button in SafariJamie Kerstetter Among LIPS Women in Poker Spring Festival Winners
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Jamie Kerstetter was one of the top performers in the recently completed LIPS Women in Poker Spring Festival at South Point in Las Vegas.
The longtime poker pro closed out the $200 US Ladies TeamPoker Championship, which had 194 teams, for $7,680. Kerstetter, who was representing Team Hot Dog, is no stranger to deep runs in team events. Her team, which included Corey Paggeot, finished runner-up for a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the 2022 $1,000 Tag Team event.
This time around, Kerstetter closed it out for the win, defeating Emma Stevenson at the end for the largest share of the $38,400 prize pool.
Purdie is the Nevada State Champion; Westfall Nearly Goes Back-to-Back
Laura Westfall won the $360 buy-in Nevada State Ladies Championship last year for $20,770 via a chop with Urbandale, Iowa native Ruth Hall. The champ had no way to surpass her 2025 performance this year, but she came oh so close to matching the result.
Westfall reached the final table again at South Point, and nearly went back-to-back. But she couldn't defeat Susan Purdie heads-up, and instead went home with a second-place finish and $12,181 a year after winning this same event.
Purdie, however, earned the title and the $20,339 payday that came with it. The champion earned her largest career score, and now has over $125,000 in The Hendon Mob cashes.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Susan Purdie | $20,339 |
| 2 | Laura Westfall | $12,181 |
| 3 | Erin Giddens | $7,691 |
| 4 | Shannon Romero | $4,800 |
| 5 | Kim Action | $3,407 |
| 6 | Sheila Olsen | $2,942 |
| 7 | Melissa King | $2,581 |
| 8 | Michelle Cain | $2,323 |
| 9 | Amalia Graffeo | $2,065 |
The Championship event attracted 333 runners at the Las Vegas Boulevard resort, generating a $103,230 prize pool. Kerstetter, Karina Jett, and Kathy Liebert were among those who cashed.
The series, hosted by poker legends Linda Johnson and Jan Fisher, included multiple team events, a Crazy Pineapple tournament, a Pajama Jam where the players were all dressed in pajamas, and the $180 LIPS Kings & Queens, the one tournament on the schedule that allowed men to play. John Volgren won it for $4,713, beating out 153 players.
LIPS Women in Poker Spring Festival Results
| Event | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $220 Mini Main Event | 195 | $35,100 | Kathy Stahl | $7,422 |
| $180 Crazy Pineapple | 99 | $13,860 | Charlene Belliveau | $3,326 |
| $200 NLH Mystery Bounty | 271 | $43,360 | Shiela Olsen | $6,172 |
| $200 US Ladies TeamPoker Championship | 384 | $38,400 | Jamie Kerstetter | $7,680 |
| $180 NLH Pajama Jam | 148 | $20,720 | Sherry Ferber | $4,561 |
| $360 Nevada State Ladies Championship | 333 | $103,230 | Susan Purdie | $20,339 |
| $180 Tag Team Switch Event | 197 | $27,580 | Slade-Handrich | $3,360 |
| $180 LIPS Kings & Queens | 153 | $21,420 | John Volgren | $4,713 |
