The Women Are Still Crushing It! – Queen Of The Felt With Tanya Masters
If anyone thinks the women’s game is slowing down then think again. A huge shout-out to Franky May Green who has just gone back-to-back in incredible style.
First, she took down the WSOPC Marrakech Ladies Event, winning 1st place for 55,000 MAD (£4,467) and securing her first WSOP Circuit ring. An emotional win, a proper battle, and proof of serious resilience after grinding back from just 4 big blinds at one stage.
And she didn’t stop there.
Just two weeks later, she went on to win the Reading G300, topping a massive 582 entry field, banking £27,000 plus a £1.5k UK Open Main Event seat. Back-to-back tournament victories. A new career high score. Incredible composure under pressure.
I also want to give a special mention to Lydia Cugudda, who continues to prove herself as one of the most consistent performers in the women’s game right now.
Alex O’Brien & Tanya Masters with Lydia Cugudda after winning the London Women’s Championship 🏆
Lydia previously took down my London Women’s event in Stratford, and just last week she added another title by winning the Coventry Ladies Event. But it doesn’t stop there her recent results internationally have been incredible. She finished 3rd in the NAPT Women’s High Roller in Las Vegas for $10,090, 4th in the NAPT Mystery Bounty for $7,410, and earlier in the summer she took down a WSOP Daily Deepstack event for $33,029.
She also came incredibly close to winning on home soil, finishing 2nd in the Irish Poker Open Ladies Championship for €6,400, along with multiple final tables across major women’s events in London and Las Vegas.
Watching Lydia’s journey has been amazing. She’s putting in the work, travelling, competing, and proving that women from our community can compete and win on the international stage.
These are exactly the kind of stories that inspire the next generation of women to sit down and take their seat
Tanya
Queen of the Felt 💜
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What a weekend in Galway and what a women’s event.
What a weekend in Galway and what a women’s event.
We welcomed 58 entries to the Galway Women’s Event, creating a prize pool just shy of €10,000, and honestly, the atmosphere was everything I hope these tournaments will always be competitive, supportive, and full of brilliant energy.
A huge congratulations to Shella McSweeney, who played an excellent final table, took the event down, and lifted the trophy.
But Shella wasn’t the only standout performance of the weekend.
From the Women’s Event to Main Event Success
One of the things I love most is seeing women carry confidence from one event into the next. Elizabeth Kelly did exactly that. After a strong run in the Women’s Event finishing 4th, Elizabeth went on to play the Galway Poker Festival Main Event, finishing an incredible 9th out of 706 entries, taking home €9,000. That’s a phenomenal result and proof that these women’s events really do matter.
Elizabeth Kelly
Galway Women’s Event Results:
Shella McSweeney €3,265
Jacquie O’Connor €2,100
Aisling Strain €1,450
Elizabeth Kelly €1,050
Caroline Cove €850
Jan Rayner €750
Every finalist played their part in making this such a strong and enjoyable event.
One More Big Shout 🫶
I also want to give a massive shout-out to June Jenkins, who took down the Festival Closer. For anyone who remembers, this is the same June Jenkins who came to our Killarney event and won the Killarney 300 back in September. What a run of confidence, consistency, and class. Huge well done, June.
June Jenkins
Galway delivered in a big way, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who played, supported, and celebrated the women’s events this festival.
Every year, I see this game growing from my first Galway Women’s Event with 34 entries then to 52 in year two, and now 58 this year. That growth doesn’t happen by accident. I’ll be honest, committing to a €5,000 guarantee was a bit scary, but we went for it and nearly doubled the guarantee in the end. That only happens because women keep showing up, supporting each other, and believing they belong at the table.
Keep an eye on my socials for any up and coming events and Thank You all for your continued support 🫶
Tanya
Queen of the Felt 💚
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Galway, Great Stories & Women on the Felt
This past weekend we wrapped up the Irish Poker Tour Final at The GreenIsle Hotel, Dublin and honestly, what a weekend it was. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish, and it was brilliant to see so many familiar faces alongside plenty of new ones. Big congratulations have to go to Darren Harbinson, my former IPT fellow ambassador, who took down the Main Event. Darren played some outstanding poker and walked away with €36,000 after a deal – a massive achievement and one I was genuinely delighted to see.
The Leaderboard Playoffs also gave us some unreal poker. Watching Mary Galvin battle it out and secure 2nd place against John J Ward was a real treat. Mary’s composure, decision-making and sheer grit at the table were top class. Performances like that are exactly why women’s poker deserves more spotlight – the talent is absolutely there.
One story that really stood out for me though was Stephanie Coyle, who travelled over from Glasgow with her two friends, Scott and Glen. They had previously visited our tour in Alea Casino Glasgow, so hearing that they made the trip to Dublin meant a lot. Stephanie came back for Day 2 with just 38,000 chips – not exactly a comfortable stack – but she didn’t let that stop her. She spun it up, played fearlessly, and eventually exited in 48th place out of 205 Day 2 qualifiers. That’s heart, determination, and proper poker spirit right there.
