button in SafariKatie Hopkins Is Proof Women's Events Can Grow the Game
For Katie Hopkins, events like the Borgata Summer Poker Open Ladies Championship are about much more than the cards.
Hopkins first discovered poker through Poker Power, an organization that introduces women to the game. After attending an introductory session at her workplace, NASDAQ, she later signed up for an eight-week women's boot camp run in partnership with PokerStars.
That experience led to an online tournament where Hopkins won a trip to EPT Cyprus, a trip she says cemented her love for poker.
"I met a lot of really cool people through that trip," Hopkins said. "I don't know that I'm necessarily the best player, but I've made some really good friends through it."
Those friendships have lasted well beyond the poker table. One of the players she became friends with lives in London and has since visited Hopkins' home in Pennsylvania multiple times. Another joined her at Borgata this week to play the Ladies Championship together.
Hopkins also credited women's events with helping newer players find their feet in a welcoming environment.
"It can be intimidating when you're new to it," she said. "But coming out and playing these events increases your confidence. It's a fun night out too."
After making the final table of a PokerStars Open Ladies event in Philadelphia last year, Hopkins is hoping for another deep run at Borgata. With a newborn at home after welcoming a baby in December, opportunities to play have become less frequent, making this week's event even more special.