Leo Margets talked about her epic WSOP Main Event run on the latest episode of Maria Konnikova and Nate Silver’s podcast, Risky Business. Despite the weight of the world watching, Margets said she actively enjoyed all but about two hours of around 90 hours of tournament play and explained, “To play well, I need to have fun at the table."
Margets became the first woman to make the final table of the Main Event in the modern era. Barbara Enright is the only other woman to make the Main Event final table, when she finished fifth from a field of 273 in 1995.
Main Event fields have grown astronomically since then and Margets came through a field of 9,735 to finish seventh for her best live cash of $1,500,000. She’s also the most recent woman to win a WSOP bracelet in an open Las Vegas event, after her victory in The Closer in 2021.
This was her 17th consecutive Main Event — Margets hasn’t missed one since playing her first in 2009, when she also made a deep run, finishing 27th as Joe Cada went on to win the bracelet.
Main Event final table? No pressure
“I was approaching every day with zero expectations and zero fear,” Margets said, explaining her thought process as she moved through the tournament: “I’m going to focus on every hand the best I can, I’m going to have fun, and I’m going to take my time to make every decision.”
Margets said that she didn’t feel any pressure, despite making such a deep run and knowing that all eyes were on her as she approached the final table.
“I know people think I might, as it was such a deep run and such a long time since a woman did it, but I didn’t feel any pressure, and I just wanted to do my best.
“Once I made the final table, it was a victory for many people, even for myself, but at the same time it wasn’t done. In fact, it had just started. The fact that everyone was already celebrating was a bit contradictory — I had an incredible chance in my life… I was ready to give my best and even make some mistakes. But I was happy with how I played and how I dealt with the situation. It’s great to have so many people rooting for you. I could feel the energy.”
Margets added that poker players are lucky that they get to put their time and energy into a game and said about the Main Event run, “I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun. There were a couple of hours when I wasn’t having fun, from 90 hours of play.”
Margets won $1.5 million but she said it isn’t going to change her life. “I’m not going to play Tritons, I’m not going to take a year off, I’m just going to keep grinding as I did. I’m lucky that I love the game.”
Michael Mizrachi went on to win the bracelet and the $10 million first prize.
Listen to the whole interview with Leo Margets on the Risky Business podcast.
