Last Updated on September 4, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Texas poker just had a landmark weekend for women in the game. Champions Social Club in Texas recently wrapped up its multi-day, women-focused poker festival called Queens & Cards, and by every measure, turnout, buzz, and prize money, it was one of the standout poker events of the year. The series combined record entries, a genre-bending tag-team format, a celebrity-studded cash game, and a headline Main Event that saw poker legend Phil Hellmuth dig deep into his own pocket to sweeten the pot.
Here’s a full breakdown of everything that went down.
A Record-Breaking Start: The Women’s Tag Team Event
Queens & Cards kicked off with a $150 buy-in Women’s Tag Team tournament, and the response blew past expectations. The event pulled in 120 entries, smashing the venue’s previous tag-team turnout record of 85. The twist? Whenever the tournament director called out “switch,” teammates had to swap seats and stacks immediately, even mid-hand or mid-decision. It made for some chaotic, unpredictable poker.
The team of Tricia Symansic and Sarah Landell came out on top, each walking away with just under $2,000 for their win.
Ladies vs. Hellmuth: A Bounty on the Poker Brat
The most talked-about moment of the weekend came on day two, when a livestreamed $5/$10 no-limit hold’em cash game pitted a lineup of female players against 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth played the session capped at a $900 stack, with a standing $1,000 bounty on his head — meaning any player who busted him would collect an extra grand on top of the pot.
Notable names at the table included Nikki Limo, Caitlin Comeskey, Brandi Rook, Rachelle Park, Katie Lindsay, AJ Rudolph, and Esther “ETay” Taylor. Several of the players later praised the event for its energy and for Hellmuth’s genuine support of growing the women’s poker scene, describing the atmosphere as welcoming, high-energy, and unlike anything they’d experienced at a card room before.
That same day also featured the $250 buy-in Maneater Bounty, a tournament where male entrants carried a $100 bounty on their heads. Lisa Fleischman took down the title, earning a $6,350 top prize plus bounty winnings.
The Main Event: Hellmuth Adds $25,000 to the Pot
Day three brought the tournament everyone had circled on their calendars — the $500 buy-in Main Event. It drew 158 entrants, and Hellmuth once again put his money where his mouth was, personally adding an extra $25,000 to the prize pool.
That generosity paid off directly for the eventual champion, Cheryl Spencer-Nejtek, who banked $25,230 for the win.
Why It Matters for Women in Poker
Beyond the impressive numbers, Queens & Cards is being talked about as a case study in how poker rooms can meaningfully grow female participation — not through token gestures, but through real prize pools, real visibility, and real community. Several participants said they’re already planning to return next year, and with numbers like these, it wouldn’t be surprising to see other Texas card rooms follow suit with similar women’s series.
Champions Club Texas has quickly built a reputation as one of the state’s premier poker rooms, and events like this one only add to that momentum heading into 2027.
FAQs
1. What was Queens & Cards at Champions Club Texas?
Queens & Cards was a multi-day women-focused poker festival at Champions Social Club in Texas, featuring tournaments, a tag-team event, a celebrity cash game, and a Main Event.
2. How many entries did the Queens & Cards Main Event attract?
The $500 buy-in Main Event attracted 158 entries, with Phil Hellmuth adding $25,000 to the prize pool.
3. Who won the Queens & Cards Main Event?
Cheryl Spencer-Nejtek won the Main Event, taking home $25,230 for first place.
4. What happened in the Ladies vs. Hellmuth cash game?
The livestreamed $5/$10 no-limit hold’em game featured several female poker personalities against Phil Hellmuth, who played with a $900 stack and had a $1,000 bounty on his head.
5. Who won the Queens & Cards Women’s Tag Team event?
Tricia Symansic and Sarah Landell won the $150 buy-in Women’s Tag Team event, each earning just under $2,000.
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