WPT crowns first female champion

LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World Poker Tour® (WPT) crowned its first female champion Monday night at the 6th Annual WPT Invitational hosted by the Commerce Casino. This special event marks the first time in history that a female player has won a major televised WPT tournament. Van Nguyen, wife of poker professional Men "The Master" Nguyen, beat 444 players to win more than half of the generous prize pool donated by Commerce for the three-day WPT Invitational event, a star studded tournament that lines up celebrities with top poker pros.

"This great sport of poker is the only one that focuses on an individual's skill--regardless of gender--and we're thrilled the time has finally come to celebrate a female WPT Champion," said Steve Lipscomb, Founder, Creator and CEO of the WPT. "It was only a matter of time before a female took down a major WPT tournament, and what better way to mark this historic event than Van Nguyen battling for the title while her husband--a well-respected pro--cheered her on from the audience. Her win is one of many recent events that solidify women as a major force to be reckoned with on and off the tables."

The WPT Invitational also captured center stage for being the first ever five-seat Final Table. With eight players remaining, three players went all in resulting in Beverly Kuskol and Debby Perkins going out together sending five players to the final table. The fifth place finish went to notable writer Elias Madias while Associate Publisher of Card Player Magazine Justin Marchand came in fourth. Poker Hall of Famer Billy Baxter saw a third place finish. Ethan Ruby, a founder of Poker4Life, which is associated with The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, placed an impressive second after securing his WPT Invitational seat donated by Ambassador of Poker, Mike Sexton, for a Poker4Life charity tournament.

The Invitational, which is the most glamorous tournament on the poker circuit, kicked off on March 1st with red carpet arrivals from Hollywood stars including James Woods, Don Cheadle, Oliver Hudson, Ricki Lake, Michael Vartan, Jennifer Tilly, Camryn Manheim, Norm McDonald, Ron Livingston, Jeremy London, Tia Carrere, Montel Williams, Josh Malina, Eric Palladino, Mimi Rogers, Johnathon Schaech, Jeremy Sisto and many others. The last 10 celebrities standing received a piece of a $20,000 prize pool courtesy of Harbor Private Funds, LLC to donate to the charity of their choice. WPT Ladies charity partner Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Harbor Private Funds' Harbor Foundation, and Crocs, Inc.'s Soles United, also received a $2,500 donation from WPT.

Tune in July 21st to watch the WPT Invitational action on the WPT's new network home, GSN, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.