Jen Shahade Triumphs at PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival

Jen Shahade, a PokerStars Ambassador and Chess Grandmaster, emerged victorious at the PokerStars Women’s Summer Festival, held in London from August 12 to 17. The event, which took place at the Clermont, Charing Cross, featured a rich tournament schedule with a focus on the £100,000-guaranteed Main Event.

Shahade’s win was accompanied by a £22,200 prize. The event fell short of its £100,000 guarantee, creating an overlay and extra value for the players of around £30,000. Shahade expressed her excitement about the event, stating, “There is such an incredible atmosphere at this tournament. It was such a pleasure to play and be here, let alone win the thing! I’m thrilled, but more excited about seeing more and more women fall in love with the game.”

The summer festival follows on from the debut Winter Women’s Festival that took place back in November of last year at London’s Hippodrome Casino. The event cemented PokerStars’ dedication to creating inclusive environments for all fans of the game and particularly women. Women-only live tournaments have seen overall attendance rise by 49% in the past two years. At the Irish Open women’s event, participation jumped 116% between 2023 and 2024, with another 20% lift this year. Other standout increases included NAPT Las Vegas (up 94%), EPT Monte-Carlo (up 51%), EPT Prague (up 33%), and EPT Cyprus (up 31%).