PokerNews Performance of the Week: Ema Zajmovic Makes WPT History
Every week, PokerNews will bring you the top performance from the previous week.
While there were many great performances last week, Canada's Ema Zajmovic clearly outshined the rest. Last week, Zajmovic outlasted a strong field of 380 players to win the WPT Playground Main Event for C$241,500 ($183,789).
Zajmovic's victory on Feb. 14 at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal, Canada might have been the top performance of the week by itself; however, the choice became easier when she made WPT history by becoming the first woman to win an open WPT Championship event in the tour's 15-year history.
Her journey for the title began by first shipping a qualifier to the event online at partypoker. She then battled it out to the unofficial final table before starting the final table of the tournament in the pack on the official six-max final table.
All eyes were on Zajmovic when she took the lead after eliminating Mekhail Mekhail in fifth place. Even so, it wasn't completely smooth sailing for the Canadian. Shortly afterward she relinquished the lead after Jean-Francois Bouchard doubled up against her.
Zajmovic battled back by doubling up against WPT Champions Club member Eric Afriat during four-handed play before eliminating Tam Ho in fourth place. Bouchard then eliminated Afriat (third - C$108,690) before Zajmovic eliminated Bouchard (second - C$169,270) to etch her name into the WPT history books and to bring her to almost $300,000 in total career live poker tournament cashes according to The Hendon Mob.
Zajmovic shared her Valentine's Day victory with a heartwarming message to her friends and fans on social media.
Hope your Valentine's Day was as good as mine ! #### Thanks for the support !!! #WPTPlayground https://t.co/KQOoVeqeUm
— Ema Za (@EmaZajmo)
The poker world began to take notice of Zajmovic in November when she appeared on the final table of the WPT Montreal Main Event. She fell short of making WPT history after hitting the rails in fifth place for C$102,010 ($76,108). This, at the time, was her largest cash to date.
These aren't the only events Zajmovic has cashed on a big stage. Last summer, the Canadian finished in the money in the 2016 WSOP Main Event before bowing out in 929th place for $15,000.
Zajmovic also appeared on a trio of final tables before her amazing WPT runs. In 2011 and 2012, she appeared on the tail end of the final table in EPT turbo events. She also took fourth place in 2016 PCA Woman's Event for $2,920.
*Lead image courtesy of Playground Poker Club
