The 2009 Bayou Poker Challenge presented the ladies championship today. This was the 19th of twenty scheduled gold ring events completed at Harrah’s New Orleans. The $300 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament increased buy-in from previous years, when the entry fee was $200. Despite this, the ladies event attracted a strong field of 189 entries for the one-day competition. An interesting stat: About 60 percent of the field was from Texas.
The ladies-only tournament was presented in coordination with the High Heels Poker Tour (www.highheelspokertour.com) which promotes and supports women in poker. The HHPT brought along a large contingent, which boosted attendance and made for a fun and festive event. Note: The HHPT also runs poker academies designed for women around the country.
The tournament winner was Lisa Wilder. She works as a secretary from Mobile, AL. Wilder loves to play poker in her spare time. This was her first time to cash in a major poker tournament.
Wilder started the final table as one of the lowest stack sizes. But she gradually took command of the finale and won an event which lasted 16 long hours and ended at 5 am.
Wilder won first place prize money totaling $14,189. She was also presented with a gold pendant and a crystal trophy, in recognition for winning a WSOP Circuit event.