Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship
Day 4 Completed
2025 World Series of Poker
Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship
Day: 4
Event Info
2025 World Series of Poker
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
Buy-in
$1,000
Prize Pool
$1,203,840
Entries
1,368
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
7
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1368
Filter
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
After winning this event last year and finishing runner-up in 2023, Japan’s Shiina Okamoto etched her name into poker history by accomplishing what once seemed impossible: winning the Ladies Championship at the World Series of Poker back-to-back.
The pressure was on Okamoto as she began the day with a commanding chip lead, with all eyes on her to see if she could repeat the feat. She didn’t falter under the spotlight, ultimately triumphing over 1,368 competitors to claim the top prize of $184,094 in Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
Okamoto faced Heather Alcorn heads-up. Alcorn, a WSOP Circuit ring winner who was also named the 2019 WSOP Dealer of the Year, had started the final day in the middle of the pack and earned a respectable $122,654 for her finish.
Event #70: $1,000 Ladies Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shiina Okamoto | Japan | $184,094 |
| 2 | Heather Alcorn | United States | $122,654 |
| 3 | Stephani Hagberg | United States | $87,695 |
| 4 | Julie Huynh | United States | $63,517 |
| 5 | Sonia Shashikhina | Russian Federation | $46,614 |
| 6 | Juliet Hegedus | United States | $34,667 |
| 7 | Sumire Uenomachi | Japan | $26,131 |
| 8 | Tanith Rothman | South Africa | $19,969 |
| 9 | Elisa Nakagawa | United States | $15,472 |
Winner’s Reaction
Speaking to PokerNews after her victory, Okamoto said she headed into the final table as chip leader, determined to stayed composed under pressure.
"I really believed I was going to win," she said, through a translator. "I didn't feel rushed like I needed to force it. I just focused on doing what I needed to do properly.
"There was still a lot of pressure, with everyone expecting me to win back-to-back. I thought that as long as I stayed calm and did everything right, I would eventually come out on top. So I was really conscious about not panicking and keeping my composure.
The final table didn’t offer any easy spots. “I don’t remember specific hands, but when it got down to three players, things shifted,” she recalled. “I had been trying to exploit tendencies I noticed earlier in the tournament, but my opponents adjusted their play. It took me some time to adjust back. That was tough.”
This event is now synonymous with Okamoto, with a runner-up finish followed by two straight titles. “I think people now associate me with this event. Some players start adjusting their strategies against me, calling lighter to catch bluffs, or playing more cautiously. I was able to take advantage of that. In a way, it’s just a good fit for how I play.”
As she continues to inspire a growing fan base in Japan, she offered words of encouragement to women thinking of stepping into the game. “Most people don’t learn poker entirely on their own — they learn from someone. And choosing that person really matters. It takes good judgment to find the right mentor, and I hope new players don’t make the mistake of learning from the wrong one.”
Action of the Day
The final day began quietly, but after about an hour of play, the other Japanese player at the final table, Sumire Uenomachi—who started as the short stack—was eliminated by her compatriot. Uenomachi shoved her last blinds with ace-ten against Okamoto’s ace-queen.
Okamoto was also responsible for the next knockout, winning a flip with ace-six against pocket fours when Juliet Hegedus moved all in with their last eight big blinds.
Despite starting the day third in chips with 54 big blinds, Sonia Shashikhina ran into a few tough spots that left her with just five big blinds. She was eliminated shortly after when she shoved king-seven into Julie Huynh’s pocket aces.
A key moment followed when Stephani Hagberg, who had been close behind Okamoto in chips, lost a massive pot to the defending champion. Hagberg played aggressively with top pair against Okamoto’s two pair, which gave Okamoto a commanding lead she never relinquished.
Alcorn scored a double-up against Huynh, leaving her with only one big blind. Huynh joined the payout desk just 15 minutes later.
Three-handed play began with Alcorn as a very short stack, but she managed to double up in a flip against Okamoto. Even so, she was still at risk, and reaching heads-up play seemed unlikely. However, a massive hand between Okamoto and Hagberg helped her secure the pay jump. On a turn that brought a flush for Okamoto while Hagberg held two pair, all the chips went into the middle. The river bricked out, sending Hagberg to the rail in third place.
