The long-time player rebounded from just five big blinds to win the tournament
Las Vegas resident and retired poker pro Lisa Costello was the winner of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Ladies Championship that just ended at the Wynn, taking home $85,297 and the championship trophy.
It was an improbable win after Costello found herself down to five big blinds on Day 2. By the end of the following day, all the other 456 players’ chips were in her stack. “I think, honestly, I was just so grateful to actually be here after what happened yesterday,” said Costello to a WPT pool reporter. “It’s just incredible that I was even here today. It feels unbelievable. This is such an incredible feeling. And I’ve played with some incredible people. And I just cannot believe that this is happening right now. I’m so happy.”
It’s her second ladies event championship and her biggest lifetime cash. According to the Hendon Mob, Costello won the same event at the Venetian in 2014 and now has lifetime earnings of $309,400.
Former CardsChat contributor Ashey Sleeth, who won a World Series of Poker Circuit ring in 2019, finished second for $57,069, her second-biggest lifetime cash.
The six-player final table was live-streamed from the Wynn Encore Ballroom stage and included Kathy Stahl ($43,686 for third place), Chris Read ($34,220 in fourth place), Aylar Lie ($26,480 for fifth) and Ada Lang ($20,155 for sixth place).
The 2023 WPT Ladies Championship drew over 100 entrants less than last year’s inaugural event, which brought in 578 players to generate a $560,660 prize pool. Lina Niu would claim first place and the $105,136 top prize.
The action continues on December 14, featuring a $50/$100 all-female high-stakes cash game that will be live-streamed through WPT.
Emma Rodriguez is the Proofreader at the Big Blind, with seven years of experience and five years in online gambling. She plays a crucial role in maintaining content quality by ensuring error-free, reader-friendly information about the gambling industry.
