Lisa Costello Takes Down WPT Ladies Championship at Wynn for $85,297

Name Surname
Senior Editor U.S.
3 min read
Lisa Costello Ladies Championship

Friday's focus at Wynn Las Vegas was on women in poker. More specifically, a special Ladies Meet-Up Game (MUG) in the morning followed by the final table of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Ladies Championship, which was live-streamed on YouTube.

In that ladies tournament, part of the WPT World Championship Festival, Lisa Costello was the last player standing out of 457 entrants, and it paid her $85,297.

Before the final table took place, WPT Global ambassador Jamie Kerstetter hosted a MUG inside the Wynn poker room exclusively for women. There were nine low-stakes cash games going and many prize drawings for some valuable prizes, including multiple $1,100 WPT Prime Championship seats.

Costello Stands Alone

The second annual WPT Ladies Championship concluded on Friday night with Costello, who now has over $300,000 in The Hendon Mob results, coming out victorious. She steamrolled a tough final table that included poker pro Ashley Sleeth, the player she beat heads-up for the title. Sleeth recorded her career-best cash of $57,069 despite falling one spot short of the championship.

The World Poker Tour brought back the $1,100 buy-in tournament after the success they saw in the inaugural event last year. Lina Niu won it in 2022 for $105,136.

At the 2023 final table, Ada Lang was the first to go, taking sixth place for $20,155. Aylar Lie bowed out in fifth place for $26,480, followed by Chris Read in fourth place for $34,220.

By the time the field had dwindled down to its final three competitors, Costello had built a huge chip lead. But Sleeth would find a double against the chip leader when she moved all in with K?Q? against K?J? and the best hand held up.

That was bad news for Kathy Stahl as she was hoping to get to heads-up play. Moments later, Costello busted her by winning a race. Stahl earned $43,686 for her third place performance.

When heads-up play began, Costello was heavily out in front, and she would quickly extend her lead to a 5-1 advantage. Sleeth would double up shortly after, however. But on the 113th hand of the final table, she moved all in preflop with A?10? and was snap-called by Costello's A?Q?.

Help from the board didn't come for Sleeth as it ran out 9?7?6?K?5?, putting an end to the tournament. Costello was officially crowned the 2023 WPT Ladies Champion.

Ashley Sleeth Lisa Costello
Down to the final two, Ashley Sleeth (l) and Lisa Costello (r).

WPT Ladies Championship Final Table Results

PLACEPLAYERPRIZE
1Lisa Costello$85,297
2Ashley Sleeth$57,069
3Kathy Stahl$43,686
4Chris Read$34,220
5Aylar Lie$26,480
6Ada Lang$20,155

*Image courtesy of World Poker Tour.

Join WPT Global Today

WPT Global

With WPT Global, poker players around the world now have the chance to qualify for WPT events, win prizes and enjoy exciting games on one of the world's largest cash game poker networks. WPT Global is available in over 50 countries and territories around the world.

Find out how to win a $12,400 WPT Passport to December's WPT World Championship

WPT Global offers a large deposit match bonus: 100% on deposits up to $1,200 (using any payment method). New players depositing a minimum of $20 automatically receive this match bonus which is unlocked in $5 increments (credited straight to the cashier) for every $20 of rake contribution.

Both tournaments and cash games count towards bonus unlocking; new players have 90 days from the date of first deposit to unlock and claim their full bonus amount.

Share this article
author
Senior Editor U.S.

More Stories

Other Stories

Recommended for you

Lina Niu Outlasts Kerstetter & Liebert to Win WPT Ladies Championship ($105,136) Lina Niu Outlasts Kerstetter & Liebert to Win WPT Ladies Championship ($105,136)