What Happened at the Queens and Cards Poker Event?

Have you heard about the latest buzz in the Texas poker scene? Champions Club Texas recently hosted an incredible weekend dedicated entirely to female players.

This multi-day festival, known as the Queens and Cards poker event, shattered expectations and broke local records. With high-profile cash games, unique tournaments, and big prize pools, it was a massive success for women in poker.

Why was the Queens and Cards poker event so popular?

The Queens and Cards event offered creative formats and a highly welcoming atmosphere. It kicked off with a $150 Women’s Tag Team tournament that drew a record-breaking 120 entries, completely smashing the venue’s previous tag-team record.

What made this tournament so incredibly fun? The tournament director could yell “switch” at any time, forcing teammates to instantly swap chip stacks. This could happen mid-hand or even while a player was making a crucial betting decision!

Tag team tournaments at Champions are DIFFERENT😂 pic.twitter.com/2aTq7qqgAG

- Champions Club Texas (@ChampionsClubTX) August 28, 2026

Tricia Symansic and Sarah Landell navigated the chaos perfectly to claim the victory. They walked away with the title and $1,975 each.

Another big draw was the $250 Maneater Bounty tournament. This creative format placed a $100 bounty on any male player who entered the field. Lisa Fleischman took down the title, earning a $6,350 top prize alongside $600 in bounties.

How did Phil Hellmuth poker action boost the series?

The festival wasn’t just about tournaments; it also featured a highly entertaining $5/$10 No-Limit Hold’em live-streamed cash game. A full lineup of talented female players took on 17-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth .

Notable women at the table included Nikki Limo , Caitlin Comeskey , Brandi Rook , Rachelle Park , Katie Lindsay , AJ Rudolph, and Esther Taylor .

Phil Hellmuth poker sessions are always a blast to watch, but this one had a very special twist. He played with a continuous $1,000 bounty on his head! Anyone who managed to bust him during the game instantly won an extra thousand bucks on top of the pot.

He wasn’t just generous at the cash tables, though. For the $500 Main Event, which attracted 158 runners, Hellmuth completely surprised the room by adding $25,000 of his own money to the prize pool! Thanks to this incredible gesture, Main Event winner Cheryl Spencer-Nejtek took home a massive $25,230 payday.

What does this mean for the future of women in poker?

Events like this are absolutely crucial for growing the game and building a supportive, inclusive community. It gives female players a comfortable space to compete, learn, and simply have a great time at the tables.

. @phil_hellmuth joins the the All-in Texas Poker Podcast to discuss his take on the challenges for women in poker. pic.twitter.com/VstZJudeJ3

- Champions Club Texas (@ChampionsClubTX) September 2, 2026

Seeing such record turnouts at Champions Club Texas proves that there is a huge, undeniable demand for these festivals. It is a massive step forward for women in poker everywhere, and the players clearly felt the love.

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Caitlin Comeskey praised the staff, noting their success in welcoming new players and cheering everyone on. Esther Taylor also called the energy, excitement, and hospitality “top level.”

Phil Hellmuth himself recognized the weekend’s importance and its impact on the community. As he told PokerNews:

“The enthusiasm in the room was incredible! I want women to know they are more than welcome in the poker world.”

What were the final results at Champions Club Texas?

The entire weekend was filled with amazing performances, great camaraderie, and huge payouts. The staff at Champions Club Texas worked tirelessly to ensure everything ran smoothly from start to finish.

If you missed the action, here is a quick summary of the major winners and payouts from the festival:

It is safe to say this festival left a very positive, lasting impression on the entire community. We can definitely expect even more exciting developments and future events for women in poker as this amazing series continues to grow!