Argentina’s Maria Lampropulos Triumphs in Inaugural Women’s Winter Festival

The Women’s Winter Festival, sponsored by PokerStars, unfolded at London’s Hippodrome Casino, bringing together women from across the globe for four thrilling days of poker action.

The £400 Main Event was the festival’s centerpiece, spanning all four days. Players participated in three Day 1 flights, with Day 1a drawing 42 entrants, Day 1b attracting a massive 148-player field, and Day 1c adding 81 more. This brought the total field size to 271, leaving the total prize pool at £100,000. In the end, Maria Lampropulos was crowned the champion to claim the title and first-place prize of £20,000.

£400 Main Event Final Table Results

Winner’s Reaction

After her victory, Lampropulos expressed her excitement while sharing plans to celebrate by “going to drink with the girls.” The camaraderie and respect among players were evident, with Lampropulos saying she “had a lot of fun with the girls – everyone had good vibes”. Throughout the final table, participants celebrated each elimination with heartfelt applause, reflecting the supportive and empowering atmosphere that defined the women’s event.

“The festival was amazing, I really enjoyed it”

Lampropulos praised the festival and commented that “the festival was amazing, I really enjoyed it”, she added that the good vibes among participants made the experience even more enjoyable. Reflecting on the festival’s success, she expressed her hopes that this event would encourage more women into poker and help “make the event even bigger”.

Women’s Winter Festival: A Global Celebration of Poker in London

Tournament Recap

The Women’s Winter Festival achieved a historic milestone, becoming the largest women’s poker event ever held outside of Las Vegas, a testament to its resounding success and global appeal. During Day 1b, Kerryjane Craigie, Festival Founder and Poker Director at the Hippodrome Casino in London, made an exciting announcement, highlighting the festival’s significance in empowering women in poker and expressing hopes for its continued growth in the future.

Several familiar faces graced the Main Event, including Kyna England, 2024 EPT Barcelona Ladies Main Event Champion Soraya Estrada, and Nikki Limo. Unfortunately, none managed to make it past the bustling Day 1b. Nataly Sopacuaperu also faced disappointment, being eliminated on the bubble early on Day 2, just missing out on the minimum cash.

Christina Solli entered Day 2 as the chip leader and maintained a steady stack throughout. She eliminated several players, including PokerStars Pro Jen Shahade, and ended Day 2 as the frontrunner.

Day 3 Drama

Jennifer Steele led the counts going into Day 3, followed closely by Solli and Ann-Roos Callens. Solli had a turbulent day, losing ground after doubling up Tina Abery, who hit a river save.

Shortly after, Solli’s run came to an end in 11th place when she ran into Ann-Roos Callens’ pocket aces. Callens capitalized on her momentum, advancing to the final table and eventually securing a spot in the heads-up battle.

Heads-Up Showdown

The heads-up duel commenced six hours into Day 3 featuring Callens against Lampropulos, who had started Day 3 with just 14 big blinds but steadily built her stack. A critical double-up against Callens ignited her streak, culminating in the elimination of Marta Porter in third place.

Heads-up action lasted less than an hour. A pivotal moment occurred when Callens’ shove resulted in a dramatic chop after the river saved her tournament life. However, Lampropulos quickly retook, chipping away at Callens’ stack over three consecutive hands.

The final hand saw Callens shove with K♦6♥, called by Lampropulos holding Q♣5♦. A queen on the flop sealed the victory for Lampropulos, crowning her the Women’s Winter Festival Main Event Champion.

In addition to her Main Event victory, Lampropulos showcased her prowess in the UKIPT Women’s High Roller last week, where she also claimed first place. Looking ahead, she revealed her plans to compete at EPT Prague next month.