The bustling Venetian hosted the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) High Roller Championship to wrap up this summer’s series of ladies poker events across the city of Las Vegas. Registration concluded late on Day 1, and 122 hopefuls had taken their seats in the $2,500 buy-in event, easily surpassing the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. The final prize pool swelled to $268,400, with 19 players set to earn a share of the money. The eventual champion would take home $69,685, while a min-cash was worth $5,377.
Cardplayer Lifestyle was on site as part of our ongoing coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week, as the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) and the Women’s Poker Association (WPA) came together to celebrate another exciting final table and the continued growth of women’s poker.
The money bubble finally burst late on Day 2, prompting a round of applause from the remaining players. To celebrate, glasses of red wine were poured for those who wished to partake, with cheers echoing throughout the tournament room before the focus quickly shifted back to the battle for the title and trophies.
Several accomplished players remained in contention, including poker personality Jamie Kerstetter, runner-up in the 2024 World Series of Poker Ladies Championship; and Vivianne Gentry, who added yet another cash after making two final tables during this year’s Women’s Poker Week.
Day 2 played down to the final seven, who returned for Day 3 under the bright lights of the PokerGO and Venetian Poker Live livestream.
The final table was set during Level 20 after a dramatic double elimination sent both Christine Di Fiore Kirsch and Bianka Abade to the rail simultaneously, leaving the pair to share the unfortunate distinction of bubbling the televised final table.
Of the 12 players who qualified through satellites, only Nancy Birnbaum, better known around the poker world as “Trouble”, remained. Birnbaum entered the final day as the short stack, but with more than $1.5 million in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, she has built a career on making deep runs. She was also riding the momentum of a fifth-place finish in the World Series of Poker Super Seniors Championship. Birnbaum finished in seventh place.
Poker legend JJ Liu began the final table with just under one million chips after losing a crucial all-in coin flip late on Day 2. With more than $4 million in live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, Liu combined one of the most accomplished résumés in the field with her trademark style and fearless table presence. Liu took the sixth-place spot.
In fifth place, Las Vegas local Hayley Hanna returned with a middle-of-the-pack stack. Known throughout the poker community for her outgoing personality and quick wit, Hanna also brought an impressive résumé, including more than $200,000 in live tournament earnings.
Holding the chip lead was Ying Zhu, an online business professional who entered the final day in prime position. Looking to grow her poker bankroll, Zhu carried the momentum of the overnight lead into the televised finale. Zhu finished in fourth.
Kayla Clackum, a business owner from Nashville, also earned a seat at the final table. Away from the poker table, she enjoys shopping and joked that any winnings would likely go toward her favourite pastime, or perhaps another poker tournament. Clackum placed third on the podium.
Eun Joo “Jennie” entered the final day hoping to continue building both her bankroll and her poker résumé after a recent deep run in the WSOP $1,000 Mystery Bounty event. Joo finished in second place.
Portugal-based Daria Krashennikova entered Day 3 as the second-in-chips. Focused on building both her bankroll and her poker career, she viewed another deep finish as an important step toward her long-term goals. Krashennikova was the ultimate winner with the enormous cash prize and three trophies: WPA, LIPS and the Venetian.
| Final Table | Venetian High Roller | ||
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Daria Krashennikova | Portugal | $69,685 |
| 2 | Jennie Joo | Las Vegas, NV | $44,635 |
| 3 | Kayla Clackum | Nashville, TN | $29,709 |
| 4 | Ying Zhu | Belmont, CA | $20,579 |
| 5 | Hayley Hanna | Las Vegas, NV | $14,859 |
| 6 | JJ Liu | Las Vegas, NV | $11,205 |
| 7 | Nancy Birnbaum | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $8,841 |
Daria Krashennikova
Player of the Day: Jamie Kerstetter
As part of our 2026 Women’s Poker Week coverage, this installment’s Player of the Day section is brought to you by Octopi Poker.
Jamie Kerstetter
American professional poker player, commentator, and media personality Jamie Kerstetter has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in the poker world. Before making poker her full-time career, she practiced as a trust and estates attorney after earning degrees from Rutgers University and the University of Michigan Law School. Ultimately, she decided the legal profession wasn’t for her. “I was bored with law,” she says.
Ironically, one of the most valuable things she gained from law school wasn’t legal knowledge; it was learning to play poker. After discovering the game, she began frequenting Detroit casinos and quickly realized she had a natural talent for it. That talent has since translated into more than $1 million in live tournament earnings, as well as a successful career in the poker industry.
In addition to playing professionally, Kerstetter has established herself as one of poker’s busiest personalities. Her work includes live commentary, podcast appearances, ambassador roles, and a strong social media presence. For the past six years, she has worked with the World Poker Tour alongside Thomas Keeling, helping develop game concepts, build television lineups, and contributing to the creative direction of WPT productions. It was evident from the excitement in her voice that she thrives on the creative side of the industry.
Kerstetter is also a two-time Global Poker Award winner for Best Twitter Personality. In 2022, she captured her first WSOP Circuit ring in unforgettable fashion, playing the final table on her phone while it charged in a casino bathroom. She has since added a second Circuit ring to her résumé.
Known for her approachable personality, quick wit, and sense of humour, Kerstetter has become an outstanding ambassador for poker. She is also a strong advocate for women in the game and has never shied away from speaking candidly about issues affecting the poker community. Of course, behind the friendly demeanour is also a fierce competitor at the table.
When asked about her tournament preparation, Kerstetter laughed, saying: “I am the most chill poker player ever.”
One of her most cherished poker memories came during her heads-up battle against Shiina Okamoto in the 2024 WSOP Ladies Championship. “I literally had tears in my eyes, but they were happy tears because I was so grateful to be there.”
Away from the tables, Kerstetter’s love of dogs is well known throughout the poker community. She says many fans approach her not to discuss strategy, but to show off pictures of their pets. “I love that. Literally, that’s the nuts,” she says.
Asked who her poker heroes are, Kerstetter answered without hesitation: “Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly are my favorite poker people. They play smart poker and are two stand-up individuals. I adore them.”
Whether she’s battling for titles, entertaining fans behind the microphone, or championing the growth of the game, Jamie Kerstetter continues to prove that intelligence, authenticity, and humor are a winning combination both on and off the felt.
READ MORE: Octopi Poker – A Thorough Review
This concludes Cardplayer Lifestyle’s coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week in Las Vegas. Thank you so much for checking out our near-daily recaps; we hope you’ve enjoyed and wish to thank you so much for supporting our work, and the promotion of women in poker.
