She began to be taught extra when she learn a ebook about poker, and wished to play poker each on-line and dwell ever since. She learnt in regards to the Girls Bootcamp when studying an article by PokerStars on their web site, and is worked up to attend EPT Cyprus to be taught extra about poker and enhance her abilities.
Katie Hopkins
Katie Hopkins is from the suburbs of Philadelphia and is working as an Affiliate Basic Counsel at Nasdaq, specializing in securities regulation. She is first launched to poker through a golf group she is concerned in (Fore the Women) and Nasdaq in an intro session by Poker Energy. She thought that it was the proper time to dive in and take a look at poker when she noticed the Girls’s Bootcamp alternative as she was injured on account of a stress fracture in her foot, which implies that her typical hobbies of working and doing triathlons had been off the desk. She now beloved poker and have added it to her listing of hobbies.
Drea Renee
Drea Renee is a poker persona and reporter who got here from San Antonio, Texas, however has been residing in Los Angeles for over a decade. Her involvement within the poker business started 14 years in the past when she labored as a therapeutic massage therapist in poker rooms. She transitioned into sideline reporting about seven years in the past, because of the encouragement and steerage of Maria Ho, a distinguished determine within the poker world. All through her profession, Drea Renee has been related to numerous poker-related tasks and occasions. She has labored for the Heartland Poker Tour, hosted episodes of Poker After Darkish, and had her personal present on PokerGo referred to as “Deep Points”. On her present, she carried out interviews with notable poker personalities akin to Kevin Hart, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Tilly, and Phil Hellmuth. Throughout her longtime involvement within the poker business, she developed a private curiosity in taking part in poker. She initially dipped her toes into the poker scene by collaborating in charity occasions. With the assist of Poker Energy and PokerStars, she is getting ready to make a extra substantial foray into taking part in poker professionally, making her an rising participant to regulate within the poker world.
Sabrina Chevannes
Sabrina Chevannes is a former skilled chess participant who’s now working a artistic company. She determined to be taught poker to enhance her decision-making and how you can deal with “failure” and losses higher. In only a few weeks of the bootcamp, she has modified the best way she approached her enterprise, and he or she is ready to assess issues higher with little data obtainable. She finds studying poker harder than chess, and consistently studying in regards to the comparisons between the 2. With poker, she realises that there’s a lot of variances, and he or she must adapt to folks’s methods. Whereas it’s just like chess, there’s normally a proper or incorrect reply in chess. Poker can also be extra versatile than chess. She is de facto having fun with her poker journey to date, and is worked up to maintain on studying and see the place it may take her.
Katerena Nowosad
28-year-old Katerena Nowosad is from Leeds and is an accountant for a monetary providers firm. She has at all times had a robust curiosity in poker and have associates who would commonly play at college however she has by no means joined as she felt like she didn’t have the proper abilities or data. She has loved her poker journey with PokerStars and Poker Energy, and beloved attending the weekly periods and studying in regards to the completely different abilities, methods, and techniques to enhance as a participant. She has additionally loved taking part in on the PokerStars app between dwelling video games, and find out how completely different gamers strategy the sport. She is wanting ahead to EPT Cyprus to compete in her first dwell sport with different Girls’s Bootcamp attendees.
Patrice Gordon
Patrice is a enterprise chief whose drive and willpower are deeply influenced by her Caribbean heritage. With a robust basis in finance and business sectors, she has gracefully navigated her method via management roles at British Airways, Royal Mail, and Virgin Atlantic. On high of those, she can also be an authorized Govt Coach who’s all about heart-led management. In 2022, she took a leap of religion and absolutely invested in her Management Improvement and Business consultancy, Eminere. She focuses on creating management groups that solely excel but additionally replicate the range of the world. She is the maestro in reverse mentoring, amplifying voices that need to be heard, and making an enduring affect. She met Jen Shahade in Could and was impressed by her to affix the launch of the Girls’s Bootcamp in June – and got here second. This fuelled her to take part within the eight week bootcamp and hone her abilities. She is wanting ahead to play poker dwell in Cyprus.
Jennifer Larson
Jennifer “Jenny” Larsen started her Poker Energy journey after conducting a fast seek for enjoyable methods to develop her management abilities. Having grown up with wonderful assist from her dad and mom, household, and lecturers; she knew that life could possibly be difficult, and maintained a cussed willpower to get the job finished in an effort to obtain her targets. Through the one-hour digital poker classes, she rapidly noticed how being aggressive on the poker desk may develop her assertiveness within the Board Room, and is most grateful for the way self-discipline within the sport has helped her to raised select her battles in life! Jenny enjoys residing as full a life as potential, crammed with gratitude and positivity, seeing one of the best in folks, and saying “sure” to alternatives and adventures!
Ines Lafosse
Ines Lafosse is a photographer, content material author and skilled hotelier. Born in Argentina, Ines fell in love with Brazil after visiting Rio De Janeiro in 2017. Now Brazil is her most frequented vacation spot. Via her social media she covers the next matters: journey locations, lodging, ecotourism, excessive sports activities and pictures.
Ines’s Poker Journey: I began taking part in on the Pokerstars occasion within the Bahamas and I used to be so excited to be taking part in poker dwell. Was wonderful to expertise the sentiments round all of the gamers. After this, I used to be obtainable to take part within the Girls’s Bootcamp and I realized a lot. It makes an enormous distinction in my selections in life and taking part in poker.
*Pictures courtesy of PokerStars
