Top 10 Best Canadian Female Poker Players of All Time

The land of Niagara Falls, maple syrup, Ice Hockey, and poutine, also claims well-known 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

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.

At the age of 34, 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.

Xuan Liu

Xuan Liu

Our female poker players list includes a lot more notable names. Number two 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. 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.

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.

Isabelle Mercier

Isabelle Mercier

Next, we have Isabelle Mercier, one of the foremost female poker stars. 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.

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.

Kara Scott

Kara Scott

As an 888Poker ambassador, Scott is popular in the poker world, both as a spokesperson and as a player. 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.

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.

Carla Sabini

Carla Sabini

There isn’t much to tell about Ms. Sabini’s personal life but this professional 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. Ng started gambling at a young age. 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.

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.

Darlene Lee

Darlene Lee

This Vancouver – one of the 'lady poker players' – native 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.

Gillian Epp

Gillian Epp

Born in Vancouver, Gillian Epp makes it into last place on our woman poker players list. 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 worked as a poker dealer.

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.

Currently, she writes articles for different poker magazines.

Other Famous Players

Many people 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, Daniel Negreanu, 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.

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Interesting Facts & Statistics

If you want to take part in similar events or just find out more about the world records and many millions earned by the best women poker players, here’s some helpful information we want to highlight in our review. Read on for more facts, statistical details, and other intriguing things to consider:

  1. Canadian women poker players have made a name for themselves in the world of professional poker.

  2. The most successful Canadian female poker player is Kristen Bicknell (born on December 29, 1986) who has won over $5 million in live tournament earnings.

  3. Other best female poker players include Xuan Liu, Kara Scott, and Jennifer Shahade. Xuan Liu has won over $2 million in live tournament earnings and is the second-most successful Canadian female poker player.

  4. Kara Scott is a professional poker player, TV presenter, and commentator who has won over $1 million in live tournament earnings.

  5. Jennifer Shahade is a US two-time United States Women's Chess Champion and a professional poker player who has won over $500,000 in live tournament earnings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  16. You can choose from a wide range of available tourneys, including mixed events.

  17. Interestingly, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has bracelets as rewards.

As you can see, many of the participants have graduated from college and are involved not only in poker tournaments but also in other activities beyond casinos. The value of their prizes depends on the scale of the event and the company running operations, so you can watch the news to find out all the details.

Online Casinos as an Alternative

Lots of poker events are dedicated to the enjoyment of this game and are either aimed at famous women poker players or male participants. However, there is a good alternative where anyone can play and withdraw wins. This could be any online casino site in Canada where players can try out varied casino games and even promotions as an extra advantage. Here are several reasons to try out the online version:

  • Players have a chance to experience action-packed cash games for all tastes, including varied poker options (Omaha, No Limit Hold'em), any other card game like blackjack or baccarat, other tables like roulette, and hundreds of slots.
  • The sites are certain to show bonuses, including deposit offers, free spins, free chips, a range of reload offers, and anything else to add to the main balance. Just check the wager (the number of times to multiply your bonus before you withdraw it).
  • After deposits, each bet you place adds loyalty points to your account. This option is provided within the loyalty program, so you can increase your status and gain something rewarding for each new level.
  • You can run any title on all mobile devices, including tables, smartphones, and others. As a result, there are a lot of ways to access poker and other games that your online casino features.

Top casino list to try poker

Conclusion

For female professional poker players, it isn't impossible to win large amounts of $1.2 million, $1.5 million, and more excellent money finishes. These money amounts show that these women not only know the industry perfectly but also love this field. The event entries can take place in Italy, Macau, Monte Carlo, St. Catharines, GPI, and other locations, while the tourneys can be Supernova Elite, GGPoker, Ladies' Night I, PartyPoker, Full Tilt Poker, and more. If you also want to participate in female poker activities, check the cashes required and the rules in order to be prepared. Alternatively, you can try your hand at varied online titles and withdraw funds in case of becoming a winner. Just make sure to keep in mind responsible gambling terms when placing real-money stakes and utilize any good blog tips you spot, including from this page.

Michelle Thomas
Former Author
Master of Business and Finance
Expert in:
  • News
  • Blog
Reviewed by Head of Content:
Dmitry Rogalchuk
Last updated on: 17.02.2024

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.

What are their biggest cash game wins?

Kristen Bicknell has won over $5 million in live tournament earnings, and Kara Scott has won over $1 million.

What is the biggest difference between male and female poker players?

These women are sure that all the borders are either absent or there to be overcome, while the industry is friendly to both men and woman poker players.

What do they think is the best way for a female player to become successful in poker?

Each participant is sure that practicing and working hard are the basics. Of course, good luck is also essential.

What do they think is the biggest challenge facing female poker players today?

Fortunately, the modern industry is fully friendly to women of poker. This is why it all depends on the skills of the participants.

How successful are Canadian female poker players?

Poker female players can boast a great poker career. CA women manage to earn really decent prizes. For example, Kristen Bicknell won $5 million, while Xuan Liu has won over $2 million.

How popular is poker among Canadian women?

There are currently over 1,000 female poker players registered in Canada. Approximately one-third of Canadian female poker players are university graduates.

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