After the record-setting Women’s Winter Festival last November, PokerStars is doubling down on its commitment to supporting female poker players by launching a summer edition of the event. From August 12–17, 2025, London once again becomes the hub for women’s poker as The Clermont Hotel, Charing Cross opens its doors to players from around the globe.
The inaugural winter edition, held at the Hippodrome Casino, set a new benchmark with one of the largest women-only fields outside the U.S. This summer, PokerStars aims even higher with more seats, more satellites, and more momentum.
British Women to Watch
And speaking of momentum, the UK has plenty of talented poker women that already made a splash during the first half of 2025. Reason enough to highlight the top players to keep an eye out for, even though it might not be confirmed that they will be attending the event.
Sinéad Davenport
Sinéad Davenport, a former nurse from Ashford, Kent, has quickly made a name for herself on the UK poker circuit alongside her husband Matthew, forming one of British poker’s rising power couples. Since turning professional in 2024, she has enjoyed a standout 2025 already with 21 cashes, 14 of which were during the Las Vegas poker summer. She took down one of the $400 2025 WSOP PokerNews Daily Deepstacks for $15,067 and had a 4th place finish in the $3,000 Wynn Summer Classic Ladies High Roller for $19,638.
In the UK, she finished 2nd in the £560 UK Poker League event in Newcastle in February for £25,910, and she also made history as the first woman to finish in the top 10 of the National Poker League. With $499,186 in career earnings, she ranks 354th on England’s all-time money list and 173rd among women worldwide.
Bixi Yao
Bixi Yao, a Birmingham-based poker player and mum of two, is definitely a player to look out for. Her biggest achievement this year being a deep run in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker at the 2025 WSOP in June, where she finished 31st for $49,690. Earlier in the year, she cashed in the £1,500 UK Poker Open in March and the €1,150 Irish Open Main Event in April.
With a sharp live résumé ($336,921 in earnings) and a growing presence on the international circuit, she also documents her journey on her Instagram account and YouTube channel.
Charlie Waters
Charlie Waters (born Godwin) has continued her impressive trajectory in 2025, reinforcing her status as a respected presence in both online and live British poker circles. This year, she achieved a notable 2nd-place finish in The Hendon Mob Championship at the Irish Poker Open in April, earning €40,000.
With this and other results, her total live earnings now exceed $215,000. Waters remains a fixture at major UK events, combining competitive success with an engaging personal brand that keeps connecting her to the global poker community.
Cassandra Yong
Cassandra Yong, a UK-based tournament regular, has had a highly active and consistent 2025 across both UK and international circuits. She kicked off the year with a 2nd-place finish at the €300 Galway Poker Festival in January, and followed it up with multiple cashes at the Irish Poker Open in April. In June, she added solid results in the U.S., finishing 11th in the $2,500 LIPS Ladies Event at the DeepStack Championship in Las Vegas and 46th in the $2,200 Wynn Mystery Bounty, earning over $17,000 combined for the month.
With $178,338 in total live earnings, Yong continues to establish herself as a consistent force in mid- and high-stakes events on both sides of the Atlantic.
Katie Swift
Grosvenor ambassador Katie Swift remains one of the most consistent and respected figures in British poker, both live and online. With total confirmed live earnings of $589,438, she currently ranks 297th on England’s all‑time money list and 127th on the Women’s all-time list.
In 2025, Swift has posted several noteworthy results: she won the $400 Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series Grand Stack event in Las Vegas on May 27, earning $9,750, and scored multiple further cashes in June. Her trajectory remains closely watched, as she continues to combine competitive grit with a strong advocacy for women in poker.
Liv Boeree
Liv Boeree stands as England’s highest-earning female poker player, with $6,699,290 in live tournament winnings, ranking her 11th on England’s all-time money list and firmly placing her among the Top 4 women globally in the game. In 2025, we were happy to see her back at the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, cashing in 645th for $27,500, marking a strong comeback to the felt and underscoring her lasting competitive presence.
Additionally, Liv took part as one of the headline participants in the revived National Heads-Up Poker Championship, a prestigious, invitation-only $25,000 buy-in event airing this autumn. So, we do not know yet how she did. If she will make the journey to London from her Texas home remains to be seen.