Although Alcorn scored a double-up on the first hand of heads-up play, the duel didn’t last long. She moved all in with ace-deuce against Okamoto’s pocket nines, and a dry board sealed her fate in second place.
Okamoto achieved one of the greatest accomplishments in WSOP history, celebrating her impressive back-to-back victory with her rail.
That wraps up our coverage of the Ladies Championship, but stay tuned to PokerNews for all the latest updates from the World Series of Poker as the Main Event approaches.
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Heather Alcorn had just got through a jam in the small blind with K♣J♥. It wasn't long before Alcorn found herself all in again against Shiina Okamoto.
The final hand of the day saw Okamoto limp from the small blind with 9♣9♠ and Heather Alcorn swiftly moved her remaining 2,350,000 with A♦2♠. Okamoto snap called and the players went to the runout.
Heather Alcorn: A♦2♠
Shiina Okamoto: 9♠9♣
The 3♥10♠K♣ flop brought nothing in for Alcorn.
A J♥ turn brought in the straight draw for Alcorn. She needed to see an Ace or a Queen on the river.
The 3♣ river sealed her fate, and sent her home in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
27,375,000
2,650,000
|
2,650,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Hand 1:
Shiina Okamoto limped with Q♦8♥ in the small blind and Heather Alcorn jammed with A♠3♥, getting a fold from Okamoto, giving her a small chip up.
Hand 2:
Okamoto got a walk after Alcorn folded 6♣2♣ in the small blind.
Hand 3,4 and 5:
Players were passing the blinds and giving each other a walk.
Hand 6:
Shiina Okamoto limped with A♣6♣ and Alcorn checked K♦9♦.
The flop came 4♥2♣A♠ and Alcorn checked. Okamoto bet 200,000 and got a fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
24,725,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,650,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Hand 1:
Heather Alcorn raised to 500,000 from the small blind with K♣7♦ and Shiina Okamoto called with 10♠4♣ in the big blind.
The 3♦10♣9♦ flop was checked to the 9♣ turn.
Okamoto bet 700,000 and Alcorn folded.
Hand 2:
In the next hand, Okamoto limped from the small blind with 10♣5♠ and Alcorn checked the big blind with 7♣6♦.
The 7♥9♥K♦ flop was checked to the 7♠ turn, and Okamoto folded after Alcorn bet 200,000.
Hand 3:
Okamoto then got a walk after Alcorn folded the small blind with J♦7♠.
Hand 4:
Okamoto limped with 6♥5♣ and Alcorn jammed her A♦9♣, picking up from Okamoto.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
23,425,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,950,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Shiina Okamoto limped from the small blind with 10♠7♣ and Heather Alcorn defended the big blind with Q♥9♠.
The 7♦2♣Q♠ flop saw Alcorn jam for her remaining 1,875,000.
Okamoto made a quick call and the players flipped their cards.
Heather Alcorn: Q♥9♠
Shiina Okamoto: 10♠7♣
Alcorn just needed to hold to and she secured her double up on the A♠ turn and 9♥ river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
23,025,000
2,075,000
|
2,075,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,350,000
2,075,000
|
2,075,000 |
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,100,000 | |
|
|
||
|
|
2,275,000 | |
Level 31
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Stephani Hagberg raised to 600,000 with 10♦9♥ and Shiina Okamoto defended the big blind with 6♣5♣.
The 7♣J♥10♣ flop brought Hagberg top pair and a flush draw for Okamoto. Hagberg checked and Okamoto bet 800,000. Hagberg called.
The turn came the 9♣ and Hagberg checked. Okamoto bet 1,600,000 and Hagberg took some time to act. Hagberg was looking at two pair, but Okamoto's flush came in.
Hagberg raised to 4,000,000. Okamoto moved 7,000,000 into the middle. Hagberg took a little while, but made the call.
Hagberg stood after seeing Okamoto was ahead, she had to find a ten or a nine to stay alive but the dealer placed the 7♠ river card, sealing her fate.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
25,100,000
9,030,000
|
9,030,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,275,000
235,000
|
235,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level: 31
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
Level 30
: Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
The three remaining players are now taking another short break before going back into battle.
