POKER POWER’S mission is simple, ‘Closing the gender gap in poker, one hand at a time’.

That’s a major priority of PokerStars too, with the two combining to host another successful Women’s Bootcamp following last year’s inaugural event.

The latest stop in the European Poker Tour was a typical PokerStars event; huge, everyone so well looked after, an incredible itinerary including excursions and player parties, and memories you’ll take with you for a long, long time.

The difference this time was the setting, with Cyprus hosting its very first event at the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel in Karavas.

Ten women from the bootcamp progressed through to the Cypriot showdown, with the lucky winner walking away with a package to compete in the main event at EPT Prague at the beginning of November.

In total, 244 rookies applied to be part of the process, for which you had to give reasons why you thought you’d be the right fit to partake and vice versa.

For 28-year-old Katerena Nowosad from Leeds, her eye was caught on social media, following a post from an influencer I had met during the EPT in Paris earlier in the year.

Kat was one of the lucky 40 to make the bootcamp after that list was whittled down, where the finalists were put through a training course that included 1-2-1 coaching from a handful of poker pros.

She told me: “I actually saw a post for the bootcamp on Instagram, I follow a girl called Sophie Milner and she had it on her story.

“So naturally I just clicked and signed up that way.

“I had always had an interest in poker, I’ve always been drawn to the idea of it, the chance…and the gambling!

“I had played a little bit here and there with friends at university but nothing ever too serious.

“Playing it with them, I never felt really that good at it while they always seemed to be quite good, so I thought why not learn and pick up some skills and everything that goes with it.

“Not just the cards you’re dealt but also the bluffing, trying to be aggressive and persuasive. It interested me so I thought ‘I want to try a bit of that’.”

After eight weeks of training, the 40 players then contested in 2 x 20 player tournaments, with the top-5 from each earning a coveted spot in the bootcamp showdown in Cyprus.

The package included their flights, transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions – which included a jeep safari this year.

So it was a pretty big deal, and one Kat was determined to take.

She continued: “I think I was one of the last to find out as I received the news on the Friday before the bootcamp started on the Monday.

“I was really quite surprised as to be honest I wasn’t sure how strong my application actually was.

“But of course I was really excited as I was desperate to get onto the course.

“We had our final tournament to earn a spot in Cyprus and I think I finished in third, so I was already pretty sure I was heading for Cyprus, before I was emailed the confirmation the next day.

“There was huge excitement, obviously but also some nerves as I was heading to Cyprus on my own and to meet the rest of the girls too.

“But I didn’t need to be as everyone has been super friendly.

“PokerStars made us all very comfortable too and the detail in their itinerary put us all at ease. It’s been a great experience and one I would recommend.”

Kat eventually finished sixth in the showdown but was very proud of her efforts.

It was former maths teacher Louise Ulrick who would go on to win the showdown and book her spot in the EPT Prague Main Event.

Louise – who runs her own company teaching others how to buy and sell software licenses – had never played a hand of poker in her life but was drawn into the game reading a book where the main character was a female poker player.

The mathematical side was of obvious interest to her, so she sought online training with PokerStars before the bootcamp opportunity came along.

Kat added: “I had the best time playing in the final showdown of the tournament. My heart was racing the whole time, but I loved the excitement.

“It might still be a while until I’m playing cash games but I love playing with play money on the PokerStars app!

“But I am eager to continue my poker journey and play in more face-to-face tournaments in the future. Big congratulations to our winner Louise, I know you’ll do us proud in Prague.”

Of course, there is a financial benefit of honing your poker skills.

But the initiative aimed to develop some core life skills for the participating women, too.

And it’s that aspect that Kat is hoping to use in her everyday life.

She added: “The main thing I want to take away from all of this is basically the fundamentals of the bootcamp.

“So that’s trying to be more aggressive, more persuasive and less intimidated – particularly in what would be a room full of men.

“I work in finance so I’m dealing with lots of different stakeholders and have to manage my different communication skills depending on who I’m dealing with.

“So I think I can definitely take that aspect from what Poker Power and PokerStars have taught me into my day to day life as well!”

Poker Power is a company led by women for women with the goal of teaching one million women how to play the game of poker—and the skills required to play that also predict success in work and in life.

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.

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