This was the first WSOP Europe Ladies Poker Championship

A historic premiere that focuses on equality

Prague hosted the first WSOP Europe Ladies Championship.

The European circuit of the World Series of Poker Europe has addedMado a new format with the celebration of its first Ladies Championship in Prague . The tournament, integrated into the official calendar, expands the competitive offer and focuses on female participation within European poker.

The victory went to the Swiss Anca Eggenberger , which exceeded a fields of 197 entries to win his first bracelet and the biggest prize of his career.

His comeback at the final table, after starting in lagging positions, marked the outcome of an event with a good competitive level and monitoring within the international live circuit.

Held at the King's Casino Prague, the tournament brought together diverse profiles, from professional players to online qualifiers. Among the participants, Sandrine Phan and Veronique Lavillonniere stood out, who they achieved their place through online satellites powered by different platforms.

The presence of these poker players in an event of this caliber reinforces its visibility within the circuit, although its representation remains reduced compared to the usual mixed tournaments on the current European circuit and in other notable international stops.

A format that divides opinions in poker

The premiere of this Ladies Championship within the WSOPE has reactivated a common debate in the industry: whether it makes sense to differentiate by gender in a game without physical barriers.

Poker is a decision-making discipline where men and women compete equally. Even so, the low female participation in open tournaments has led to promoting specific events as a way to access the professional circuit in different regulated markets.

The presence of Leo Margets at the WSOP Europe 2026 It has been one of the focuses of the tournament. The Philippines player attended as a guest of honor, in recognition of her career and impact on the circuit, concentrating much of the media attention.

Their participation is relevant due to their previous positioning. Margets has been criticism of exclusive tournaments for women , considering that they can be counterproductive if they convey the idea that female players need to compete in a separate environment, as noted in a interview given to Code Poker.

In parallel, the event has been marked by initiatives aimed at facilitating access. The satellites powered by Winamax They allowed players like Sandrine Phan and Veronique Lavillonniere to get their place and be part of the tournament, thus reinforcing the connection between the online environment and the live circuit.

These types of actions seek to expand the base of female players and give visibility to new profiles within professional poker, in a context where female presence remains limited in major international open tournaments.

Between visibility and model limits

The debate about women's categories is not exclusive to poker. In chess, for example, there are differentiated competitions aimed at increasing the participation of women in a historically unequal environment, although many players also compete in open tournaments international.

In poker, women-only tournaments can serve as a gateway to the competitive circuit, but its impact in mixed tournaments remains limited . Female participation continues to be a minority and there is no sustained change in the composition of major events.

Inside the WSOP schedule 2026 , this Ladies Championship is incorporated as another proposal within the circuit's diversification strategy. Operators and platforms continue to promote initiatives to attract new profiles and expand the player base in different markets and audiences.

The Prague tournament thus leaves a double reading. On the one hand, it confirms the interest in formats that seek to expand participation . On the other hand, it keeps open the debate on the real role of these initiatives within a game that, in essence, already starts from equal conditions in the competitive environment.

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