Last month, reality TV star Princess Love achieved a historic first for Black women in the world of professional poker.
Out of 3,835 starting players at the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Championship in Las Vegas, Princess Love impressively advanced to become one of the final 45 competitors.
First Black Woman to Progress So Far
The high $10,400 buy-in event marked the debut of the prestigious WPT World Championship tournament at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
As she clinched her spot in the final 45, Princess Love earned the groundbreaking distinction of being the first Black woman to advance so far in the competition.
Given the stark lack of diversity in professional poker, her accomplishment is monumental. Data shows that only about 9% of pro poker players are Black, while the vast majority (nearly 73%) are white. Similarly, just 5% are women compared to 95% men.
A Rapid Rise Thanks to Dedicated Study
Princess Love only recently picked up poker after asking a cousin to teach her the game. Though not previously an avid gambler, she quickly became enthralled and determined to master the complex strategies involved.
“I just did a bunch of the dailies and the Wynn tournaments to kind of prepare for the big ones,” she explained. “I’ve never done it – [this is] my first $10K event. I kind of just been like doing the smaller tournaments to get my feet wet, get comfortable.”
Her dedicated study outside of major tournaments paid off in spades. While not yet a seasoned professional, Princess Love displayed her poker skills by outlasting all but 44 players at the prestigious WPT event.
Competing Against Poker Legends
Throughout her impressive run, Princess Love tested her mettle against some true icons of the poker world. Tournament participants included famous pros like Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Brad Owen, and Andrew Neeme.
In the end, her historic performance brought much-deserved attention and respect to Black women excelling in arenas where they have traditionally been underrepresented.
Though she ultimately did not win the title, Princess Love’s barrier-breaking journey in the WPT World Championship will inspire more diversity at poker’s highest levels.
