Our coverage of the 2026 Women’s Poker Week continued Saturday, June 20, with the $250 Ladies No Limit Hold’em at the MGM Grand. The Women’s Poker Association (WPA) and Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS) will be celebrating the final tables.
As part of the 2026 MGM Grand Summer Poker Festival, the MGM Grand Las Vegas hosted the Ladies No-Limit Hold’em event, featuring a $250 buy-in and a $20,000 guaranteed prize pool. The tournament drew an impressive 164 entries and generated a final prize pool of $32,800 – well exceeding the guarantee.
Players battled for a first-place prize of $9,056, with the tournament paying the top 19 finishers. The outstanding turnout and competitive field made the event one of the highlights of the summer festival, showcasing the continued growth and popularity of ladies’ poker tournaments.
As the tournament reached the final table, it became clear that this was truly an international affair, with players representing France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and the United States.
Argentina’s Alejandra Reidel was the first final-table casualty, finishing in ninth place.
Eighth place went to Karen Buerki, who is planning a busy summer schedule that includes numerous tournaments as well as the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Not part of the French contingent but making a deep run of her own was Laurence Humler, who finished seventh and plans to compete in several more women’s events throughout the week.
Traveling all the way from the United Kingdom, Leah Mauer earned a sixth-place finish, while France’s Thuy Cam Kieu took fifth place. Canada’s Marie-Claude Grondin narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth.
There was a distinctly French atmosphere surrounding the tournament thanks to the presence of members of “Queens Squad Officiel,” a unique team of seven women from France who are spending a year traveling the poker circuit while receiving professional coaching and sponsorship.
The team was formed through a nationwide competition in France, followed by a boot camp that ultimately selected the final seven members. One of those members, Thuy Cam Kieu, made an impressive run to the final table and finished in fifth place. Another member of the squad also recorded a cash earlier in the event, adding to what was a successful showing for the team.
Whenever the French rail arrived, complete with flags and enthusiastic chants, the energy in the room immediately shifted. Their passion and support created one of the most memorable scenes of the tournament. Everyone in the room knew that when the French rail appeared, things were about to get lively. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and the camaraderie among the group was impossible to miss.
Third place went to a Massachusetts native and regular on the women’s poker circuit, Cindy Spier, who once again demonstrated why she is a familiar face at these events.
Once the French rail had made its exit, the atmosphere settled as the final two players agreed to an even chop of the remaining prize money. The player with the larger chip stack at the time of the deal, Nicole Turner, claimed the trophy and official first-place honors, while Las Vegas resident Lynn Xi was awarded second place.
Originally from Australia and now living in England, Turner is no stranger to the poker circuit. Having played for several years, she set her sights on competing in the World Series of Poker Main Event one day. To help achieve that goal, she began working with coach Mike Maddocks and has steadily built her bankroll ever since.
One of Turner’s long-term goals is to capture a WSOP Women’s Championship title, and this victory provided another boost toward that dream. She also confirmed that she plans to play the $10,000 WSOP Main Event for the first time this summer.
Reflecting on the tournament, Turner praised the competition. “This was the most competitive women’s field I have played in. I didn’t think the caliber would be this great,” she said.
Her path to victory was anything but easy. Turner lost nearly half of her stack on the very first hand and spent much of the tournament navigating a short stack of around ten big blinds. Remaining patient and picking her spots carefully, she found several timely double-ups that eventually propelled her into the chip lead.
Supporting her every step of the way was her husband, who watched every hand from the rail and even skipped dinner to stay by her side throughout the final table. Turner plans to continue her summer schedule by playing additional women’s events as time permits.
| Final Table Results | MGM Grand | ||
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Nicole Turner | England | $7,398 |
| 2 | Lynn Xia | Las Vegas | $7,398 |
| 3 | Cindy Spier | Massachusetts, USA | $3,378 |
| 4 | Marie-Claude Grondin | Canada | $2,051 |
| 5 | Kiev Thuy Cam | France | $1,591 |
| 6 | Leah Mauer | London | $1,314 |
| 7 | Laurence Humler | France | $1,148 |
| 8 | Karen Buerki | Marietta, Georgia | $1,025 |
| 9 | Alejandra Reidel | Argentina | $906 |
Player of the Day: Cecile Ticherfatine
Today’s Player of the Day section is brought to you with the support of Epicpokertraining.com. Read a bit more about them from the site’s founder, Marsha Wolak, below.
