Poker player

Alma McClelland

United States

Alma McClelland (1921-2000) was an American professional poker player best known for winning the 1989 WSOP Ladies Limit Seven-Card Stud event. She was a pioneer for women in poker, holding the record for most WSOP earnings by a female player for many years.

Career earnings: $ 94,300

Early Life and Move to Poker

Alma Hoying was born on October 1, 1921, in Sidney, Ohio. Before becoming a professional poker player, she owned a party store in Sidney. In the mid-1970s, she moved to Las Vegas to pursue poker full time. She met her second husband, Jack McClelland, in a card room, and they married in September 1981. Jack later became the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament director.

World Series of Poker Success

McClelland made regular appearances at the WSOP throughout the 1980s and 1990s, often dressed in stylish hats and fine fashions. Her biggest triumph came in 1989 when she won the $500 Ladies Limit Seven-Card Stud event, earning $18,600 and her first WSOP bracelet. That victory also made her the all-time women's money leader at the WSOP at the time, surpassing Betty Carey. Her total WSOP winnings reached $63,960.

She made several other deep runs in the Ladies event, finishing 5th in 1986 ($2,460), 3rd in 1987 ($4,200), and 6th in 1990 ($2,200). She also excelled in open events, notably finishing 2nd in the 1986 $1,000 Limit Razz ($28,820) and 6th in the 1988 $1,000 Limit Razz ($7,680). Her last recorded WSOP cash came in 1993.

Playing Style and Personality

McClelland was known for her elegant appearance at the table and her love for seven-card stud. She felt most comfortable playing mid-to-high stakes limit games, typically $30-$60 to $75-$150. Her playing style combined patience and precision, allowing her to compete successfully against both men and women. She was described as bringing "an element of class to the game" by former WSOP director Jim Albrecht.

Later Years and Legacy

In the 1990s, as more women began winning open events and accumulating larger scores, McClelland lost her top spot on the women's money list, but she remained in the top 20. She continued to play regularly at the Mirage and Bellagio card rooms until shortly before her death. Alma McClelland died on July 18, 2000, from a lung ailment at age 78. She was survived by her husband Jack, four sons, and five brothers. Her legacy as a female pioneer in poker endures, inspiring future generations of women to enter the game.

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