2026 Women's Poker Week: South Point Omaha 8 Championship Concludes

2026 Women's Poker Week at South Point continues with exciting action. The $240 LIPS Omaha 8 Championship, reported by Cardplayer Lifestyle, was a resounding success. The Women's Poker Association (WPA) and the LIPS Ladies International Poker Series were on hand to award prizes and trophies to the winners.

The tournament attracted 34 talented players, with the money bubble bursting when six players remained. The minimum cash was $680, with a total prize pool of $6,800 and a first-place prize of $2,448. Mixed games events typically struggle to draw large fields because players need to be proficient in multiple poker variants. Against this backdrop, 34 entrants was a solid result and a sign of the steady growth in mixed games. LIPS founder Lupe Soto is optimistic about the increasing participation and believes that as more players embrace the format, numbers will continue to rise.

The dealers, tournament director, and staff remained friendly and welcoming, creating a warm atmosphere for the female players. Tournament director Aaron Crouch shared his thoughts on the 2026 Women's Poker Week: "We treasure this room; it's an environment that welcomes and safeguards women's events. We work closely with Lupe Soto and her team, constantly looking for ways to improve." He added, "I personally enjoy witnessing the camaraderie among the women players."

The final five-table consisted of a group of talented regulars, each giving their all to compete for the prize money and trophy. During the final table, there were several discussions about a potential deal based on ICM (Independent Chip Model), but the players were determined to fight for the trophy, so the competition continued.

Nhung Cardero, from Orangevale, California, has recently started exploring mixed games. This was her first Omaha Hi-Lo tournament, and she finished an impressive fifth. Shannon Romero, from Las Lomas, New Mexico, is no stranger to deep runs. According to The Hendon Mob, she frequently cashes at Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, and this fourth-place finish adds another accomplishment to her resume. Robin Wittman, from Mesa, Arizona, showed steady and disciplined play in the afternoon session, taking third place. Las Vegas's Tammy Allen continued her success in LIPS Omaha Hi-Lo events. She made a deep run in the South Point LIPS Spring Series earlier this year and won the same event two years ago. Returning to the podium with a second-place finish and a WPA trophy, she was thrilled: "I've been having a blast all day; I just wanted to play with the ladies today." Allen explained that her primary goal was simply to reach the final table. Along the way, she took calculated risks, doubled up, and built enough chips to go deep again.

Las Vegas mixed-game regular Espy Enriquez (pictured above) ultimately took home the championship and the LIPS trophy. Although she doesn't often play Omaha Hi-Lo tournaments, she was very pleased with the result. She admitted she hadn't played a tournament in a while and came specifically to support Lupe Soto and the women's poker community. Enriquez gave her second trophy to Allen, since Allen had never won a trophy before. "Lupe is like a sister to me," Enriquez said. "Lupe works so hard; every female player should support her." Enriquez also revealed that she entered the final table as one of the shortest stacks and came back from near the bottom to win, making her especially proud.

Final Table Results:

Player of the Day: Anjali Singhai

As part of the 2026 Women's Poker Week coverage, today's "Player of the Day" is sponsored by Texas Card House.

Anjali Singhai is from California but now lives in central Pennsylvania. She fell in love with poker at age 21, quickly becoming obsessed with the game, often traveling to Las Vegas even with just $100 in her wallet. She first encountered the game during a poker lesson on a cruise. One of the instructors pointed to a poker tournament being broadcast on TV and told her, "You should be there." The player on screen was Jennifer Harman, who later became Singhai's biggest inspiration. She then honed her skills in local bar leagues and played casually for a few years. About five years ago, Singhai decided to take poker seriously. She studied through Poker Queens, took coaching from instructors including Victoria Livschitz (known as "Trekker"), joined the Mentor Coalition, and recently started working with Octopi Poker. She credits these resources for helping her improve her game.

One of her most cherished poker memories is from 2010 when she played in the Poker Players Championship: "I got photos with Phil Ivey, Antonio Esfandiari, and Jennifer Harman." Meeting some of the greatest players deepened her passion for poker. Off the felt, Singhai works as an emotional intelligence coach and also serves as an instructor for Poker Power, helping more people learn the game. Her pre-tournament routine combines study with a positive mindset. Before sitting down, she reminds herself: "Enjoy the game, trust your instincts, and don't be afraid." It's a mantra that encourages confident and fearless decisions. She also deliberately avoids passive play, always playing to win. Singhai believes one of her biggest strengths is reading people, though she jokes, "Women are hard to read." She encourages women entering poker to embrace their seat at the table: "Take your seat and don't be sorry for being there." One of her main goals this summer is to make a deep run in the WSOP Mini Main Event. She already has momentum: just yesterday, Singhai started the second day of the South Point LIPS Championship with only 12 big blinds and ended up as the runner-up. "I didn't know what would happen," she marveled. A timely double-up revived her, and she skillfully navigated the final table. "The ladies at the final table were all very tough opponents." When asked why she keeps playing women's events, she answered immediately: "I love playing women's events. The community is a gift, and I've made lifelong friends through poker." For Singhai, poker is about much more than results; it's about community, continuous growth, and the confidence she feels when sitting at the table.