Top 10 Best Canadian Female Poker Players of All Time

The land of Niagara Falls, maple syrup, Ice Hockey, and poutine, also claims succesful Canadian female poker players. Gambling, which incorporates many more activities than just playing cards, has been around in the country since the mid-1400s. The Canadian Criminal Code was declared in 1892. This law allowed gambling under certain conditions but, by the 1900s, because the laws weren’t strict, gambling became popular throughout the country. And this provided more space for female pro poker players.

Here are some of the top female Canadian poker players of all time.

Kristen Bicknell

Kristen Bicknell

At the age of 34, Kristen Bicknell has accomplished a great deal, becoming one of the most well-known women in poker. She won her first World Series of Poker bracelet with total earnings of $173,922 and, in 2016, at the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em bounty event, she won $290,768. As recently as 2020, she earned her third World Series of Poker bracelet and has collected total earnings of $5,434,472.

According to PokerNews, Bicknell, an Ontario-Native, was first introduced to the game in her first year of university. She says that ever since that night she has been 'obsessed' with the game. With the support of family and friends, very little takes away from her motivation to succeed in the poker world. Staying healthy contributes to success at the table for Kristen Bicknell as well.

Xuan Liu

Xuan Liu

The second best Canadian female poker player on our list is Xuan Liu. She is also a native of Ontario who has proven to be a big player in the poker world. Her achievements include the 2011 European Poker Tour Main event where she placed third and raked in €360,000. Following that, she placed sixth in the 2012 $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo tournament, earning $29,985. Today she is a Poker Coach/Instructor at Poker Power.

Just like Ms. Bicknell, she was introduced to poker while attending the University of Waterloo.Liu started with online games and then, in 2007, she appeared in a live tournament. It was only by 2010 though that she had started playing seriously.

Isabelle Mercier

Isabelle Mercier

Next, we have Isabelle Mercier, one of the foremost female poker stars. Her aggressive type of playing won her the World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational in 2004. She is currently a member of Team PokerStars. Her total earnings amount to $834,683.

This Quebecois native started playing poker professionally before the two players mentioned above. After graduating from the University of Montreal with a law degree, Mercier moved to France to continue her education. It was there that she became a poker room manager at the famous Aviation Club de France.

Kara Scott

Kara Scott

As an 888Poker ambassador, Scott is popular in the poker world, both as a spokesperson and as a player. Her achievements include finishing second in the Irish Open and she is the only woman to cash out in both the 2008 and 2009 World Series of Poker Main Events. Her total live earnings are $664,795.

The Calgary native is well-traveled. In 1999, she moved to the United Kingdom but it wasn't until 2002 that she started in the poker world through media work. She now lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Carla Sabini

Carla Sabini

There isn’t much to tell about Carla Sabini’s personal life but this professional female poker player is from Montreal, Canada. Her accomplishments make her number five on our list. She has accumulated $559,415 in live tournament earnings and is currently placed 163rd on the Canada All-Time Money List. Her enigmatic playing style makes her a formidable player.

Louise Francoeur

Louise Francoeur

Just like Carla Sabini, not much is known about Louise Francouer’s personal life except that she is a great poker player from Montreal, Canada. She’s currently placed 161st on the Canada All-Time Money list. Her total live tournament earnings stand at $644,219. Her biggest cash prize totals $49,108, which she won at the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Championship, placed 142nd.

Evelyn Ng

Evelyn Ng

At number seven, we have Evelyn Ng from Toronto, Canada.Her claim to fame was her second-place win in the World Poker Tour Ladies Night Event in 2003. She also won $73,230 at the $25,000 + 500 WPT Championship, No-Limit Hold'em event in Las Vegas in 2006. In fact, her total winnings as of 2010 stand at $377,191.

Ng started gambling at the tender age of 14. She played pool for money and, by 17, she found herself playing cards. She later graduated to dealing blackjack and poker.

Darlene Lee

Darlene Lee

Vancouver native Darlene Lee has had many impressive finishes in her career. Although she hasn't won a World Series of Poker bracelet, she’s become notable in the Canadian poker world. Darlene’s most recent achievement was in 2016 at the 47th Annual in the $1,500 Summer Solstice No-Limit Hold’em event, where she placed 39th.

Her largest earnings to date was at the 2014 World Series of Poker games where she raked in a sum of $52,141. Impressive!

Thi Hoa Nguyen

Thi Hoa Nguyen

Thi Hoa Nguyen, from Toronto, comes in at number nine on our woman poker player list. Just like Darlene, she has not won a WSOP bracelet but she’s been formidable in her winnings. She has bagged $301,501 from live tournaments.

Thi has gained recognition for strategic gameplay and advocating for female representation in poker, encouraging more women to participate in the game.

