Event #71: $10,000 LADIES Championship No-Limit Hold'em

After finishing as the runner-up last year, Japan's Shiina Okamoto etched her name into poker history by clinching her first bracelet in Event #71: $1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em at the World Series of Poker. Okamoto triumphed over 1,245 competitors to claim the top prize of $171,732 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

Okamoto faced off in heads-up play against a formidable opponent in poker personality and beloved player Jamie Kerstetter, who began the day with a commanding chip lead. Kerstetter, known for her extensive experience with nearly 200 cashes in WSOP events, earned a respectable payday of $114,479.

The rail around the feature table was bustling with supporters, as each of the six remaining players had their own contingent of friends, fans, and family cheering them on. Particularly memorable was the spirited support for Linda Durden, with chants of "Linda, Linda, Linda," echoing even after her fourth-place finish. Okamoto also enjoyed strong backing from a Japanese crowd rooting for her.

Meanwhile, Kerstetter's entourage added their own flair with chants of "Who let the dogs out," a nod to Kerstetter's fondness for canine companions she sometimes brings to the table.

Final Table Results

Winner's Reaction

Reflecting on her victory, Okamoto expressed excitement about celebrating with her friends and family from Japan. "After finishing second last year and with all my supporters here, winning this year feels even more special," she remarked through a translator.

She conveyed a message of gratitude to those who couldn't be present this year, adding that her confidence stemmed from the experience gained in the previous tournament. Despite her relatively short poker career, Okamoto has already proven herself as a rising star and vowed to return next year to defend her title.

Last year in this very event, Okamoto entered the final day with an overwhelming chip lead but fell just shy and finished second to Tamar Abraham. Okamoto went on to post two more cashes at the 2023 WSOP, including the record-breaking Main Event, and added another pair of cashes this summer before breaking through for her first bracelet.

Final Day Action

All returning players were guaranteed a minimum payout of $32,007, though each aimed for their career-best cash. Cecile Ticherfatine of France, who garnered widespread encouragement from fellow French supporters, was the first to exit against Kerstetter. Ticherfatine praised the camaraderie among players in the women's tournament and expressed appreciation for the overwhelming French backing.

Mor Kamber, a former military intelligence officer from Israel turned poker product manager, made a strong impression but ultimately fell victim to Kerstetter in a flush-over-flush showdown. Durden, a retired school teacher, then departed in fourth amid chants from her enthusiastic supporters.

Three-handed play saw Ceci Liao, who also had the support of her boyfriend and friends on the rail, holding the shortest stack, while Kerstetter led comfortably over Okamoto. Despite Liao's solid play, she couldn't overcome the chip deficit and bowed out after her queens ran into Okamoto's kings.

The heads-up battle spanned over fifty hands, during which Okamoto steadily built her advantage over Kerstetter. Both players remained composed under pressure, but Okamoto capitalized on key opportunities. In the final hand, Okamoto hit two pair on the turn and pushed all in, with Kerstetter's pair of aces unable to mount a comeback.

With Okamoto's victory, the Ladies Championship has concluded, but stay tuned to PokerNews for coverage of all the remaining events at the 2024 World Series of Poker.

Jamie Kerstetter has not been able to hit many hands and even when she has, the turn and river have not been kind.

Kerstetter raised to 350,000 from the button with    and Shiina Okamoto defended.

The flop     gave Okamoto middle pair and got checked around.

The turn   improved Kerstetter to top pair and, after a check from Okamoto, she bet 350,000. Okamoto called with a pair and a flush draw.

The river was the  , giving Okamoto two pair. After it went check-check, Kerstetter was visibly frustrated to see she again lost on the river.

Shiina Okamoto	21,420,000	1,945,000
Jamie Kerstetter	3,470,000	-1,945,000

Shiina Okamoto on the button with    raised to 325,000 and Jamie Kerstetter was on the big blind with    and called. The flop was     and both players checked.

The turn   and both players checked again. The   arrived on river and Kerstetter checked and Okamoto bet out 450,000 and Kerstetter paid her off. Okamoto held the pair of queens.

Shiina Okamoto	20,520,000	3,115,000
Jamie Kerstetter	4,370,000	-3,115,000

Jamie Kerstetter raised in the big blind to 250,000 with    after a limp from Shiina Okamoto with   . Okamoto made the call. The flop came out as     and Kerstetter as the preflop raiser placed her continuation bet of 200,000. Okamoto quickly called holding after hitting her pair of twos.

On the turn   Kerstetter checked and Okamoto bet 400,000 with her trips. Kerstetter made the call with her open ended straight draw.

The river   gave Okamoto a full boat and she bet out 1,500,000 after Kerstetter checked. Kerstetter took a moment to ponder and decided to bluff the river and three-bet to 3,500,000 and Okamoto quickly called with the boat.

Shiina Okamoto	17,405,000	6,465,000
Jamie Kerstetter	7,485,000	-6,465,000

Shiina Okamoto has been getting better hands a bit more since the start of the heads-up, getting chip stacks close to even.

She got the closest so far after raising    from the button and getting a defend from Jamie Kerstetter in the big blind with   .

The flop was     and got checked around.

The turn was the  , turning tables once again and giving Okamoto the advantage. After another check from Kerstetter, she bet 375,000. Kerstetter called.

The river was the  , the fourth heart, and both players checked. Okamoto showed the winner and took down the pot, bringing the chip-gap down to just 1,000,000 chips

Jamie Kerstetter	12,985,000	-120,000
Shiina Okamoto	11,905,000	120,000

Shiina Okamoto folded the button and Jamie Kerstetter pushed all in against the short-stacked Ceci Liao in the big blind. Liao had only 570,000 in chips, under six big blinds, and decided to call.

Ceci Liao:   
Jamie Kerstetter:   

The flop was good for Liao,    , giving her bottom pair to move her into the lead.

The turn   gave improved her to two pair, but Kerstetter turned the gutshot and the nut flush draw. She was looking for her fourth knockout of the day; but the river   saved Liao and she doubled up.

Jamie Kerstetter	15,765,000	430,000
Ceci Liao	1,240,000	-330,000

Jamie Kerstetter has seen chips going her way in most pots today, largely because she has used her chip-lead very well to put pressure on her opponents.

Shiina Okamoto opened the action from the button with   . Kerstetter was in the small blind and made a relatively big three-bet to 800,000 with   . Ceci Liao folded the big blind and Okamoto called.

The flop came     and Kerstetter continued for 450,000. Okamoto called.

The turn was the  . Kerstetter decided to slow down and checked. Okamoto fired 500,000 and took it down.

Jamie Kerstetter	16,185,000	-525,000
Shiina Okamoto	7,655,000	925,000

Jamie Kerstetter raised to 160,000 from under the gun with    and Shiina Okamoto three-bet to 600,000 from the small blind with    and Linda Durden was on the button with    and folded. Kerstetter flat called the three-bet. The flop arrived with     and Okamoto bet 520,000 and Kerstetter called.

On the turn   Okamoto fired out for 1,000,000 and Kerstetter made the call.

Both players checked the river   and Kerstetter's full house was the winner and she scooped a massive pot.

Jamie Kerstetter	15,215,000	1,910,000
Shiina Okamoto	6,730,000	-2,280,000
Linda Durden	1,950,000	-1,160,500