Break Time
![[user270022]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
The ladies are now on their second break of the day. Back in 20-minutes.
2014 World Series of Poker
Event #53: $10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship
Day: 1
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2014 World Series of Poker
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$713,700
Entries
793
Level
22
Blinds
8,000 / 16,000
Ante
2,000
Short Stack Miracle
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
"I was down to three bigs," Kristalina Steininger told us on our way past the table. A quick glance at her stack revealed that she has over 10,000 in chips now — 70 big blinds.
You may remember Steininger from the article on PokerNews about "cool jobs in poker." Steininger is the Community Manager for PokerStars Women, and you can read all about her "cool job" in this article.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,500
10,500
|
10,500 |
PokerNews Podcast Episode #230: Dangerous feat. Matt Salsberg
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
Matt Salsberg joins the PokerNews Podcast to talk about his third-place finish at the 2014 World Series of Poker, being dangerous, a new show he's developing, and much more.
You can subscribe to the entire iBus Media Network on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews family of podcasts is now available on Stitcher.
Boeree Enters, Barsansti-Chou Chipping Up
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
3,200 | |
|
||
Arnett Gets Paid
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
Kristy Arnett was flipping over 
just as we got to the table after her opponent had called her river bet. She had flopped a set and had the best hand. Arnett is enjoying a sizable stack to work with early in this event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
11,675 |
LePage Busto
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Some More Counts & A Few Bust Outs
Level 4
: 75/150, 0 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,300
1,300
|
1,300 |
|
|
3,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
2,500
-2,525
|
-2,525 |
|
2,225
-775
|
-775 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level: 4
Blinds: 75/150
Ante:
Baker Busts
Level 3
: 50/100, 0 ante
Amanda Baker final-tabled this event last year, but she won't be repeating that performance this year. We're a bit short on the details, but the outcome is clear.
I have busted from 2014 World Series of Poker - Event #53: $10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship #WSOP53 #mystackFollow @Mandy22Baker
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Player Spotlight: Kristen Bicknell
Level 3
: 50/100, 0 ante
Primarily known as a live online cash-game grinder, Kristen Bicknell made her splash onto live tournament scene last summer when she won the 2013 World Series of Poker Ladies Championship, collecting her first gold bracelet and a first-place prize of $173,922.
Bicknell is back to defend her title bringing with her some lessons she learned from last year’s tournament. We caught up with Bicknell as the ladies went to break to see how it feels to be back, how things have changed and check in on her Super Nova Elite Status on PokerStars.
PokerNews: How does it feel to be back?
Kristen Bicknell: It’s great. It’s exciting.
Do the people at your table know you are the reigning champion?
It has just been revealed. I was trying to keep it under wraps for as a long as possible but a lady at my table said she went and googled me, so now it’s out.
You seem to talk a lot at the table and you look like you are having a good time. Do you find that this event lends itself to having more conversation?
I find the ladies event is a bit lighter. It’s not as intense and it’s a lot friendlier. It’s a nice change. I am used to being behind the computer screen talking to nobody or playing with men. It is nice to have some good conversation and good time playing.
Do you find more challenging to play with all women?
It’s not necessarily harder or tougher. It just takes adjustments. As my poker experience grows, I just make those adjustments better. I have adjusted my strategy to play against strange lines that I might not see against men. I feel pretty well prepared and am looking forward to the day.
How have things changed for since your win last year?
They haven’t changed that much. I have gone back to doing my same old thing, grinding online cash. It has definitely given me some confidence and I will be able to play the Main Event this year and I did last year too, so that’s exciting. I have just tried to keep working on my game and not make any bad decisions.
In an interview last year you mentioned you were going to try and focus on live cash games this year, has that come to fruition?
Um. Only for the World Series. For the most part I am happy grinding Supernova Elite on PokerStars. That is sort of my comfort zone so I keep focused on that.
Where are you on this year’s quest for Super Nova Elite?
I might not hit 1,000,000 VPPs this year but I will maintain it. To maintain it I have to hit 50,000 a month. So I am at about 250,000 right now which means I will probably reach 750,000 by the end of the year which is still pretty good. Then I do make Supernova Elite again next year.
Did you learn anything from last year’s tournament that you can apply this year to help you maneuver through the field for a second time?
I learned a good lesson last year in that I can’t just outplay some people. You have to play really solid and not underestimate people. In the past, I have definitely played a bit too loose or too aggressive. And last year I tried not to do that. I came in trying to play really solid and stick to my A game.
I think a lot of players start to open up their game when they think they are better than their opponent. Then you end up spewing and playing badly. I am trying to avoid that and bring the same attitudes that help me win last year. I had a good result so I am hoping that it continues again this year.