Chen Lives A Dream As WSOP Ladies Champion

The poker world is still buzzing after Skye Chen, a software engineer from Northern California, etched her name into the annals of World Series of Poker history by winning the 2026 WSOP Ladies Championship. In a stunning display of skill and nerves, Chen navigated a massive field of 1,475 entrants in the $1,000 buy-in event, turning her very first WSOP cash into a prestigious bracelet and a life-changing $194,630.

What makes Chen's victory particularly remarkable is the manner in which she closed out the tournament. In a heads-up battle against Aubrey Williams, a WSOP Circuit ring winner from Pennsylvania, Chen made an unforgettable call with just ace-high on an unpaired board, sealing her victory. This audacious move, coming in her inaugural WSOP cash, is a testament to her composure and poker prowess.

"It’s always been a dream of mine as a poker player to get a bracelet," Chen shared with WSOP’s Natalie Bode after her triumph. "But I absolutely did not expect this on the second try ever." Her win not only secured her a substantial payout but also a special edition 2026 WSOP bracelet, uniquely encrusted with pink jewels, a fitting tribute to the Ladies Championship.

The journey to the final table was arduous, with the initial 1,475 players whittled down to nine by the end of Day 3. The prize pool, a substantial $1,298,000, ensured high stakes for everyone involved. Among the notable eliminations on Day 3 were Jessica Teusl, the 2022 WSOP Ladies Championship winner, who finished ninth for $16,668, and vlogger Lexy Gavin-Mather, who exited in eighth place for $21,497 after losing a crucial coin flip to Chen's flopped set of sevens.

Day 4 began with six hopefuls, and Emily Spencer holding a significant chip lead. However, the dynamics quickly shifted. Victoria Ailloud, the sole non-American at the final six, was the first to fall, her pocket sixes unable to hold against Aubrey Williams' A♦K♣, sending her home in sixth place with $37,192. Shortly after, Chen asserted her dominance by eliminating Spencer. In a preflop all-in confrontation, Chen's A♥K♦ held strong against Spencer's A♦J♠, relegating Spencer to fifth place for $49,874 and giving Chen a commanding chip lead.

The poker community's beloved creative content maker, Caitlin Comeskey, also made a deep run, achieving a career-best fourth-place finish for $67,735. Comeskey's tournament life ended when her pocket fours ran into Lisa Teebagy's A♠A♣. Despite a favorable 8♥7♣4♣ flop, running clubs on the turn and river completed a flush for Teebagy, ending Comeskey's bracelet dreams.

The three-handed play saw intense back-and-forth action. Williams narrowed the gap, and then Teebagy surged into the chip lead. However, a pivotal hand saw Williams make a massive call against Chen with ace-king high on a 10♣9♣7♥10♦2♠ board, leaving Chen with just over 10 big blinds. But Chen's resilience shone through; she doubled up through Teebagy and then eliminated her in a dramatic hand where Teebagy's K♦10♦ made a Broadway straight, only to be outdone by Chen's full house, sending Teebagy out in third place with $93,149.

The heads-up battle between Chen and Williams was a roller coaster of emotions and chip swings. Williams started with a nearly 2:1 chip lead, which she extended early on. The turning point arrived in a hand with the big blind at 300,000. After a limped pot, a J♥8♥3♠ flop, and a 2♣ turn, Williams bet 1.65 million on the turn. On the 7♣ river, Williams shoved. Chen agonized for minutes, her tournament life on the line, before making the courageous call with A♣10♣. Williams revealed Q♦9♦ for a busted straight draw, and Chen suddenly held a commanding 5:1 chip advantage.

Despite this setback, Williams, a tenacious competitor, refused to yield. She doubled up multiple times, even reclaiming the lead at one point. The final hand saw Chen's pocket fours in a race against Williams' A♣5♣. The board ran out 9♦9♥8♦Q♠10♦, keeping Chen's pair of fours as the best hand, and securing her the championship. Williams, as the runner-up, earned a career-best $129,692. Skye Chen's victory is a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of poker, proving that sometimes, dreams do come true on the grandest stage.

### Final Table Results

| Place | Player | Payout | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Skye Chen | $194,630 | | 2 | Aubrey Williams | $129,692 | | 3 | Lisa Teebagy | $93,149 | | 4 | Caitlin Comeskey | $67,735 | | 5 | Emily Spencer | $49,874 | | 6 | Victoria Ailloud | $37,192 | | 7 | Lisa Tan | $28,092 | | 8 | Lexy Gavin-Mather | $21,497 | | 9 | Jessica Teusl | $16,668 |

_Photo credit: WSOP / Alicia Skillman, Monique Marestein_