the 2022 Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship by Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) ran from April 19-24 at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. Poker Hall of Famers Linda Johnson and Women in Poker Hall of Famers Jan Fisher hosted the nine-event series, which culminated with a $550 buy-in Nevada State Championship event.
The tournament attracted 157 entrants and surpassed the $50K guarantee by generating a $78,500 prize pool. Coming out on top was a familiar face in Ruth Hall, who claimed an $18,537 top prize to bring her lifetime tournament earnings up to $370K according to the Hendon Mob. In 2020, Hall was honored as the Women’s Poker Association (WPA) Player of the Year.
It marked the second time that Hall claimed the prestigious title. She previously topped a 294-entry field to win the $300 buy-in tournament in 2019 at Orleans Casino. That victory was good for $14,614. She also finished in seventh place out of 317 entries for $2,980 in the 2021 edition.
The win was especially sweet for Hall, who has been dealing with some serious health issues, specifically Ménière’s Disease. In the past, attacks have forced her to leave tournaments with a healthy chip stack still in play, that is when she was up for playing at all. Happily for her, the support of family and friends, who have offered to help him with travel and accommodations, gave her both opportunity and newfound motivation.
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up and that’s why I was able to come back and win,” the two-time breast cancer survivor told PokerNews. “I went from thinking I hope to min-cash at best with 23 ladies left, to taking six players out at the final table. I’ll never give up on poker or living my life It felt great to win this title again after struggling to survive!”
2022 Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship Final Table Results
| Place | players | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruth Hall | $18,537 |
| 2 | Juliet Bearden | $12,556 |
| 3 | Tonya Baltazar | $8,389 |
| 4 | Deborah Blair | $6,476 |
| 5 | Cheryl Baugus | $4,828 |
| 6 | Dana Badar | $3,925 |
| 7 | Ashley Frank | $3,140 |
| 8th | Ana Freitas | $2,473 |
| 9 | Teresa Hatcher | $1,963 |
Others to cash the tournament were Jacqueline Pennington (10th – $1,649), Wendy Weissman (13th – $1,413), Stephanie Nolan (17th – $1,178), Michelle Richey (21st – $981), and Susan Segura (22nd – $550).
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While the Championship Event took center stage it was just one of nine events taking place at the 2022 Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship by LIPS. The series kicked off with Espy Enriquez besting a 54-entry field to win the $225 Omaha 8 of Better Championship for $1,450, while Lisa Taylor bested 135 runners to ship the $185 NLH Mini Main Event for $5,500.
There was also one male winner in Greg Bruce, but that was ok as it came in the $155 NLH Purple Tie Guy Salute, a tournament open to men who support the LIPS mission of helping promote women in poker. Bruce won the tournament for $1,728.
Here’s a look at all those who won titles during the 2022 Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship.
2022 Nevada State Ladies Poker Championship Winners
| dates | tournament | entries | prize pool | winners | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, April 19 | $225 Omaha 8 of Better Championship | 54 | $10,260 | Espy Enriquez | $1,450 |
| Tuesday, April 19 | $155 NLH Host Hunt Bounty | 54 | $6,480 | Ana Jones | $1,588 |
| Wednesday, April 20 | $225 HOE Championship | 51 | $9,690 | Darlene Springman | $2,400 |
| April 20-22 | $185 NLH Mini Main Event | 135 | $22,930 | Lisa Taylor | $5,500 |
| Thursday, April 21 | $155 NLH Purple Tie Guy Salute | 45 | $5,400 | Greg Bruce | $1,728 |
| Friday, April 22nd | $185 Crazy Pineapple | 76 | $11,400 | Kathy Fleck | $1,840 |
| April 23-24 | $550 Nevada State Ladies Championship | 157 | $78,500 | Ruth Hall | $18,537 |
| Saturday, April 23 | $185 NLH Pajama Jam | 45 | $10,000 | Nooria Miskell | $3,200 |
| Sunday, April 24 | $155 NLH Green Chip Bounty Survivor | 54 | $5,130 | 9 winners | $570 each |
Lips Grand Champions
| Year | Location | entries | winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | south point | 157 | Ruth Hall |
| 2021 | south point | 317 | Mikella Pedretti |
| 2020 | Canceled due to pandemic | ||
| 2019 | Orleans Casino | 294 | Ruth Hall |
| 2018 | Orleans Casino | 502 | Sandy Casinowitz |
| 2017 | Orleans Casino | 256 | Nancy Nguyen |
| 2016 | Planet Hollywood | 341 | Diana Radford |
| 2015 | Planet Hollywood | 431 | Persia Bonella |
| 2014 | Golden nugget | 428 | Maria Parlatore |
| 2013 | Golden nuggets | 382 | Diana Norman |
| 2012 | Golden nuggets | 388 | Tammy Cruz |
| 2011 | Golden nuggets | 303 | Angie Gelinas |
| 2010 | Golden nuggets | 250 | Stacey Nutini |
| 2009 | Golden nuggets | 232 | Ruth Hall |
| 2009 | Golden nuggets | 196 | Jessalyn Sims |
| 2008 | Orleans Casino | 198 | Yvette Lambprecht |
| 2008 | Golden nuggets | 219 | Wan Suk |
| 2007 | Orleans Casino | 289 | Debbie Burkhead |
| 2006 | Caesar’s Palace | 319 | Jeanne West |
| 2005 | Ocean’s 11 | 197 | Kim Fontes |
*Images courtesy of LIPS.
Chad Holloway
Executive Editor US
Executive Editor US, PokerNews Podcast co-host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.
