Wendeen Eolis at 80: Poker’s First Female Cash Finisher Returns to WSOP

What does it take to make poker history twice—and still come back for more at 80 years old? 

Ask Wendeen Eolis, and you’ll get an answer as sharp as her game. Nearly four decades after becoming the first woman to ever cash in the WSOP Main Event, Eolis is back at the felt, once again battling in poker’s most prestigious tournament.

As the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) heats up in Las Vegas, Eolis is rekindling the flames of a trailblazing career that spans law, politics, and high-stakes poker. In 1986, she carved her name into the history books by finishing 25th in the WSOP Main Event, a feat never achieved by a woman before. Seven years later, in 1993, she did it again—this time finishing 20th, making her the first woman to cash twice in poker’s biggest game.

Also Read: Matt Berkey Returns to WSOP After a Summer Break: Life Beyond the Only Friends Podcast

A Seat at the Mayfair Club Table

Long before the WSOP spotlight, Eolis made her bones at the legendary Mayfair Club in New York City. This elite cardroom bred poker icons like Howard Lederer, Erik Seidel, Jay Heimowitz, and Dan Harrington.

“I was, like, the 9th best player at the table,” Eolis said with characteristic humility. “But it was a tough crowd. You either sank or swam.”

Playing alongside some of the game’s future greats gave Eolis the competitive edge and the grit to survive not just at the tables, but in life. Her story is as much about resilience and reinvention as it is about poker.

Defying the Odds—Literally

Eolis’ first WSOP run in 1986 wasn’t met with much optimism, especially from the bookmakers.

“There was a guy who said I’d probably come in last,” she recalled. But a friend who knew her from her blackjack days put money on her. Eolis bet on herself too, defying both the odds and expectations. That $10,000 cash—paltry by today’s standards—was a seismic moment for women in poker.

Today, with players like Shiina Okamoto making waves with back-to-back Ladies Championship final tables, Eolis sees the growth, but remembers when the game was far less inclusive.

“Back then, I wasn’t just playing for myself. I was trying to prove that women belonged at the table.”

The 1990 Surprise Victory

In between WSOP appearances, Eolis pulled off another surprise win—this time at the 1990 European Poker Championships on the Isle of Man.

“No one expected it,” she said. “Not even me.” But as always, she kept her focus, played her game, and took the title while everyone else underestimated her.

Also Read: Phil Hellmuth Makes ‘Highway To Hell’ Entrance Into 2025 WSOP Main Event

The Johnny Chan Moment

In 1993, on the verge of skipping the WSOP due to a respiratory illness, Eolis found unexpected support from a poker legend.

Johnny Chan, then already a back-to-back Main Event champion, personally asked other players at her table to stop smoking. “We want to beat her fair and square,” he said.

That level of respect from her peers only fueled her performance. She cashed again, finishing 20th for a $12,000 payout—modest, but historic.

Poker, Power & Public Life

Eolis’ poker résumé is impressive, but it’s her professional life outside the game that’s equally compelling. She’s served in top-level advisory roles in government, law, and business, and was even Chair of the World Poker Association for a time.

She’s advised New York governors, consulted for presidential campaigns, and built a thriving legal consulting firm. At 80, she still runs the business with the same discipline she learned at the tables.

“It’s remarkable how much poker teaches you,” Eolis says. “In poker, it’s ‘I win, you lose.’ In business, it’s ‘we both win.’ That difference defines how I live.”

And She’s Still in the Game

This year, Eolis made it through Day 1 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, bagging chips once again. For someone who never aspired to win it all, she’s starting to consider the unthinkable.

“I love doing things that haven’t been done before,” she said. “I’ve never aspired to win the WSOP… until today.”

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FAQs

Who is Wendeen Eolis?
Wendeen Eolis is a poker pioneer, the first woman to ever cash in the WSOP Main Event (1986), and a successful legal and business consultant.

When did she first cash at the WSOP Main Event?
In 1986, she finished 25th for $10,000.

Has any other woman cashed more than once at the WSOP Main Event before her?
No. Eolis was the first to do it twice, also cashing in 1993.

What other poker accomplishments does she have?
She won the 1990 European Poker Championship and has played with legends like Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson.

Is she still playing poker today?
Yes, she is playing in the 2025 WSOP Main Event and made it past Day 1.

What is the Mayfair Club?
A legendary New York City cardroom known for producing top-tier poker talent.

Image Courtesy: WSOP X