The Poker League of Nations is a Game Changer For Women’s Poker

In 2017 Poker League of Nations (“PLON”), emerged. It’s the largest and most internationally represented women’s poker organization in the world. PLON’s core focus is implementing initiatives to get more ladies into open poker fields, incl. hosting staking satellites during Ladies Week and entering two women into the WSOP Main Event.

PLON is led by co-founders Lena Evans, a USA based double WSOP Circuit ring winner, and Maureen Bloechlinger, a recreational player based in Switzerland. In less than six months, PLON has grown to 2,100 members, with 47 Ambassadors in 25 countries. The women actively share information relating to global events, results, successes, and provide insights not only to events, but on travel, accommodations, tips and hot spots for their country.

The ‘Ambassadors’ lead the way and act as a leader for members from their own community. Empowering women through Ambassadorship in order to advocate for and organize ladies poker events internationally has already been a success. At this moment Ambassadors are busy planning PLON powered tournaments in the Hungary, Switzerland, London, Australia, the USA, Brazil, Estonia, Belgium, Ireland and Czech Republic.

The diverse and successful repertoire of Ambassadors and members which includes 9 WSOP bracelets, 15 WSOP Circuit rings, and 4 PokerStars Spadies, results including 55 first place finishes, 280 final table appearances, live earnings of nearly $9 million, and online earnings in excess of $2 million.

The Ambassadors cover a wide range of competency levels—from sponsored poker professionals to poker hobbyists. The main emphasis for Ambassadorship is based on their contribution to the poker community.

True to its ethos of cost-free membership and content, PLON has a schedule of well- recognized guests on their Discord Discussion series, providing an opportunity for members to interact with top industry professionals, incl. 2017 WSOP Ladies Champion, Heidi May; New York Times best-selling author/poker player Maria Konnikova; EPT Floor Person Kate Badurek; WSOP and EPT champion Liv Boeree, GPI and WSOP champion Kristen Bicknell; and PokerNews presenter Sarah Herring. Another resource for members is the PLON Hand Lab, where a pro discusses a poker hand and talks about outcome.

Watch for PLON’s two ladies at the Main Event, the PLON Summer Summit taking place at South Point, June 26-27, and the PLON WSOP Ladies Championship last longer!  The goal is to have EVERY woman who plays poker in the group!  Request to join the group:  

PLON Ambassador wins during summer:
Kristin Bicknell, Team Canada, 5K MSPT #69, Deepstack Championship Venetian, 2nd place, $200K
Ana Marquez, Spanish Ambassador, WSOP Event #28, 3k No Limit Hold ‘em 6 Handed, 6th place, $67,116
Ruth Hall, USA Texas Ambassador, 1st place Event #34 Golden Nugget, $150 NLH Holdem Daily, $3,901
Kim McClymont, Team Canada, 70th place, $1,020 + 80 NLH, 2018 Wynn Summer Classic, $6,744
Natalia Breviglieri, Team UK, cashes in WSOP Event #7 Colossus, 2 Venetian Deepstack Series cashes
June Jenkins, Team Canada, 2 cashes in Golden Nugget Grand Series
Jacqueline Scott, 1 Venetian Deepstack cash
Maureen Bloechlinger, 1st place PH 130 PH KO bounty
Jeanette Mendez, WSOP Event #7 and 1.1k MSPT cash
April Facey, WSOP Seniors cash, Venetian Deepstack Seniors cash
Lena Evans, 5x Caesars wins
Gigi Menes, WSOP Daily Deepstacks cash
Jacqueline Britton, 7th $400 Aria NLH
Heidi May, WSOP #7 and #20 cashes
Jamie Kerstetter, WSOP Event #10 and #21 cashes
Kitty Kuo, 1 Venetian Deepstack cash, WSOP Event #20 cash, 1k Wynn Summer Classic cash
Maria Konnikova, WSOP Event #37 cash

PLON Group members:
Kathy Chang, Aria Poker Classic, Omaha 8 or Better, 1st place, $16, 594
Kate Hoang, WSOP Event #4, $1500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, 2nd, $148,150,
Event #15 H.O.R.S.E., 37th place for $4,152
Louise Francouer , 6 Wynn Summer Classic cashes, 1 Deepstack cash
Cindy Laycock Kerslake, 2nd place $550 Wynn Summer Classic Daily, $34,500
Nicole Honor, $550 Wynn Seniors, 1st place for $52k, 22nd at GN $370 Seniors, 17th at $250 GN Seniors
Nancy Birnbaum, 1.1k MSPT cash, Wynn Summer Classic cash, WSOP Seniors cash

Photo: Maureen Bloechlinger (co-founder and Swiss Ambassador), Lena Evans (founder and USA Ambassador), and Gigi Menes (Australian Ambassador) at the 2018 WSOP, in the King’s Lounge.