It’s not every day that a player balances a 9-to-5 job, motherhood, and poker dreams — and then takes down one of the most prestigious online titles of the year. But that’s exactly what Giedre Valgemae did last week when she shipped the $1 million guaranteed $150 GGMasters at OlyBet Poker, changing her life both at and away from the poker tables. She outlasted a massive field of 7,530 entries after qualifying in a $15 satellite for ROI dreams are made from with a massive $142,054 haul, from inspiration driven by Sweden’s Jenny Westerlund, who recently shipped the 2025 WSOP Circuit Tallinn Main Event at Olympic Park Casino. The venue will now host the Queens of Tallinn from Aug. 21-24 with both Valgemae and Westerlund confirmed to attend.
- Read more: History Written as Jenny Westerlund Shatters Barriers at WSOP Circuit Tallinn
- Read more: Queens of Tallinn Returns Aug, 21–24 with 11 Events and Nonstop Action at Olympic Park Casino
Valgemae Made Dreams Come True
“It was hard to believe that I can win when FT started even though I started as a chipleader,” Valgemae admitted. “But I was determined to close it off and win that title.”
Close it off she did. The Lithuanian-born, Estonia-based poker enthusiast was propelled into the spotlight after a run that had all the drama one could hope for in a Sunday Major. Down to one of the shortest stacks with 17 left, shoving king-eight into ace-queen only to spike a king felt like a lifeline. The very next hand? Pocket aces. Destiny was calling.
From there, Valgemae navigated the pressure of the final table with the poise of a seasoned pro. A key hand with pocket fours against an overly loose opponent’s jacks gave her a massive stack — the kind of moment that transforms “maybe top three” into “this might really happen.”
“I knew I could make at least TOP3, which was my goal. But I didn’t stop there. I applied ICM pressure, kept the chip lead, and when I got to heads-up with a huge advantage — that’s when I finally allowed myself to believe I’d win,” she recalled.
The victory was more than just a financial windfall. Beyond wiping away car payments and finally buying that much-needed new fridge, it brought validation to a woman who considers herself “just a mom of two small girls working 9-5, with poker as a hobby.”
Her phone was blowing up for days after the win, but the celebrations were modest:
“Final table finished relatively early, had a small celebration with my husband, and the next morning went straight back to work with my head held high.”
Support, Spirit, and the Queens of Tallinn
If there’s one person Valgemäe singles out for credit, it’s her husband, Ardi Valgemäe— not just her life partner, but also her first poker coach.
“He taught me to play nine years ago and has supported me through every win and loss,” she said, also acknowledging Bencb’s content as an invaluable resource.
With her GGMasters win, Valgemäe arrives at the Queens of Tallinn Festival, representing the OlyBet Queenz, with something to prove — but also with something bigger to share.
“I hope that this win will keep the spirit high for every woman playing poker, because I just proved you don’t need to have big achievements or follow every chart. You just need to play your game and enjoy. At Queens of Tallinn we’re not just going to crown a champion, we’re going to make new friends.”
The Queens of Tallinn, already a beloved event in Northern Europe, is more than just about cards and chips — it’s about community. Valgemäe embodies that spirit.
“For women, poker isn’t just the grind,” she explained. “It’s like taking yourself on a date to play with friends. It’s social, fun, and a way to step away from everyday life.”
A New Chapter
Hailing from the small Lithuanian town of Naujoji Akmenė, with fewer than 10,000 residents, Valgemae has spent nearly a decade building her life in Estonia. Her best live score previously was a €4,500 cash in the 2023 WSOP Circuit Tallinn Online Series. Now, after seizing one of the most prestigious online titles of the year, she heads into the spotlight at the 2025 Queens of Tallinn as one of the players to watch — not because she’s a seasoned grinder, but because her journey is proof of possibility.
This is her moment to shine and is perhaps just the beginning with the 2025 Queens of Tallinn about to begin. And in Tallinn, with her teammates and fellow women in poker by her side, it just might be the beginning of an entirely new chapter for Giedre Valgemae.
2025 Queens of Tallinn Schedule
| Date | Time | Event # | Game | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 21 Aug | 17:00 | – | NLH | QUEENS OF TALLINN 2025 MEET AND GREET | – |
| Thu, 21 Aug | 17:30 | 1 | NLH | €80 NLH Deep Stack Opening Event + €350 Main Ticket Raffle! (Women-only) | €70 + €10 |
| Thu, 21 Aug | 21:00 | 2 | NLH (Satellite) | Free Entry Sat to €350 Main Event, €20 Rebuys & AO, 5 x €350 GTD (Women-only) | Free + €20 AO |
| Fri, 22 Aug | 13:00 | 3 | NLH (Satellite) | Free Entry Sat to €350 Main Event, €20 Rebuys & AO, 5 x €350 GTD (Women-only) | Free + €20 AO |
| Fri, 22 Aug | 15:00 | 4 | NLH | €350 Main Event Day 1A, 8-handed, Plays 9 Levels (Women-only) | €310 + €40 |
| Fri, 22 Aug | 18:00 | 5 | NLH (Satellite) | Free Turbo Sat to Main Event 1B, €20 Rebuys & AO, 3 x €350 GTD (Women-only) | Free + €20 AO |
| Fri, 22 Aug | 21:00 | 4 | NLH | €350 Main Event Day 1B, 8-handed, Plays 9 Levels (Women-only) | €310 + €40 |
| Fri, 22 Aug | 21:00 | 6 | PLO4/PLO5 | €150 PLO4/PLO5 (Women-only) | €130 + €20 |
| Sat, 23 Aug | 12:00 | 4 | NLH | €350 Main Event Day 2, Re-entry open until 14:20 (Women-only) | €310 + €40 |
| Sat, 23 Aug | 14:30 | 7 | NLH (Satellite) | Sat to €200 PokerNews Queens Crown, €20 Rebuys & AO, 5 x €200 GTD (Women-only) | Free + €20 AO |
| Sat, 23 Aug | 17:30 | 8 | NLH | €200 PokerNews Queens Crown, Deepstack, 8-handed (Women-only) | €170 + €30 |
| Sat, 23 Aug | 21:00 | 9 | NLH | €200 NLH – Open to All | €170 + €30 |
| Sun, 24 Aug | 12:00 | 4 | NLH | €350 Main Event Final Day (Women-only) | €310 + €40 |
| Sun, 24 Aug | 12:00 | 10 | NLH | €250 Progressive Bounty, €100 Bounties, 6-handed (Women-only) | €220 + €30 |