Kerryjane Craigie Leads the Charge
Once again at the helm is Kerryjane Craigie, PokerStars ambassador and Director of Poker at the Hippodrome Casino. A driving force behind the women’s festival movement, Craigie is passionate about growing the game in a way that’s accessible and welcoming to women at all levels of experience.
She has made her mission clear: to top the numbers from last November and once again host the largest women’s poker field outside of the United States.
“Come to London,” she says, “and be part of another historic moment for women in poker.”
Craigie’s presence and leadership lend this series both credibility and a clear vision – this isn’t token inclusion. This is building a culture from the ground up.
Main Event: £400 Buy-In with a £100,000 Guarantee
The spotlight is on the £400 Main Event, boasting a £100,000 guaranteed prize pool – a significant step up from previous editions and one of the biggest prize pools ever offered in a women-only tournament in Europe.
Satellites have been running weekly online since early June on PokerStars, each guaranteeing at least five seats. For those looking to qualify live, the Hippodrome Casino is offering multiple low buy-in opportunities, including:
- £150 High Roller Satellite on August 12
- Numerous £40 Main Event Satellites right up to the start of Day 1C
Side Events: High Roller, Mixed Team Play & More
In addition to the flagship Main Event, the schedule includes several side events designed to appeal to both recreational and experienced players:
- £1,100 High Roller – August 13
A prestigious warm-up for seasoned players looking for deeper stacks and bigger swings. - £220 50/50 NLH Freezeout – August 16
A fun and much-loved format where women team up with a male partner, returning from the winter festival by popular demand. - £110 NLH Knockout (£50 Bounty) – August 17
Fast-paced and bounty-heavy action for those who love a little extra on every elimination. - Women’s Closer Freeroll – August 17
Exclusive to Main Event participants. The winner walks away with a coveted EPT Prague Women’s Package.
More Than a Tournament: A Space to Learn, Connect, and Thrive
The Women’s Summer Festival isn’t just about who bags the trophy – it’s about fostering a space where women feel empowered to learn, compete, and connect. The event will feature:
- Poker bootcamps and tutorials
- Community mixers and networking activities
- Off-table social events, curated to ensure that even first-timers feel welcomed
The atmosphere is intentionally warm and inclusive – supportive but serious. This is an opportunity for new players to get their first taste of live poker and for veterans to connect and compete at a high level.
PokerStars and the Hippodrome team emphasize that this is about more than cards – it’s about confidence, community, and carving out space in a game still heavily dominated by men. And crucially, it’s working.
As the poker world continues to reckon with its diversity problem, events like the Women’s Summer Festival are more than a feel-good story – they’re necessary steps toward a more inclusive game. PokerStars is investing in that future, not just by offering large guarantees, but by building a framework where women aren’t an afterthought – they’re the main event.
With its record-setting winter behind it, all eyes are now on London this August to see if the summer edition can raise the bar once more.
Women’s Summer Festival Full Schedule
| Date | Time | Buy-in | Event | GTD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Aug 12 | 7 p.m. | £150 | Qualifier (No Reg Fee) to £1,100 High Roller Unlimited Re-Entry | |
| Wed, Aug 13 | 12 p.m. | £1,100 | Women’s Summer Festival High Roller – Single Re-Entry | |
| 6 p.m. | £40 | Qualifier to Main Event (No Reg Fee) – Unlimited Re-Entry | ||
| Thu, Aug 14 | 1 p.m. | £400 | Womens Summer Festival Main Event Day 1/A | £100K Gtd |
| 7 p.m. | £40 | Qualifier to Main Event (No Reg Fee) – Unlimited Re-Entry | ||
| Fri, Aug 15 | 12 p.m. | £400 | Womens Summer Festival Main Event Day 1/B | £100K Gtd |
| 6 p.m. | £400 | Womens Summer Festival Main Event Day 1/C (25 min Levels) | £100K Gtd | |
| Sat, Aug 16 | 12 p.m. | £400 | Womens Summer Festival Main Event Day 2 | £100K Gtd |
| 4 p.m. | £220 | NLH 50/50 Freezeout | ||
| Sun, Aug 17 | 12 p.m. | £400 | Womens Summer Festival Main Event Final | £100K Gtd |
| 1 p.m. | £110 | NLH Knockout (£50 Bounty) – Single Re-Entry | ||
| 6 p.m. | £0 | Women’s Closer Freeroll – EPT Prague Women’s Event Package added |
