Valérie Pignot

Valérie Pignot, born on 28 September 1972 in Breil-sur-Roya, France, began her live poker career in the late 2000s. Her first recorded cash came in 2008 at a regular tournament at the ACF, where she finished 4th for €4,100. She quickly established herself on the French and European live circuit, with several deep runs in 2009, including a 4th-place finish in the PPT Finale Side (€4,710) and a 6th-place finish in a €500 ACF tournament (€1,910).

In December 2016, Pignot made headlines by winning the €330 Win the Button event at EPT Prague. She defeated a field of 124 entrants to take the €7,430 first prize, marking her first victory in an open event since 2009. The win was praised as a historic moment for French poker, as it came on the final EPT festival of the original era. Notably, the tournament included strong players such as Farid Yachou, Benny Glaser, and Tom Delaine, who finished in the money.

Pignot’s largest live cash came in May 2016 when she finished 2nd in the EPT Grand Final Monte-Carlo €1,100 Turbo Super KO, earning €11,000. She has also performed well in ladies-only events: an 8th-place finish in the 2012 WSOP Europe Ladies Event (€1,494) and two wins on the Ladies FPS circuit. Other highlights include an 8th-place finish in the 2012 Pravets Poker Masters Main Event (€5,411) and a 10th-place finish in the 2012 Cadet Chess Board 400 (€2,000). She consistently cashed in Belgian festivals such as the Namur Classic's and Oktoberfest Festival.

While specific details of Pignot’s playing style are not widely documented, her results indicate a well-rounded tournament player capable of success in both turbo and deep-stack formats. She has demonstrated longevity in the game, with live cashes spanning from 2008 to 2016. As one of the few French women to win an EPT side event, she serves as an inspiration for female players in a predominantly male field.

Outside of poker, Pignot lives in Breil-sur-Roya, France. She is separated and has three children. Her interests include reggae, rhythm and blues, and international music, and she enjoys traveling, with a dream list including destinations like Australia, South Africa, and Iceland.