PokerStars first announced Kerryjane Craigie as their Ambassador for Women in Poker in late June, followed by Craigie’s own announcement of an exclusively women-only Women’s Winter Festival.
Taking place November 21 through 24 at the Hippodrome Casino in London, the Women’s Winter Festival, supported by PokerStars, boasts a £400 Main Event with a £100K guarantee. The Main Event has three starting flights and Day 2 will finish around 4 p.m. so that players can play in the NLH 50/50 Freezeout tournament.
The 50/50 is not a team event but is capped at 81 pairs (162 players) and is a freezeout. The field in this tournament will be made up of 50% women and 50% men; therefore, all duos must register together. Solo players will need to be paired in order to play.
During EPT Barcelona, PokerStars Ambassador Marle Spragg announced that a Women’s High Roller was added to the schedule, kicking off the festival. Marle Spragg, Jen Shahade, and Maria Lampropulos have confirmed to play the High Roller.
Women’s Winter Festival Event Schedule
| Date | Event | Buy-in |
| Thursday, November 21 | High Roller, Single Re-Entry | £1,100 |
| Thursday, November 21 | MAIN EVENT £100K Gtd, Single Re-Entry per Flight Day 1/A | £400 |
| Thursday, November 21 | Qualifier to Main Event | £40 |
| Friday, November 22 | MAIN EVENT £100K Gtd, Single Re-Entry per Flight Day 1/B | £400 |
| Friday, November 22 | MAIN EVENT £100K Gtd, Single Re-Entry per Flight Day 1/C | £400 |
| Saturday, November 23 | MAIN EVENT £100K Gtd, Day 2 | – |
| Saturday, November 23 | NLH 50/40 Freezeout | £220 |
| Sunday, November 24 | MAIN EVENT £100K Gtd, Final | – |
| Sunday, November 24 | NLH- Single Re-Entry | £220 |
| Sunday, November 24 | Women’s Closer Freeroll – EPT Women’s Event Package added | Freeroll |
There have been numerous ways to qualify for the Main Event including packages added to Women’s Events in the USA and Europe. Caitlyn Arnwine won her way to London after winning at Live! Philadelphia. Sheila Stimson won her trip by winning the Women’s NLH Tournament at the recent PokerStars North American Poker Tour (NAPT) in Las Vegas. The winner of Malta Poker Festival’s Ladies First! will also join others in London as well as Celine Zimmerman winner of the Swiss Poker Ladies Championship. Pocket Queens member Mikha Richards has also won a package by coming first in a heads-up tournament.
Online qualifiers are available on PokerStars and run daily. Qualifiers are on offer on different days include a full package or seat and expenses, check your lobby for details. Players can also redeem a PokerStars Silver Pass for the Women’s Winter Festival.
Silver Pass: Women’s Winter Festival
- £400 Main Event Entry
- £220 50/50 Entry
- 3 nights accommodation for the player and one guest at the Z Hotel Tottenham Court Road (check-in November 21st, check-out November 24th)
- Plus remaining value of the $2,500 credited as expenses
Silver Pass: Women’s Winter Festival High Roller
- £1,100 High Roller Entry
- £400 Main Event Entry
- Plus remaining value of the $2,500 credited as expenses
