Earlier this year, PokerStars announced that an exciting program for women to learn more about poker will return in 2023 and will soon culminate on October 18th European Poker Tour (EPT) Cyprus with a Showdown Tournament in which a complete package is awarded EPT Prague In December
The Boot camp for womenIn a relationship with Poker poweris aimed at beginners, who are then supported by PokerStars ambassadors, among others Only Shahad, Lali Tournament And Georgina “GJReggie” James.
The final recruits battled each other in home tournaments, where the winners received the chance to travel to Cyprus and take part in the ultimate showdown. In preparation for this event, PokerNews I wanted to introduce some of the women who will be fighting for the opportunity of a lifetime.
Here’s a look at some of the women already featured in the upcoming showdown:
Meet the women of the PokerStars x Poker Power Women’s Bootcamp Showdown
Meet Jenny Larsen
One player who came all the way from Bayonne, New Jersey to Cyprus is 42-year-old Jenny Larsen, originally from Staten Island, New York. The eldest of four children, Larsen is “Aunt Gigi” to seven nieces and nephews.
“I am grateful for a supportive upbringing full of opportunities for life skills and character development. “I was always taught to pursue my dreams, to be proud of myself and that hard work leads to the best rewards,” said Larsen, who double majored in biology and French.
Larsen has worked with On Your Mark, Inc., a nonprofit organization that supports and cares for children and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, for 26 years.
“I am proud to have found my calling early in life and am grateful for the mentors and colleagues who have supported me along the way. My life is full of joy because we make a positive impact on the lives of Staten Islanders and their families every day. In my current role as Assistant Executive Director, I enjoy helping our programs reach their maximum potential and remind myself why I started this job by embracing the opportunity to work directly with our employees at every opportunity. I am continually impressed by the care and commitment of our Direct Support Professional team.”
About a year ago, Larsen began looking for ways to improve her leadership skills, knowing that she could always improve and develop in this area. That’s when she came across an ad for Poker Power and although she didn’t jump on board straight away, it stuck in the back of her mind as a great opportunity.
“Finally, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for the first four-lesson session,” she told PokerNews. “I was immediately drawn to the game by Tammy Endemann’s teachings, signed up for the second four-lesson session, and then learned about the boot camp opportunity.”
She continued: “When I found out about the boot camp, I threw my name in the hat and thought I would take the risk. I wasn’t sure if I qualified as a beginner since I’d taken eight basic lessons, but also knew I was ready for more practice since I hadn’t played a live game yet! When I was selected I was over the moon and immediately requested time off from work to travel to Cyprus in October to send my intentions out into the universe! Over the last few weeks since placing in the tournament, I’ve become more and more excited about the opportunity to meet other strong women and realize that I can be a part of how Poker Power is making a difference for women!
“Although I am treated equally as a woman in my workplace, I am painfully aware that this is not the case everywhere in the world. As a Poker Power Ambassador, I have the opportunity to let other women know that nothing is unattainable, and I am inspired to take advantage of this opportunity and work with Poker Power to create change on both a local and global level. As for my poker game, every single opportunity I’ve had to take lessons from experienced teachers has not only improved my game (which is still in its infancy) but also helped me recognize the fire within. I am better able to make decisions in both my professional and personal life because I know when it’s best to give up and when it’s time to move aggressively. Additionally, I started taking independent, solo trips about two years ago and the experience has been very liberating!
“This is my first international solo trip, but not really alone as I will be joining a group. But coming here alone made me feel so strong and brave! Spending the last few years working on myself has been one of the most difficult yet rewarding parts of my life. Knowing who I am, learning to love and understand my body and mind has made me an all-round better person and this experience is the icing on the cake!”
PokerStars continues to promote women
“We are excited to partner with Poker Power for a second year and continue to expand our commitment to encouraging women to play poker,” he said Rebecca McAdam Willetts, Director of Partnerships, PR and Consumer Engagement at PokerStars. “We are doubling the length of our boot camp to eight weeks and will not only teach women how to play poker, but also give them skills they can apply in their daily lives.”
According to a study by PokerStars in the UK, 42 percent of women who play poker believe the game improves their focus and concentration, while 38 percent believe it could improve their decision-making skills. Still, more than half of the women surveyed (55 percent) said they don’t think poker is inclusive.
Find out more about the Women’s Bootcamp!
Chad Holloway
Editor-in-Chief USA
Editor-in-Chief USA, co-host of the PokerNews Podcast and 2013 WSOP bracelet winner.