And now… it’s Galway time.
The Galway Poker Festival kicks off this Wednesday at The Galmont Hotel, and I genuinely cannot wait. Galway always brings a special buzz – the people, the craic, the poker tables packed with energy from morning to night. But for me, the highlight is without doubt the Women’s Game, taking place on Friday 9th January at 1pm.
As an Irish Poker Tour ambassador and the voice behind Queen of the Felt, this event means a lot to me. Women’s poker is growing, and every time we sit down at the table together, we’re building confidence, community, and visibility. Whether you’re brand new to live poker or a seasoned regular, this game is about feeling welcome, supported, and encouraged to play your best.
You don’t need to be fearless – you just need to show up. The rest comes with experience, a few bluffs, a few bad beats, plenty of laughs, and hopefully a nice stack of chips in front of you.
I’m really looking forward to catching up with everyone in Galway over the coming days, sharing stories from the felt, and seeing familiar and new faces alike. Let’s make this festival – and especially the women’s event – one to remember.
See you at the tables 💚
Queen of the Felt Tanya ♣️
Irish Poker Tour Ambassador
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Building the Women’s Game, One Seat at a Time
I love this time of year. Running the €10 Thursday women’s online satellites is a big part of why. These games run every Thursday at 7.30pm on Paddy Power Poker, Betfair and Sky Poker, with two seats guaranteed into the Galway Women’s Championship. They’re all about making poker accessible, friendly, and giving more women the confidence to get involved online.
We’ve had a great start so far. Sia Browne and Colette Murphy won the first two seats in week one, and last Thursday we added two more seat winners, with cash prizes for 3rd and 4th. The aim now is simple — let’s keep building those numbers every week.
The Galway Women’s Championship is just three weeks away, taking place on Friday 9th January at 1pm in The Galmont Hotel, Galway. It’s a €200 buy-in with a €5,000 guarantee, and it’s designed to be welcoming and fun. There’ll be Prosecco and chocolate on arrival, spot prizes, and final-table bags — the little touches that help make it special.
I also want to give a huge congratulations to Lily Lofty on winning the Ladies Event at the WPT World Championship. 445 entries is an incredible number and shows what’s possible when women’s poker is properly supported.
Photo Credit: WPT
Seeing that makes me think about what we can build here. In the States, women’s events are visible and encouraged — and that’s how those fields grow. In Europe, and especially in Galway and Killarney, we’re doing it step by step: online satellites, guaranteed seats, and hopefully welcoming new players every single week.
I look forward to this event every year, and I can’t wait to see how much more we can grow it together.
💜
Tanya
Queen of the Felt
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Women’s Poker on the Rise: Galway Gears Up for an Unmissable Ladies Event
Hey poker fans! It’s been a little while, but that’s only because things have been super busy on the poker front. So let’s catch up…
Malta was incredible — the energy was electric. I jumped into the Ladies First Women’s Event hosted by Anne Roos, which had an amazing 110 entries. Sadly, luck wasn’t on my side this time, but it was brilliant to see such a strong turnout.
From there, I headed straight to London, where I hosted the London Women’s Championship — and we absolutely smashed the guarantee. Another fantastic milestone for women’s poker.
And now… the crème de la crème.
I’m absolutely buzzing to say I’m back hosting at one of my favourite venues of all time — The Galmont Hotel in Galway — for the next Irish Poker Tour Women’s Event on Friday, 9th January at 1pm.
We’ve got a €5,000 GTD, final-table bags, spot prizes, and a lovely welcome with chocolate and prosecco on arrival. The whole idea is to keep building a fun, friendly, and inviting game for women of all experience levels.
Our last Galway ladies event was a brilliant success with 52 entries and a prize pool of €8,530. Denise Fusciardi, who lifted the trophy last time, will be back to defend her title. Denise is a Dublin-based player who runs a poker room and is well known among us women for being a strong and respected competitor.
I’ll also be running €10 satellites every Thursday at 7:30pm on Paddy Power Poker, Sky Poker, and Betfair. There is an exclusive offer for online qualifiers so keep an eye on my socials for all the details.
And don’t forget — the amazing Katie Swift is hosting a weekly women’s game every Wednesday for just £5, complete with a leaderboard where you can win a Galway Poker Festival package. Make sure to join her Facebook group for the password and full info.
The percentage of women in poker is still far too low, but events like these are helping change that — one fun, friendly, confidence-building tournament at a time.
I hope to see plenty of new faces and returning players in Galway.
