The bustling Venetian played host to the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) Championship, with cards in the air at 11:10 a.m. By the close of registration, 314 hopefuls had taken their seats in the $800 buy-in event, easily surpassing the $150,000 guaranteed prize pool. The final prize pool swelled to $218,230, with 30 players earning a share of the money. The eventual champion would take home $43,536, while a min-cash was worth $1,690.
Cards are in the air at @VenetianPoker for the LIPS Ladies NLHE Championship! 150k Guarantee! Late registration is open until 5:20pm this afternoon… come join us!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Iwb3ccxpiq
— LIPS – World’s Largest Women’s Poker Tour (@LIPS_Tour) June 24, 2026
Cardplayer Lifestyle was on site as part of our ongoing coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week, as 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 final table featured an exceptionally talented lineup of players. As WPA Vice President Christina Black remarked, “Wow, tough final table!”
The first player eliminated was poker influencer Alexandra Loveless, whose positive attitude and sportsmanship have made her a popular figure among her fellow competitors. She earned a ninth-place finish.
Representing Belgium, Manon Ampe battled her way to eighth place, while seasoned tournament regular Jo Ann Schmidt added another strong result to her résumé with a seventh-place finish.
Sixth place went to longtime grinder Kathy Kolberg, who has accumulated more than $400,000 in live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob.
Finishing fifth was Boston’s Lily Lofty, another accomplished player with more than $400,000 in recorded tournament cashes.
In fourth place was Lauren Bunch, a Team USA triathlete who continues to make her presence felt on the poker circuit.
Third-place finisher Judith Bielan, a local favourite from Las Vegas, brought one of the most impressive résumés to the final table, boasting more than $1 million in live tournament earnings.
The final two players agreed to an ICM chop, with Ludan Zhang of China taking the runner-up payout along with the LIPS Championship trophy.
The largest share of the prize pool, the WPA trophy, and the coveted Venetian coin were awarded to Amber Sullivan of the United Kingdom. The victory was an emotional one, as she celebrated the milestone achievement alongside her family.
| Final Table | The Venetian | ||
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Amber Sullivan | United Kingdom | $40,325 |
| 2 | Ludan Zhang | China | $33,955 |
| 3 | Judith Bielan | Las Vegas, Nevada | $22,099 |
| 4 | Lauren Bunch | Jenks, Oklahoma | $16,172 |
| 5 | Lily Lofty | East Boston, Massachusetts | $12,053 |
| 6 | Kathy Kolberg | Polson, Montana | $9,152 |
| 7 | Jo Ann Schmidt | West Bend, Wisconsin | $7,082 |
| 8 | Manon Ampe | Belgium | $5,587 |
| 9 | Alexandra Loveless | Austin, Texas | $4,496 |
Jimmy Miller, Tournament Director at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and a poker industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, has witnessed the evolution of women’s poker firsthand. Having seen some of the earliest women’s events at the World Series of Poker in 2003, Miller appreciates the unique atmosphere these tournaments create.
“The variety is nice, that’s what poker is about,” Miller said. “We’re always looking for ways the game can grow. The ladies have a good time and are so supportive of each other.”
Miller also emphasized the importance of creating a safe and professional environment for everyone who walks through the poker room. “It’s important to us that players feel protected. There’s no nonsense, we protect our players and our staff.”
His commitment to maintaining a welcoming and secure atmosphere was evident throughout the event, helping ensure that the focus remained on the competition and camaraderie at the tables.
Player of the Day: Monika Hrabec (Zukowicz)
Monika Hrabec, courtesy of ACR Poker
This 2026 Women’s Poker Week recap’s Player of the Day section is brought to you by Texas Card House.
“Our club offers a unique blend of luxury, sophistication, and camaraderie, making us the premier destination for poker aficionados in the area. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, you’ll find a welcoming community and top-notch facilities at TCH.”
Professional poker player Monika Hrabec has made a name for herself on the international poker circuit, but she also shares her life with one of the game’s rising stars. She is married to Roman Hrabec, who has been making waves in the high-stakes poker world. The couple has been married for nearly a year, and despite spending so much time together, Monika jokes that her husband remains something of a mystery.
“He is a machine. Even though we are married, I still haven’t figured him out.”
Of course, Monika is a machine in her own right. A former pharmacist from Poland who now resides in Vienna, she traded science for poker and transformed her analytical mindset into a powerful weapon at the tables. Today, she serves as a full-time ambassador for ACR Poker, balancing a busy schedule of tournament play, streaming, social media content creation, and brand representation.
One of the highlights of her career came in 2023, when she won a Mystery Bounty event at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in Nassau, a result that helped solidify her reputation as a formidable competitor.
Despite competing regularly in open-field events, Hrabec has a special appreciation for women’s tournaments: “I love it. I absolutely love the community. All the girls who decide to have poker dreams have that spark inside them, the same as I do.”
Her day was made even more interesting by the fact that Roman was making a deep run in World Series of Poker Event #62 $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em. While Monika wanted to make a deep run of her own, she was also eager to rail her husband, who ultimately finished 11th, narrowly missing the final table.
Deep-stack poker is where Hrabec feels most comfortable. She credits extensive study for her success in these formats and actively seeks out tournaments that allow her to leverage that edge. Although there were countless events available upon her arrival in Las Vegas, the ladies’ event appealed to her for several reasons.
“It is a great warm-up. It is pleasant to be here, with a more easy-going, friendly atmosphere.”
She also pointed out the practical side of tournament selection: “It is important to select a mix of games, including some smaller buy-ins, to preserve the bankroll.”
The strategy worked out nicely, as Hrabec turned her warm-up tournament into a 22nd-place finish worth $2,068.
One player who impressed her throughout the day was Lisa Tan of Singapore. Although Tan did not cash, Hrabec praised both her skill and demeanour at the table: “She played really well, and she was very friendly.”
Hrabec has also noticed significant changes in the women’s game over the years: “Women play more aggressively and trickier now. My guess is that Shiina Okamoto has influenced a lot of the playing styles of the new players.”
The impact of Okamoto is hard to ignore. Her fearless, aggressive style has helped redefine expectations in women’s poker, and her back-to-back victories in the WSOP Ladies Championship have inspired many aspiring players.
When asked what advice she would offer a woman preparing to play her first poker tournament, Hrabec kept it simple: “Have fun, and don’t be intimidated by anyone.”
Judging by the smile she carries to the table and the enthusiasm she brings to every event, it’s advice she follows herself.
WPA Update for Thursday, June 25th
Today at 10 AM, all Breakfast ticket holders are invited to join us for the WPA & LPC Breakfast at Paris’ Mon Ami Gabi The breakfast is sold out. 🍳
It’s a big day, kicking off the WSOP Ladies Championship, a 4-day event! The final table should be streamed on Sunday, 6/28.
As the WPA’s official media partner for Women’s Poker Week 2026, we encourage you to follow @PokerLifeMedia across all their socials, as they will be highlighting “all things women in poker” this week.
Good luck at the tables!
WPA 
2026 Women’s Poker Week: What’s Next?
- Thursday, June 25th World Series of Poker Ladies Event $1,000 buy in at 12pm
- Annual Ladies Breakfast @ Mon Ami Gabi 10:00 a.m-12:00 p.m. (sold out).
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s coverage will continue this weekend:
- June 27 LIPS Nevada State Championship at South Point | Restart 10:10 a.m.
- June 27 $200 Double Green Chip Bounty 2:10 p.m. South Point
- June 28 $240 LIPS Omaha 8 Championship | 10:10 a.m. South Point
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