Reality TV Star Princess Love Wins Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational II in Las Vegas

Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.
3 min read
Princess Love

The PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas transformed into a spectacle of lights, cameras and open-bar drinks on Thursday as dozens of celebrities, athletes and content creators packed in for a night of poker action that served as the perfect kickoff for Super Bowl weekend in Sin City.

The Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational II consisted of a 73-entrant invite-only field and saw reality television star Princess Love coming out on top to win $20,000 and a custom engraved bottle of LOUIS XIII cognac alongside two engraved Baccarat crystal glasses.

Those in the mix at the second annual Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational included celebrities like Perez Hilton and Tana Mongeau, a Las Vegas influencer who went out in third for $5,000 before Atlanta Falcons fullback Keith Smith fell in second for $10,000.

Celebrity Poker Tour Invitational II Results

 PlacePlayerCountryPrize
 1Princess LoveUnited States$20,000
 2Keith SmithUnited States$10,000
 3Tana MongeauUnited States$5,000
 4Laviska ShenaultUnited States$3,500
 5Trent "BookItWithTrent" AttyahUnited States$3,000
 6Will LevisUnited States$2,500
 7Aljamain SterlingUnited States$2,000
 8Gordie GronkowskiUnited States$1,334
 9Eric HansenCanadian$1,333
 10Eric EbronUnited States$1,333

Athletes, Influencers & Vloggers Trade Pots

It was a packed house inside the PokerGO Studio as giant defensive ends and chic influencers took their seats at the half-dozen tables set up throughout the studio.

At the streamed feature table, chess queen Alexandra Botez sat across from Mongeau, who found herself seated between fellow social media stars Bryce Hall and Steiny.

Across the room, Ethan "Rampage" Yau matched up against fellow poker vlogger Brad Owen adjacent to a table headlined by the NFL's Calais Campbell, soccer player Lauren Sesselmann and breakout poker star Wolfgang Poker.

Celebrity Poker Invitational II
Lauren Sessleman and Calais Campbell

PokerNews was in attendance as the electric invitational event got underway and caught up with the first poker vlogger to reach a million subscribers, who said he was excited to mix it up with "people who are experts in their field."

"And we're all coming together on the poker felt," Wolfgang Poker said, "so it's going to be a fun time."

Wolfgang Poker
Wolfgang Poker

Another beloved poker YouTuber, Joey Ingram, was just as excited for the night to get underway as he helped host the night's festivities.

"Everyone's fired up, so many people here," Ingram told PokerNews. "Everyone's excited, it's very rare you see this in a poker tournament where everyone's amped up, ready to go. So it's good energy in here."

Joey Ingram
Joey Ingram conducts an interview

Read About Wolfgang Poker's Vlogging Empire!

Princess Loves Comes Out On Top

One of the most stacked tables of the event featured eventual champion Love seated between her husband, Ray J, and defending champion Qiyu "Nemo" Zhou. Love held her own against the chess star and others at the table including Jose Canseco, Josie Canseco and Gordie Gronkowski.

According to PokerGO updates, Yau, Wolfgang Poker and Hall were all eliminated around the money bubble with ten spots paid in the invitational tournament. Not long after, Love scored a double knockout with a rivered flush and eventually overcame the commanding chip lead of NFL player Laviska Shenault en route to her invitational victory.

Princess Love
Princess Love

Don't let the reality star's TV persona fool you, Love is a crusher on the poker felt. Last December, she finished 40th in the WPT World Championship as she added $132,500 to her $270,404 in live earnings.

Others who made the money in the second annual Celebrity Poker Invitational include Gronkowski ($1,334), Trent "BookItWithTrent" Attyah (5th - $3,000) and Laviska Shenault (4th - $3,500).

Celebrity Poker Invitational II

*Lead photo courtesy PokerGO.

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Connor Richards
Editor & Live Reporter U.S.

Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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