Let’s make this one the best yet! ♠️✨
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London Women’s Championship
What a fantastic day we had at the London Women’s Championship! As always, these Womens events are about more than just the cards — they’re full of laughter, great company, and a little bit of bubbly followed with tasty treats and final table bags.
We had 34 entries, building a prize pool of £5,775, and what a field it was — with familiar faces like Jodi Przybyla, Shari Fitton, and Louisa Plint, regulars from KJ’s women’s meet-up at the Hippodrome.
After some brilliant play throughout the day, they decided to pay the bubble which went to Maria Cardoso for £250 then Nikhila Sakinala who placed 5th for £580, Anne Bonner who took 4th for £750, Janet Rayner who finished 3rd for £990, Vanessa Colls who took 2nd for £1,340, and the trophy went to Katy McAulay, who banked £1,865 after a great run — and fittingly, she’s Vanessa’s playing partner at the Greenwich Town Social Club in East Greenwich!
Before cards even hit the felt, we had a bit of extra excitement when Silvia EMontini was drawn as the Facebook giveaway winner. And in a lovely touch from Kerryjane Craigie at the Hippodrome Cardroom, Sue O’Connor (Katie Swift’s mum) was also included as she’s been unwell recently. It’s these little gestures that really show what makes the women’s poker community so special — we’re all about friendship, support, and great poker.
Next up for me is the Galway Women’s Championship on Friday, 9th January 2026 at 1pm. I can’t wait to see everyone there — let’s make it another amazing day of poker, prosecco, and plenty of smiles! 💚♣️
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What an incredible day at our Women’s Poker Event!
Friday’s tournament was a fantastic success, with 56 entries and a total prize pool of €11,935, smashing our €10,000 guarantee! 💥
It was a day full of great poker, laughter, and community spirit — made even more special by the presence of Natalie Bromley from Hearts of Queens, who joined us to raise funds for two amazing charities:
💜 Safe Ireland
💜 Aoibhneas Domestic Abuse Network
Together, we raised €400 in cash, which will go directly towards Fresh Start Boxes, plus €460 from the last longer competition, which was kindly matched by the Irish Poker Tour, bringing our total to an incredible €1,320! 🙌
A huge thank you to everyone who contributed — your generosity truly makes a difference. 💖
🏆 Final Payouts:
1️⃣ Caroline McKeever – €3,485
2️⃣ Colette Murphy (“Smurph”) – €3,100
3️⃣ Mary Galvin – €1,800
4️⃣ Lesley Thompson – €1,300
5️⃣ Marie Farrell – €1,050
6️⃣ Tanya Masters (myself!) – €950
7️⃣ Suzie Williamson – €250
👏 Well done to Caroline McKeever on taking down the title!
🔥 Colette Murphy battled her way to a strong second place,
💪 Mary Galvin — who’s been absolutely on fire lately — claimed third,
and 💖 our beauty Lesley Thompson secured a fantastic fourth place finish!
💥 And a shout out to our bubble, Suzie Williamson, taking 7th place for €250 who also picked up a €50 online credit, kindly given by Grosvenor
🙏 Thank you all so much for your continued support — events like this wouldn’t be possible without you.
👉 Didn’t get a chance to donate Friday? You can still make a contribution at: www.heartsofqueens.org
I jumped into the Main Event on Saturday — no good there unfortunately 😅 — Same with the Killarney 300! ♠️ Now let’s try the Monsterstack so Keep an eye on Live Poker Updates for all the action — let’s keep the run good going! 🍀
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Queens of the Felt: Where Poker Meets Charity
I’m absolutely thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! As an ambassador for the Irish Poker Tour, I’ll be hosting a special women’s event in Killarney on Friday, 26th September at 2pm, and this one is going to be truly memorable.
We’re bringing the poker community together not just for the thrill of the game, but also for a cause close to our hearts. I’m delighted to announce that Hearts of Queens (HoQ) will be joining us on the day to help raise funds and awareness in support of women’s charities across Ireland.
Tournament Details
Buy-in: €220 + €30
Date & Time: Friday, 26th September, 2pm
Host: Tanya Masters
Special Guest: Hearts of Queens
Can’t make it but still want to support? You can donate here: 👇https://heartsofqueens.org/ipt-festival-killarney/
What to Expect
📌 Last Longer Competition – Every player can opt into a last longer competition for just €10. The winner will take home a beautiful hamper (donated by myself) and an exclusive HOQ x IPT hoodie.
📌 Nominate a Queen – Players can nominate a “Queen” for the tournament for €25. Your chosen Queen will receive a crown, sash, and exclusive HoQ merchandise.
📌 Donation Station – A special donation station will be available where players can purchase a “Fresh Start Box” (€25 each). These will be assembled by the HoQ team and donated to women’s refuges and domestic abuse centres. Payments can be made both electronically and in cash.
