News

A total of 1,190 female poker players have made their way to the Amazon Room for the 2008 Ladies’ World Championship No Limit Hold’em event. Leading the way is the Queens of Heart team, 37 celebrities and poker professionals who are playing to raise awareness for the Nevada Cancer Institute, the official charity of the World Series of Poker.

This year’s team is more than double the size of the 2007 team and included Cheryl Hines, Joely Fisher and Mimi Rogers. Also on the squad are some of the top female players in the world; Barbara Enright, Maureen Feduniak, Clonie Gowen, Michele Lewis and Linda Johnson. The toughest player in the field however may be defending champion Sally Anne Boyer. Last year Boyer outlasted a field of 1,286 players to claim the title.

Also a part of the team, but not playing in the event, was Jackie Collins who had the honor of announcing “shuffle up and deal” for the start of the event and is serving as the Honorary Captain. Rogers, along with Lisa Tenner, who organized the Queens of Heart team, are co-captains. The players have raised $10,000 for the NCI and have also pledged to donate no less than 20% of any winnings from this event to the cause.