Future is Bright for the Fabulous Women of Canadian Poker

How the women of Canadian poker are molding the future of gender-liberation in a male-dominated sport.

For countless millennia, generation after generation grew up in a male dominated world. It was only in the last few decades that women began to rise up to the status of equals. The same will soon be said throughout the fastidious realm of poker.

In its earliest days, poker was a man’s game. The fervent clouds of cigar smoke and guffaws of pugnacious laughter were off-putting enough that women had little desire to join in. They, instead, were sent off to do womanly things, like playing slot machines or shopping for a new wardrobe (if their male counterparts were successful enough on the felt).

As he old adage goes, “Times, they are a’changing!” It hasn’t been a swift transition, nor is the presence of female players anywhere near large enough to rival their male counterparts—not yet. But we’re definitely getting there. And there’s no doubt in my mind that the fabulous women that make up Canada’s exhaustive pool of professional poker players are leading the movement.

The Fabulous Women of Canadian Poker

Kristen Bicknell

Take a look at any of today’s high-profile poker tournaments, and you’ll notice a large number of women occupying the field. Among them are some of Canada’s most profitable poker pros, from universally recognized victors like Kristen Bicknell, to rising stars like Ema Zajmovic. Canadian women are making their presence known more than ever, and it’s their drive to balance the scales between genders that is helping to motivate change.

Bicknell, who was crowned Female Player of the Year in 2017, and has more than CA-$2.8 million in live cash winnings, has been an inspiration for female players all over the world. She has two WSOP bracelets, and is well on her way to defending her FPOY title in 2018. Over the years, she’s given us fantastic insight on how she manages to stay ahead of so many male poker players.

Following her win at the 2018 APT High Roller Event, Bicknell said:

“…I really want to represent women in poker…to inspire women in poker…to show that women belong at the poker tables, too.”

Ema Zajmovic

Ema Zajmovic, who was still buried in grade school books when Bicknell was grinding the online poker felt in the mid-2000s, earned her first tournament title last year at the WPT Playground Main Event in Kahnawake, Canada. She followed that with a trio of WSOP cashes this year, including a 215^th place run into the 2018 WSOP Championship worth about $50k.

As Canada’s latest rising female poker star, she’s got a unique take on the challenge of competing in a male dominated poker world.

“As a community, men and women need to understand there are decades of a mentality that discourages women to play poker. We all need to be open-minded, conscious and patient about that.”

Ema advises women to try not to mimic male players. To evaporate the long-standing stereotypes, she believes women need “to be yourself, to embrace your essence…to learn from each other…” because, “being close-minded will be no help for anyone.”

Bicknell and Zajmovic aren’t the only women of Canadian poker who are helping to mold the future of a gender-liberated card gaming community. Other famous names include Xuan Yu, Isabelle Mercier, Kara Scott, Carla Sabini, Louise Francoeur, Laurence Grondin, Cindy Kerslake, Darlene Lee, Thi Hoa Nguyen, Jody Howe, Pam MacNaughton, the list goes on and on.

To all you women out there who love the game, love yourself enough to compete with the so-called big boys of poker. As these and so many other female Canadian poker pros have already proven, the combination of skill and self-confidence can go a very long way!