wsop
Chasing the Dream: Amateur Skye Chen Conquers WSOP Ladies Field
Amateur poker player Skye Chen, a former software engineer, claimed her first World Series of Poker bracelet and $194,630 in the $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship.
TL;DR
Skye Chen, who recently transitioned from software engineering to focus on poker, bested a field of 1,475 entries to win Event #68: $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship. She secured her first WSOP bracelet and a prize of $194,630 after a two-hour heads-up battle.
Skye Chen, a former software engineer, emerged victorious in Event #68: $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship at the 2026 World Series of Poker. Chen outlasted 1,475 entrants, earning $194,630 and her first WSOP bracelet. Her win marks a significant achievement for an amateur player, as she described it as fulfilling a childhood dream.
Chen's path to victory included overcoming Aubrey Williams in a heads-up match lasting over two hours. A crucial moment occurred when Chen made a hero call against Williams, which allowed her to seize the chip lead. Her strategic play and patience were instrumental in navigating the final table.
Before her WSOP triumph, Chen had stepped away from her 11-year career in tech to travel and focus on poker, primarily playing cash games. She progressed from $1/$3 to $5/$10 stakes, demonstrating her deepening commitment to the game.
The final table payouts for Event #68: $1,000 WSOP Ladies Championship were:
| Place | Player | Country | Prize | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Skye Chen | United States | $194,630 | | 2 | Aubrey Williams | United States | $129,692 | | 3 | Lisa Teebagy | United States | $93,149 | | 4 | Caitlin Comeskey | United States | $67,735 | | 5 | Emily Spencer | United States | $49,874 | | 6 | Victoria Ailloud | France | $37,192 | | 7 | Lisa Tan | United States | $28,092 | | 8 | Lexy Gavin-Mather | United States | $21,497 | | 9 | Jessica Teusl | Austria | $16,668 |
Chen started the final day second in chips behind Emily Spencer, who held a substantial lead. However, Chen steadily built her stack, eventually overtaking Spencer for the chip lead with a rivered flush and later eliminating her. This victory, while a dream realized, is considered by Chen to be the beginning of her poker journey.
