If you think poker is only a man’s game, think again! Up until recently, poker has typically been a sport dominated by men. But, over the past few years, the number of women poker players has been growing. Today, some of the top players are women. Meet Jessica Cupini, a 22 year old WVU student and poker player from Weirton, West Virginia.
Name: Jessica Cupini
Age: 22
Hometown: Weirton, West Virginia
Major: Multi-disciplinary Studies (minoring in Political Science, Business Administration and Communications)
When did your first become interested in playing poker?: “I have been playing poker since I was about 15 years old. Instead of spending money on movies or other activities most teenagers would be known for doing in high school, my friends and I would get together and play poker for hours at a time. Even though I parted way with most of my friends I used to play with, I continue to play through college. I moved back home with my boyfriend the summer before my junior year when I had our beautiful baby boy, Luca!”
How did you come about competing in the Pokerstars.net million dollar challenge?: “One night when Luca was about 4 months old he was strangely fussy and would not sleep unless I was holding him. I figured if I was going to be up anyway, I might as well try my luck in a Pokerstars.net tournament. The Million Dollar Challenge tournament was free and I saw there was a possibility to play with my favorite poker player, Daniel Negreanu. Of course I did not think that would actually happen. After playing for like 7 hours, I finally was in the 10 of 10,000 with the opportunity to submit an audition video to appear on the show, play against my favorite player of all time, and a chance at a million bucks! I submitted my video on my 21st birthday, so I knew I would be the youngest in the playing field. I didn’t find out until the last week of July that I would be flown to Vegas to appear on the show. I was completely awe-struck that this was a legitimate chance to win $1,000,000.”
What was your experience like in the competition?: “Once I landed in Vegas I totally let the atmosphere take over me. I felt totally calm, cool, and collected even while playing in front of the audience against Brooke Burke, David Williams (professional poker player), and Daniel. (Even when I lost…the first time.) Ultimately, the experience was bitter sweet. Of course you always want to bring home the “big money”, but of course I couldn’t complain about $100,000 and a free trip to the Bahamas! I played in two women’s tournaments, but I did not make any money. Of course the playing field was huge, and I had another experience to play with pro’s and celebrities.
Do you think you’ll try to compete in another competition?: “I’ve played at the local casino a handful of times and even though it’s low key, I still love playing the game. I plan on trying to get into bigger tournaments such as the World Series of Poker, if I can get sponsors. Though I’m extremely busy with Luca, school, and my internship, my passion for poker is still there. I know I have the skills to play at the professional level and would love the opportunity to play in large tournaments.”