📌 Matched Donations – The Irish Poker Tour will kindly match all donations raised through the last longer competition, doubling the impact of your generosity.
📌 Charities Supported – All proceeds from this event will go directly to Safe Ireland and Aoibhneas Domestic Abuse Network, two incredible organisations doing vital work for women in need.
👉 Learn more about the inspiring work Hearts of Queens is doing with the poker community here: www.heartsofqueens.org
Why This Matters
Poker is about more than cards and chips – it’s about community. By coming together, we’re showing the power of the poker world to create real, lasting change for women across Ireland. Whether you’re playing, nominating a Queen, or contributing to Fresh Start Boxes, your involvement makes a difference.
Plus – Women are still Crushing It at the Tables!
On a side note, it’s fantastic to see women continuing to shine in poker worldwide. The Smart Poker Tour and Irish Poker Tour recently hosted an event in Bulgaria, and I’d like to give a massive congratulations to Anna-Mariya Vlaev on her victory in the Deepstack Turbo side event of Smart Poker Tour 19. Her win was the perfect mix of hard work, a sprinkle of luck, and maybe even a little manifestation!
Also a shout out to Aisling Strain for taking home the trophy for the Friday Night Omaha at The Donegal Poker Festival nice job. So on that note see you all soon for The Women’s Killarney Championship next week!
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The Road to Killarney Is Heating Up!
I’m absolutely buzzing to see how much momentum is building for the Killarney Poker Festival this year, both live and online.
Over on WPT Global, players had the chance to jump straight into Day 1 of the Main Event online. And here’s the really exciting part: if you qualified online and then go on to win the Main Event outright in Killarney, there’s a massive €100,000 bonus waiting for you on top of your winnings. That’s some serious extra value!
We had 35 entries for the WPT Global Day 1 flight, with 31 players taking part—and WPT Global are giving every one of them a Golden Ticket. Even “Chickenball5”, who was the 31st player out, will also be awarded one. It’s brilliant to see them rewarding the full field and making sure everyone gets that added buzz heading into the festival.
On top of that, the iPoker platforms are absolutely flying. Sunday night alone saw them award nearly 12 full packages for the festival final, and they’ve been smashing their guarantees week after week. It’s amazing to see so many people winning their way in—it just adds to the hype of what’s shaping up to be one of the biggest and best poker gatherings of the year here in Ireland.
I also had the pleasure of running the first online Killarney Women’s Championship satellite this year on Paddy Power Poker, and the interest was fantastic. We had 30 unique players, plus 34 rebuys and add-ons, building a prize pool of €613. That gave us two tickets for the Women’s Championship game, with 3rd and 4th taking home cash prizes. The atmosphere was unreal, and I’m delighted to say I’ll be running another one this Monday at 8:30pm. It’s just a €10 buy-in, and there’s a guaranteed €250 seat up for grabs.
For me, seeing the mix of local grinders, online qualifiers, women stepping up through dedicated satellites, and international players all coming together in Killarney is what makes this festival so special. The energy is always electric, and with so many online routes feeding into bigger numbers (and bigger prizes), it’s clear we’re in for something truly memorable this year.
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Women Are Crushing Poker Festivals Worldwide
The summer of 2025 has been nothing short of historic for women in poker. From breaking barriers on the game’s most prestigious stages to thriving in women-only festivals, female players are proving they can dominate anywhere the cards are in the air.
It all began with a milestone moment in May, when Xuan Liu captured the $25,000 WPT Global Slam in Montenegro for $860,000. In doing so, Liu etched her name into the history books as the first woman ever to win a Triton Poker title — a feat that resonates across the high-stakes poker world.
Soon after, Jenny Westerlund made headlines of her own. She stormed to victory in the WSOP Circuit Main Event in Tallinn, pocketing €200,200 and becoming the first woman to ever win a WSOP-C Main Event. Westerlund’s heater didn’t stop there: she went on to win the Queens of Tallinn Opener, proving her Tallinn triumph was far from a one-off.
Across the Irish Sea, Kitty Kerwick was adding her name to the winner’s list. She conquered the Irish Poker Tour Portlaoise €30k Gtd Saturday Event, scooping €2,570 and the coveted trophy.
And the momentum just kept rolling. In Glasgow, Zhen Zhen emerged victorious in the £500 Main Event at the 2025 PartyPoker Tour, outlasting the field to claim the £22,500 first prize.
Beyond the open fields, women-only festivals are thriving too. PokerStars hosted its second Women’s Festival this summer, with ambassador Jen Shahade leading the charge by winning the Main Event. These festivals not only spotlight elite talent but also build welcoming spaces for more women to find their place in the game.
From Montenegro to Tallinn, from Portlaoise to Glasgow, women have been crushing it at poker festivals. The results send a clear message: the game is changing, the stage is bigger, and women are making sure their names are on the trophies.
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