Will the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event crown its very first female champion this year? That’s possible, according to director, writer and professional editor Sandra Mohr.
Mohr is currently working on a special project with executive producer Christine D. Beatty that will look into how some of the world’s best-known female poker players got into the game, their tournament preparations and their journey in a quest for WSOP gold.
The “Rocky” of Poker
Poker Queens: Glamour, Glitz, Guts, Glory: They’re All In is an upcoming documentary film hoping to leave a positive impact on aspiring female poker players. It will feature a number of female players who have made a name for themselves in the tournament scene, which include two-time WSOP winner Kristen “krissyb24” Bicknell, Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee Maria Ho, WSOP/EPT title holder Liv Boeree and the first female champion of the US Poker Open Lauren Roberts.
Among other notable female stars set to be portrayed at the movie are Jennifer Harman, Kathy Liebert, Gillian Epp, Lily Kiletto, Jennifer Tilly, Linda Johnson, Kristy Arnett, Kayla “Wino” Voogd, Jan Fisher, Kelly Minkin, Barbara Enright (the only woman player who has ever made the WSOP final table), poker executive Angelica Hael, the historical female poker figure known as “Poker Alice”, as well as Mohr herself who uses the pseudonym “Sia Layta”.
The upcoming film wants to become the “Rocky” of poker as it looks to share the stories of female poker players in the quest to get their hands on a coveted WSOP bracelet this summer at the Rio. Mohr has high hopes for girl power this year, saying women are going to crush it big time and the game will continue to attract more female players.
No other woman managed to make the final table of the WSOP Main Event since Enright who had an impressive finish (5th) in 1995. The American poker pro, a three-time WSOP winner, is currently an ambassador of Poker League of Nations, the biggest women’s poker organization in the world.
Mohr is hopeful at least one player will follow in Enright’s footsteps this year and go on to win the 2019 WSOP Main Event.
Attracting More Women into the Game
In 2018, the WSOP Main Event attracted 300 female players, representing 3.4% of the 7,874 total entries, which partly explains why a final table finish has been so evasive for 24 long years. This is something Poker Queens aims to address.
Mohr said the film hopes to attract more women players into the game and inspire them to become great achievers. With an improvement in the number of serious female players running deep and winning major events, crowning a female Main Event champ is only a matter of time. This is boosted by the fact that female participation in the online poker scene has jumped to about 30% over the years, and this significant increase could happen to live poker in the near future.
The documentary will follow the journey of top female poker players competing in bracelet events and how it turns out for them. Mohr hopes that this documentary will help motivate all female players out there. Through interviews, reality footage, personal videos, up-close tournament play and dramatization, the film will highlight the importance of hard work, perseverance and a winning attitude in succeeding at poker.
Poker Palace and Ladies Week in Vegas
The ladies who will be featured in the new film will be housed at a 1,600-square foot suite at the Rio called the “Poker Palace”. It will serve as headquarters for the female pros, with meals, refreshments, free massages, and a host of other amenities. The ladies will be able to interact with each other at the place, or find time to relax, rest and rejuvenate during well-needed breaks away from the table.
The Palace, which will also double as a filming site was opened on June 17 just in time for the start of Ladies Week. For the next few days, the 2019 WSOP schedule is packed with numerous ladies events, including the Helix Poker Diamond Bracelet Event at South Point, NLH Ladies at Planet Hollywood, Ladies Triple Threat at Orleans, and the $1,000 Ladies Event at the Rio.
The documentary crew will be filming until the end of the WSOP on July 16. Poker Queens is set for release in November this year on Amazon Prime.