Women’s Poker Week 2026: Wynn Ladies No Limit Hold’em; Amanda Baker Is On Fire

Another exciting day of poker unfolded as Cardplayer Lifestyle’s coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week continued at the Wynn Las Vegas with the $600 Ladies No-Limit Hold’em event, featuring a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool. The turnout far exceeded expectations, drawing 361 entries and generating an impressive $185,915 prize pool. The champion’s purse would end up being $36,862, while the top 44 finishers would share the prize money.

Cards were in the air at 11 a.m., and the action never slowed as players battled for a spot at the final table. The Women’s Poker Association (WPA) was on hand to celebrate the event’s success, congratulating the finalists and presenting each lady who made the final table with a well-deserved swag bag. The eventual winner would also receive an elegant trophy to commemorate her achievement.

With a larger prize pool on the line, the atmosphere was noticeably more focused, and the players arrived ready for battle, sporting their best poker faces. As always at the Wynn, the tournament directors, dealers, and staff were gracious, professional, and incredibly accommodating, helping create a first-class experience for all the players.

After the money bubble burst, several familiar faces remained in the field, including Karina Jett, who has amassed over $500k in tournament earnings; Anastasia Knapp from Ukraine, a board member of the WPA; Bridgette Adkins; Nicole Turner, who won the MGM Grand Ladies Event a couple days ago and was prepping for her Main Event debut; Amanda Baker, who finished second a few days back in The Orleans Ladies Event; and Congya Zhang of China, who has amassed more than $300,000 in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob.

The final table bubble burst in dramatic fashion when Bridgette Adkins eliminated two players in a single hand. Holding ace-king, Adkins found herself up against pocket queens and pocket sevens in a massive three-way showdown. The queens appeared poised to take control until Adkins spiked a king, vaulting to the top of the leaderboard and dragging in a huge pot.

FInal Table Wynn Ladies

The double knockout sent the field to the official final table, while Suzanne Chung was eliminated and collected the 9th-place payout for her efforts. The hand gave Adkins a commanding stack and plenty of momentum heading into the final eight players.

With the final table set, the battle for the title was underway, and it did not take long for the first casualty to emerge. Wenxin Huang was the first player eliminated from the final table, earning an eighth-place finish after a strong run through the field.

Not long after, veteran poker professional Karina Jett saw her tournament come to an end in seventh place. Jett is no stranger to success on the felt, having finished runner-up in the 2011 WSOP $1,000 Ladies Championship and captured a title on Poker After Dark Season VI. She remains a respected fixture in tournament poker and added another deep run to her résumé.

Chang Qiu continued her quest to build her poker résumé before falling in sixth place. Shortly thereafter, Seo Young Kong of South Korea exited in fifth. The result marked the largest live tournament cash of her career, surpassing her previous best score of $9,346. Kong is a familiar face on the international poker circuit, regularly competing in events ranging from local tournaments to WSOP stops worldwide.

As the field narrowed, Las Vegas poker regular Yingge Yan, better known as Joanna, battled her way to a fourth-place finish. Her deep run set the stage for an intense three-handed battle that featured one of the WPA’s own.

WPA board member Bridgette Adkins continued her impressive tournament performance, fighting hard for a spot in heads-up play. However, her run ended in third place, leaving Amanda Baker and Christine Di Fiore-Kirsch to battle for the championship.

The heads-up match did not last long. Amanda entered with a massive chip advantage, but Christine, a worthy opponent with an impressive poker résumé of her own, immediately showed she was not going away quietly by doubling up on the very first hand. Any hopes of a comeback were short-lived, however, as Amanda kept the pressure on. On the very next hand, the chips went back into the middle, and Amanda’s ten-two suited managed to outdraw Christine’s ace-jack when a deuce appeared on the river, securing the title.

For Amanda, the victory capped off an incredible week. A full-time poker player and primarily a cash-game specialist, she had already recorded a second-place finish earlier in the week and now added a tournament title to her growing list of accomplishments. While she typically only plays tournaments when women’s events are on the schedule, her recent success may have her reconsidering that poker strategy.