Gillian Epp

Gillian Epp

Born in Vancouver, Gillian Epp concludes our women poker player list. As the poker world's rising star, she soon left her job to play high-stakes games in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Although she's not the highest earner on this list, she's on her way up. Once she realized that playing poker can support her travelling lifestyle, she learned how to hone her craft in games. To study the game, she also worked as a poker dealer.

Currently, she writes articles for various poker magazines.

Other Famous Players

Many gamble in this popular industry and, though not all of them become champions according to the rankings, the names of some other professional female poker players should also be considered. These include Vanessa Kade, Annie Duke, and other players participating in the WSOP main event. In addition to showing their professional skills, these players have shown really valuable hands and great results in the finish.

10

Canadian Female Poker Player Statistics

Whether you're interested in participating in events or learning about the impressive records and earnings of top Canadian female poker players, we’ve compiled essential statistics for you. Dive in for facts, statistics, and intriguing insights into the world of women in poker!

  1. There are currently over 1,000 female poker players registered in Canada.

  2. The majority of Canadian female poker players are aged between 25 and 34 (60%).

  3. Over half of Canadian famous female poker players are located in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec (55%).

  4. Approximately one-third of Canadian female poker players are university graduates (30%).

  5. The average annual income of Canadian female poker players is around $50,000 (50,000).

  6. About 40% of Canadian female poker players are self-employed (40%).

  7. The most popular form of poker among Canadian female players is Texas Hold'em (60%).

  8. Over 80% of Canadian female poker players play online (80%).

  9. The average time spent playing poker by Canadian female players is around 4 hours per week (4 hours).

  10. The average amount of money spent by Canadian female poker women players is around $200 per month (200).

Online Casinos as an Alternative

Many poker events are focused at professional men or women poker players. More casual players can head to online casinos. Operators provide players with varied casino games and even bonus promotions as an extra advantage. Here are several reasons to play poker online:

  • Players can experience action-packed real money games for all tastes, including numerous poker variations (Omaha, No Limit Hold'em, video poker, etc.).
  • Online casinos feature bonuses that will boost your bankroll. Among bonus promotions you’ll find welcome offers, free spins, free chips for poker games, reload bonuses, and more.
  • After depositing, each bet you place adds loyalty points to your account. This option is part of the loyalty program, which provides rewards for each new level.
  • You can play poker on all mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones. All online casino features and games are accessible via the casino’s website or mobile app.

Conclusion

Canadian female poker players have proved they can win millions of dollars in this game. It shows that these women are true professionals. Our women participate in famous poker events in Italy, Macau, Monte Carlo, St. Catharines, GPI, and other locations across the globe. If you’d like to explore the world of women’s poker in more depth, look into well-known tournaments such as Supernova Elite, GGPoker, Ladies' Night I, PartyPoker, Full Tilt Poker, and more. When deciding to participate in female poker activities, check the entry fee and the rules to be prepared. Alternatively, you can try your hand at varied online poker games to start winning real money.

Alan Kendall
Expert Writer
The City of Liverpool College
Expertise in the convergence of data communication and interactive media technologies. A focus on commercial advertising, online marketing, and digital media.
Expert in:
  • Latest Gambling News and Trends
  • iGaming Content
Fact checked by Chief Editor:
Gerda Grinova

FAQ

What are the most successful Canadian female poker players?

The most successful Canadian top women poker players are Kristen Bicknell, Xuan Liu, Kara Scott, and Jennifer Shahade. They rank among the world’s top poker players and have earned millions of dollars across their careers.

What are the biggest wins of the best Canadian female poker players ?

The biggest wins by Canadian female poker players exceed the million-dollar mark. Kristen Bicknell has won over $5 million in live tournament earnings, whereas Kara Scott has won over $1 million.

What’s the best way for a female player to become successful in poker?

The best way for female poker players to become successful is to learn and practice. Success in poker mostly depends on the player’s skill, so it’s crucial to learn different poker strategies and then practice applying them in a game setting.

What is the biggest challenge for female poker players today?

As poker is primarily a game of skill, the biggest challenge is mastering the craft of poker. An additional challenge is overcoming gender bias, as poker is a male-dominated environment. However, with the growing number of women poker players, poker is becoming more female-friendly.

How successful are Canadian female poker players?

Poker female players can boast a noteworthy and succesful poker career. Canadian women earn impressive prizes. For example, Kristen Bicknell won $5 million, while Xuan Liu has won over $2 million.

How popular is poker among Canadian women?

Poker is becoming increasingly popular among Canadian women. Currently, there are over 1,000 female poker players registered in Canada. Trends show that most (60%) Canadian female poker players are young women in the 25-34 age range.

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