One of France’s most accomplished female poker players, Cecile Ticherfatine, has accumulated almost $1.5 million in live tournament earnings. She is also the driving force behind Queens Squad, a community dedicated to connecting, mentoring, and inspiring women who share a passion for poker. Although Ticherfatine was eliminated earlier in the tournament, she remained on site throughout the evening, cheering on her students and celebrating their success.
Ticherfatine’s poker journey began nearly 20 years ago. At the time, she was focused on her entrepreneurial pursuits and owned several businesses, playing cash games primarily on the side. About three years ago, she decided to take tournament poker more seriously and hired a coach to elevate her game.
The investment paid off. Since then, her tournament results have flourished, allowing her to travel the world competing in some of poker’s biggest events.
She credits much of her success to her competitive nature and athletic background. Before poker, Ticherfatine played professional handball, an experience she believes helped develop the discipline and mental toughness required to succeed at the tables. She also considers patience and maintaining a calm, Zen mindset among her greatest strengths.
One lesson she strongly emphasizes is proper bankroll management. “It is very important to play within your bankroll, or not care about the money. If you are attached to the money, the results will not be good,” she says.
Her approach to competition is equally straightforward. “I’m not scared about anything. I just want to play my A-game. That is the most important part,” she adds.
Unlike many players, Ticherfatine has no poker superstitions. Instead, she prefers to prepare by staying active, often fitting in a workout or playing sports before heading to the poker table whenever her schedule allows.
When tournament variance inevitably swings against her, she finds motivation through continued study, noting that “It is a changing game, and there are so many things to learn.”
Growing Queens Squad remains one of Cecile’s primary passions. The organization recently held a nationwide competition in France, where women auditioned for a chance to attend a poker boot camp. Twenty-four participants were selected for the camp, and after an intensive training process, the field was narrowed to seven women who now travel and compete together as members of the squad.
The group provides emotional, educational, financial, and community support for its members, creating an environment where women can develop both as players and as individuals. Based on the team’s recent tournament results, the model appears to be working exceptionally well.
When asked what advice she would give to women considering poker for the first time, Ticherfatine returned to the same themes that have guided her own career: “Try it when you feel comfortable. Don’t play with money that you need. Don’t attach emotions to the money.”
Despite her success, Ticherfatine remains grounded and appreciative of the opportunity that poker has provided, sharing that “I am very grateful for this life. I love playing poker. I am very lucky.”
As a female poker player myself in a male dominated game, I support any and all individuals and/or organizations that positively impact our presence in the poker community. My goal as a coach with Epic Poker Training is not only to empower women with the necessary skills needed but to create a safe place where women are respected, supported and celebrated as they deserve. Best of luck this summer! See you at the tables.
Marsha Wolak – Founder, Epic Poker Training
| WOMEN’S POKER WEEK – Here is what you need to know about Sunday, June 21.
Don’t miss the WPA Summer Raffle! Tickets are $25 for 1 or $100 for 5, and each ticket enters you into both prize drawings: You can purchase tickets today at the MGM Grand Ladies Event. Look for Advocate Mercedes McKinley or VP Christina Black to get your ticket! If we sell all 350 tickets this week, we will give away 2 WSOP seats! 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 💜 |
A $1,000 WSOP Ladies Event seat2026 Women’s Poker Week: What’s Next?
Cardplayer Lifestyle’s exclusive coverage of 2026 Women’s Poker Week continues:
- Sunday, June 21st — $300 LIPS Ladies NLH at The Golden Nugget at 11:00 a.m. with a $25,000 guarantee
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