Amanda plans to continue her busy summer by playing more women’s events this week, including the WSOP Ladies Championship and the Main Event.

When asked what the trophy meant to her, Amanda’s excitement was evident: “I’m so excited. I could have chopped the tournament at the Wynn, but I prefer to win outright because I don’t like to chop. This really means a lot to me.”

As for her winning strategy, Amanda kept it simple: “Just playing well and getting lucky.”

She praised the strength of the final table and was thrilled to see her run carry her all the way to the winner’s circle. Now adding another trophy to her collection, Amanda reflected on why she enjoys women’s events so much: “I love playing the ladies’ events. They are so much fun. It reminds me of playing games as a kid with my girlfriends, such a fun vibe and atmosphere.”

With another impressive score under her belt and plenty more events still ahead, Amanda’s hot streak appears far from over.

Player of the Day: Christina Black

This 2026 Women’s Poker Week recap is brought to you with the support of Clayton Financial and Tax. As experts in tax preparation and representation for 20 years, Clayton Financial and Tax specializes in taxes for gambling and rental real estate.

The WPA’s very own Vice President, Christina Black, is a busy woman balancing a full-time job, leadership responsibilities, and homeschooling her six-year-old son, Alex. If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Yet Christina somehow manages it all with a warm smile, a positive attitude, and a reputation for getting things done.

Christina previously served on the WPA board and has managed its Raise It Up program for the past three years. This initiative encourages poker rooms to increase women’s presence and equity throughout the industry.

According to the program’s mission, Raise It Up aims to “elevate the game of poker and implement a global movement to raise the respect and fun in poker.”

Despite the many hours the role requires, Christina finds the work incredibly rewarding: “I am able to see and hear a lot from the women and listen to their feedback.”

She acknowledges that the commitment is significant, saying that “This role takes a lot of time, and we are all volunteers” but she believes the results are worth it, adding “In the most rewarding way, more ladies are playing poker, getting more creative at the table, and improving at hold’em and mixed games.”

When asked what she enjoys most about women’s poker events, Christina didn’t hesitate: “Seeing all my friends and reconnecting with everyone, even if it is only a couple of times a year.” As a player, Christina believes patience is one of the most overlooked skills in poker today: “With the influx of hyper-aggressive playing styles, patience and controlling your emotions are very big assets.”

Poker has been part of Christina’s life for years. She first learned the game during family gatherings, where cards became an excuse for everyone to spend time together: “Dad is really big into poker and taught us all how to play.”

Her competitive spirit is what keeps her coming back to the tables: “You see athletes fail every single day. We are just performing in a different way at the poker table. That’s what motivates me to keep competing.”

When it comes to improving her game, Christina takes an exploitative approach. She keeps a diary of her sessions, reviews her decisions, and looks for areas where she can improve. She has also studied with poker coaches Ruth Hall and Fearless River, gaining valuable insights from both.

Asked about opportunities for women in poker, Christina’s response was immediate and optimistic: “We are here. We have landed.”

She is encouraged by the growing number of women’s events and the increasing number of venues adopting the Raise It Up program, helping create more welcoming environments while promoting respect, fun, and growth within the game.

Christina doesn’t rely on lucky charms or poker superstitions. However, she does have a meaningful tradition. Every time she bags a Day 1 event, she writes a note to her son on the bag: “I love you, Alex.” She also proudly mentioned her three adult daughters, whom she loves dearly.

As for poker fuel? Christina keeps it simple. Her favourite poker snack is beef jerky, a low-sugar, high-protein option that helps keep her energized and focused throughout long tournament days.

Whether she’s competing at the tables, advocating for women in poker, or helping shape the future of the WPA, Christina Black continues to make a lasting impact on the game and the community she cares so deeply about.

2026 Women’s Poker Week: What’s Next?

Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week continues Wednesday, June 23, with the following fabulous events:

• 11 a.m. $800 Aria Ladies Mystery Bounty
• 6 p.m. $150 Ladies Warm-up Horseshoe Casino