Marsha Waggoner
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marsha Waggoner | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | The Grand Dame of Poker |
| Hometown | Brisbane, Queensland |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | None |
| Money finishes | 19 |
| Highest ITM main event finish |
None |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Titles | None |
| Final tables | None |
| Money finishes | 7 |
Marsha Waggoner (born January 11, 1940 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) is an American professional poker player who currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Waggoner has finished in the money at 19 World Series of Poker (WSOP) events as of 2007. Her highest WSOP finish was 2nd place in the 23rd Annual WSOP tournament in Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo, for which she won $52,500.
Contents |
[edit] Poker career
[edit] Background
In 1976, as a casino dealer in Sydney, Waggoner discovered a talent for stud poker, and in 1977, moved to Reno, Nevada to pursue poker professionally.
Most of her experience up until this point was in cash games, however her interest in tournament games was piqued when Amarillo Slim brought the Second Annual Poker Classic to Reno in 1980[1].
Waggoner stayed in Reno until the mid 1980s, at which point she moved to Las Vegas, quickly demonstrating her ability at tournament Texas Hold 'em and Seven-Card Stud events.
In 1987, Waggoner moved to California while continuing to play professionally. It was around this time that Waggoner began to establish herself as “a solid and patient tournament player whose results continually proved she belonged in the game's upper echelons”[2].
[edit] Results
Waggoner’s best tournament placing was winning the 2003 National Championship of Poker, playing in the Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo event.
Her largest tournament win came in March 2005, where she placed second to Tom McEvoy in the PPT Bay 101 Shooting Stars event (Season 1) and earned $100,000.
Waggoner has finished on the final table three times at WSOP tournaments, for Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (in 1999 and 1995) and Limit 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo (in 1996 and 1992), although she has never made the final table at the main event.
In 2005, Waggoner was invited to play in the World Poker Tour’s third annual Legends of Poker Ladies Night tournament at the Bicycle Casino[3], and finished third in one event of the 2006 Ultimate Poker Challenge.
Waggoner regularly competes at a wide range of tournaments, and is an inductee into the Seniors World Championship of Poker/Poker Players Hall of Fame. She also works as the Executive Host at the Hollywood Park Casino, California.
Waggoner and her husband are involved in organizing tournaments, directing the first poker tournament at the Cosmos Casino in Moscow, Russia. They also worked together on Operation Helping Hand, a charity poker tournament organised to assist the Wounded Warrior Project [4].
As of 2007, her total live tournament winnings exceed $520,000.
[edit] Acting
Waggoner had a minor speaking part in the poker-themed movie Lucky You. She also appeared in Susie Isaacs’ poker tutorial DVD Poker Secrets from Poker Champs.
[edit] Personal life
Waggoner is married to fellow poker professional Kenna James, who she met at the Hollywood Park Casino in 1997. She has three children from a previous marriage and five grandchildren, and enjoys playing golf and dancing.
Although she has lived in America for more than 30 years, Waggoner still visits her home country regularly to compete in poker tournaments (such as the Aussie Millions) and see her extended family.
Waggoner's brother is noted former Australian photojournalist, Jim Fenwick.
[edit] References
- ^ All Aboard the Waggoner Train, article by Sarah Polson, retrieved 10-09-2007.
- ^ From Pokerlistings.com, retrieved 10-09-2007.
- ^ Rundown of results from Ladies' Night 2005, retrieved 10-09-2007.
- ^ News article on Kenna James and Operation Helping Hand, article by Mike Bambach, retrieved 10-09-2007.
