World Series of Poker Event #15, Ladies World Poker Championship, 8-10 June 2008

Entrants: 1,190
Buy in: ,00
Prize pool: ,082,900

Final results:
1. Svetlana Gromenkova 4,702
2. Anh Le 4,567
3. Patty Till ,637
4. Christine Priday ,715
5. Marla Crumpler ,101
6. Debbie Mitchell ,106
7. Roslyn Quarto ,277
8. Yesenia Garcia ,155
9. Sue Porter ,034

The 2008 Ladies World Poker Championship attracted 1,190 entries, which was the second-largest women’s-only event in poker history. The buy in was ,000, creating a prize pool totaling ,082,900. The top 99 finishers collected prize money. This was only the second million-dollar prize pool for a ladies event in history.

The winner was Svetlana Gromenkova, from New York, NY. She was born near Moscow, Russia and immigrated to the United States about six years ago.

Gromenkova collected 4,702 in prize money for first place. She also earned her first WSOP gold bracelet. The winner was also presented with a custom-designed gold and diamond ladies watch, exclusively designed by Corum USA. WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack made the official presentation to the new champion.

Gromenkova is the friend of Las Vegas-based professional poker player Anthony Rivera, who won the Half Omaha/Half Stud championship last week. Rivera gave Gromenkova his sunglasses to wear at the table, which turned out to be good luck. Gromenkova later claimed that the lucky sunglasses were hers and that Rivera had “borrowed” them during his final table victory. The sunglasses have earned the two players about half a million dollars within the past week.

“I want people to know I’m a good player,” Gromenkova said afterward. “And they will know it now.”

The Ladies World Poker Championship has been played every year since 1977. Hence, this was the 31st straight year of the competition. During the first two decades, the ladies competed by playing Seven-Card Stud. In 2001, the format was changed to Hold’em.

The tournament began with WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack announcing to all the players that the ladies-only tournament will continue to be a world championship event, with a gold bracelet awarded to the winner – so long as ladies continue to support the tradition in large numbers. Judging by the enthusiastic response of the crowd assembled inside the Rio, this will be a gold bracelet tournament for many years to come.

Actress/TV star Jackie Collins was on hand to announce “shuffle up and deal,” which is the official phrase which starts the tournament. Before filling the tournament room with those magic words however, Collins, the diva of female empowerment, remarked “I’m ready to see some ladies kick ass, so let’s do it!”

Several former Ladies World Champions entered this event, including Barbara Enright, Susie Isaacs, Mary Jones, and the defending champion – Sally Ann Boyer. However, none of these former winners cashed.

This event included the first-ever “excessive celebration” penalty. In use for the first time, the WSOP established a new rule this year which states players cannot celebrate beyond a routine duration of time. On Day One, a female player celebrated her winning hand to the detriment of others players at her table. Following her penalty, she rejoined the tournament and continued play.

All WSOP images are supplied by "IMPDI for the 2008 WSOP"