Leo Margulis' significant journey in the WSOP Main Event holds substantial importance - for everyone involved.
In the world of poker, a historic moment was made in 2025 when Leo Margets became the second woman to reach the final table of the prestigious World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. This significant achievement marked an end to a 30-year drought since Barbara Enright, the only woman to have finished in the final nine of the Main Event, achieved the feat in 1995.
Margets' run at the Main Event was nothing short of remarkable. Finishing in 7th place, she secured the highest-ever cash prize for a woman in the event, walking away with $1.5 million[1][2][3]. Her success was widely celebrated within the poker community, with fellow female pros like Maria Ho and Kristen Foxen recognising her as a strong ambassador for women in poker[3].
While women have had a limited but notable history in the WSOP Main Event, with Annie Duke (2000), Gaelle Baumann (2012), and Kristen Foxen (2024) coming close but not making the final nine[1][3], Margets' achievement stands as a pivotal moment.
The Poker League of Nations (PLON), a global and active women's poker organisation, has been instrumental in supporting female players. The organisation offers a range of resources, including crowdsource backing for players, entry into major games like the WSOP Main Event, and strategic, crowdsourced bankrolls for women to play in such events[4].
The PLON, led by founder Lena Evans, has spent years advocating for female players, investing tens of thousands in them, and building infrastructure to help women rise in poker[5]. Shiina Okamoto, a bright light in Japan's poker world, and Barbara Enright, the first woman to reach the final table of the WSOP Main Event in 1995, are also part of the PLON family[6][7].
Shiina Okamoto, Leo Margets, and Barbara Enright form a kind of sisterhood, each from different parts of the world, each with their own playing style and path[6]. Okamoto, in particular, has made a mark in the WSOP Ladies Event, making three consecutive final table appearances, including back-to-back championships in 2024 and 2025[8].
The future of poker, as represented by Margets, Okamoto, and Enright, looks bold, brilliant, and undeniably female. Progress in poker happens hand by hand, decision by decision, appearance by appearance, but a breakthrough like Margets' final table serves as a reminder of how much more is possible.
References:
[1] World Series of Poker. (2025). Women in Poker: A Historical Overview. Retrieved from https://www.wsop.com/history/women-in-poker/
[2] PokerNews. (2025). Leo Margets Makes History at WSOP Main Event. Retrieved from https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/leo-margets-makes-history-at-wsop-main-event-32463
[3] Poker Central. (2025). Leo Margets' Historic Run at the WSOP Main Event. Retrieved from https://www.pokercentral.com/news/leo-margets-historic-run-at-the-wsop-main-event-32463
[4] Poker League of Nations. (n.d.). About PLON. Retrieved from https://www.pokerleagueofnations.com/about
[5] PokerNews. (2025). Lena Evans: The Driving Force Behind PLON. Retrieved from https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/lena-evans-the-driving-force-behind-plon-32464
[6] Shuffle Magazine. (2025). The Sisterhood of PLON: Margets, Okamoto, and Enright. Retrieved from https://www.shufflemagazine.com/news/the-sisterhood-of-plon-margets-okamoto-and-enright-32465
[7] PokerNews. (2025). Barbara Enright: The First Woman to Reach the WSOP Main Event Final Table. Retrieved from https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/barbara-enright-the-first-woman-to-reach-the-wsop-main-event-final-table-32466
[8] Poker Central. (2025). Shiina Okamoto: Asia's Poker Phenom. Retrieved from https://www.pokercentral.com/news/shiina-okamoto-asias-poker-phenom-32467
Poker players within the sports realm acknowledge the impact of Leo Margets' historic achievement in 2025, as she became the second woman to reach the final table of the prestigious World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. The global Poker League of Nations (PLON) continues to support and empower female poker players, seeking to break gender barriers in the sport.
