The 53rd Event of the WSOP brought out the beauties - and a few beasts that couldn't accept the thinking or scope of a women's only tournament. The $1,000 buy-in created a $949,500 prize pool after 1,055 players ponied up; knowing that 117 would be paid and first place would take home $192,344.
The best guestimate on the internet is that roughly 10 men signed up for the event. Phrased perfectly by the Final Report: "To make things perfectly clear, no gentlemen participated in this year’s Ladies Championship. No gentlemen would dare play in an event designed especially for ladies, to be played exclusively by ladies, which presumably allows one very special woman her moment to shine in front of the entire poker universe."
Kristy Gazes introduced the nine finalists to an enormous crowd - it was immortality for one of them: Carol Tomlinson, Valerie McColligan, Katherine Stahl, Jennifer Cowan, Genevieve Gloutnez, Peg Ledman, J. Epstein, Karina Jett and Marsha Wolak.
The J. before Epstein did not stand for Jane or Jennifer or Jasmine or Judy, it stood for Jonathan.
Disaster was blasted out into the universe about 90 minutes into the finale. Our champion and heroine of the moment moved all-in from the button and Jonathan Epstein called all-in from the big blind. The rail was in hyper drive, jostling for position. Wolak had 
vs. the 
of Epstein.
The crowd was chanting "Beat the dude! Beat the Dude!"
The flop came off 
giving Epstein a straight and a flush draw to go along with an Ace draw. The 
hit the turn - narrowing Epstein's outs to an Ace or a flush. The 
on the river sent 'the dude' out in 9th place with $13,701 and we hope a very brash cold shoulder from everyone for even playing. The crowd sang to Epstein as he left and with the last remaining male player now gone, tournament director Robbie Thompson announced, "Finally, welcome to the Ladies Event!"
One by one the ladies fell until there were only two left. They agreed to a dinner break and when they returned, on the very first hand of heads-up play, Karina Jett raised to 60,000 on the button with Marsha Wolak calling from the big blind.
The flop peeled off 
. Wolak checked to Jett who bet 70,000. Wolak didn't hesitate with an "All in" announcement. Jett didn't wait long to make the call.
Wolak: 
Jett: 
The crowd was silent, even after the turn hit with the which gave Wolak a straight. Jett need one of seven cards to give her a double up - one of four aces or three nines.
The 
hit the river and Karina Jett became the 2nd place finisher in the Ladies Championship Event, collecting $119,010 for her efforts. Karina is with child and very possibly introduced the youngest player on record to a final table.
Marsha Wolak ran to her rail - after she screamed - and then came back to Karina where the two hugged and congratulated each other. Marsha Wolak collected the honor of busting the last man standing in the women's event, the gold bracelet, and $192,344 for her 1st place finish! Congratulations Marsha!
The final nine payouts:
| 1 | Marsha Wolak | $192,344 |
| 2 | Karina Jett | $119,010 |
| 3 | Carol Tomlinson | $74,459 |
| 4 | Valerie McColligan | $54,045 |
| 5 | Peg Ledman | $39,897 |
| 6 | Katherine Stahl | $29,909 |
| 7 | Jennifer Cowan | $22,750 |
| 8 | Genevieve Gloutnez | $17,537 |
| 9 | Jonathan Epstein | $13,701 |
For more detailed hands and information about the event, visit PokerNews Live Reporting.