Lisa Costello Takes Down WPT Ladies Championship at Wynn for $85,297
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Friday's focus at Wynn Las Vegas was on women in poker. More specifically, a special Ladies Meet-Up Game (MUG) in the morning followed by the final table of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Ladies Championship, which was live-streamed on YouTube.
In that ladies tournament, part of the WPT World Championship Festival, Lisa Costello was the last player standing out of 457 entrants, and it paid her $85,297.
Before the final table took place, WPT Global ambassador Jamie Kerstetter hosted a MUG inside the Wynn poker room exclusively for women. There were nine low-stakes cash games going and many prize drawings for some valuable prizes, including multiple $1,100 WPT Prime Championship seats.
Costello Stands Alone
The second annual WPT Ladies Championship concluded on Friday night with Costello, who now has over $300,000 in The Hendon Mob results, coming out victorious. She steamrolled a tough final table that included poker pro Ashley Sleeth, the player she beat heads-up for the title. Sleeth recorded her career-best cash of $57,069 despite falling one spot short of the championship.
The World Poker Tour brought back the $1,100 buy-in tournament after the success they saw in the inaugural event last year. Lina Niu won it in 2022 for $105,136.
At the 2023 final table, Ada Lang was the first to go, taking sixth place for $20,155. Aylar Lie bowed out in fifth place for $26,480, followed by Chris Read in fourth place for $34,220.
By the time the field had dwindled down to its final three competitors, Costello had built a huge chip lead. But Sleeth would find a double against the chip leader when she moved all in with K♠Q♦ against K♣J♣ and the best hand held up.
That was bad news for Kathy Stahl as she was hoping to get to heads-up play. Moments later, Costello busted her by winning a race. Stahl earned $43,686 for her third place performance.
When heads-up play began, Costello was heavily out in front, and she would quickly extend her lead to a 5-1 advantage. Sleeth would double up shortly after, however. But on the 113th hand of the final table, she moved all in preflop with A♣10♦ and was snap-called by Costello's A♥Q♦.
Help from the board didn't come for Sleeth as it ran out 9♦7♣6♠K♦5♥, putting an end to the tournament. Costello was officially crowned the 2023 WPT Ladies Champion.
WPT Ladies Championship Final Table Results
| PLACE | PLAYER | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lisa Costello | $85,297 |
| 2 | Ashley Sleeth | $57,069 |
| 3 | Kathy Stahl | $43,686 |
| 4 | Chris Read | $34,220 |
| 5 | Aylar Lie | $26,480 |
| 6 | Ada Lang | $20,155 |
*Image courtesy of World Poker Tour.
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