Serving aces: Marsha Wolak’s journey from pro tennis to the pro tables

I do love the ladies' event. It’s always something special because I won it back in 2011. But I also enjoy the Main Event, and I had a nice run again last year. I enjoy the freezeouts like the mini main right before the Main Event. And of course, the Seniors Event, even though I'm 29.

My mother said never to ask a woman’s age. So…

Well, I think I went to 39 this year, but I definitely love the senior events.

What's different about the senior events compared to some of the other tournaments?

They're huge fields, everybody is really nice, and the conversations at the table are hysterical.

For example, how many joints have you replaced? And I’m always at the top of the list: two hip replacements, one knee replacement, double shoulder surgeries, and I have four screws in each foot. We constantly compare with each other at the tables. The topics discussed at the table are very different, but also enjoyable.

How do you approach playing the aggressive young guns at the tables?

I've been studying the new game over the last two years. It's very different. I expect people to be bluffing more, I expect more three-betting, and have to defend more.

It's a different game, but it's fun and very aggressive. You just have to be patient and wait for your spots.

When did you start focusing on poker?

I started playing poker back in 2008, and it was the first year I played online. I have a real estate company, and I had nothing to do when the market collapsed.

While sitting at home, I got online and learned the game. It was pretty intimidating. My first live tournament was the ladies' tournament, so I'm partial to ladies' events and getting more women in the game.

It was the only way I felt comfortable attending a live tournament at the time. It was pretty overwhelming. Afterward, I went to the WSOP ladies' clinic, where Annie Duke taught. That was 2009. In 2011, I won the WSOP ladies' event and turned pro. I had a really good first year, and that's how my career started.

Who were some women in the game you admired at that time?

Annie Duke. I know some people either love her or hate her, right? But I saw the passion that she had for teaching. She was there the entire two days and taught the whole thing.

After winning the ladies' event, I formed Epic Poker Training and teach both men and women. I love being a coach.

Annie Duke is retired from poker, and now works as an author, speaker and consultant in the field of decision-making.

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'We cheer each other on'

What do you think about these very aggressive young women like Christina Gollins and Kasey Lyn Mills, and their approach to the game?

It's fantastic. I absolutely love it.

We just saw the first woman ever to win a Triton Event with Xuan Liu. That was amazing. We all support and cheer each other on.

What positive changes do you think the WSOP could make this summer?

What's nice is I've always deposited my funds in advance and used the tournament machines outside the halls to register. I don't understand why everybody doesn't do that. But now we have the WSOP plus app. That looks great.

I think they handle things very well. I'm always very appreciative of being there. I see mostly the positives. I don't have anything to complain about. I mean, the food options could be better. I eat healthy and I’m a foodie.

Because the women’s and the senior events were not open events, the winners only recently qualified for the Tournament of Champions.

This change has only occurred in the past few years. I was so happy to be able to play in it. I'm glad they changed that because it's hard to win a tournament. It's really hard to win a bracelet or a ring.

You’ve seen the evolution over the past 15-20 years of more women coming into the game and competing at a high level. What else can we do to encourage more women to learn the game and have fun?

I think it’s all about coaching and synergy. That's what I'm all about. I'm a member of many women's groups, such as Lena Evan’s Poker League of Nations.

I love to see women empower themselves with knowledge. You have to prepare; there's a lot of aggression in poker. The game has changed so much, especially with the use of solvers, etc. Join a group.

Xuan Liu recently became the first female player to win a Triton championship.

You have a fascinating background, and were a professional tennis player. How did that discipline transfer to poker?

We discussed some of that in Lena Evans’ book, The Poker Powered Brain. I talked about routines I learned through playing pro tennis and watching other high-level athletes.

You learn how you train before you get to the game, that is where your performance comes from. What do you do after a poker tournament? How do you review your hands, and things like that?

All my discipline from my pro tennis career absolutely has helped me. And I'm competitive. I love Yahtzee, let’s play! I play all kinds of games, and now it’s pickleball. I'm a senior pro pickleball player and love it.

We’ve asked everyone if Phil Hellmuth will play the Main Event, after he stated it’s too long, brutal, and stressful. What do you think?

I strongly disagree. I heard that he's never made a Day 3, so how does he know how long and brutal it is?

You only play five levels. I play so many more tournaments that play longer than the Main Event. I disagree with him. I'm honored and thrilled to play the Main.

I made it late on Day 4 last year and wish I could have continued. It wasn't because I was tired. I lost; I busted in a good hand.

Maybe if he's made a Day 6 a couple of times, I might understand. He late registers, plays Day 2, and busts early. How does he even know how tiring it is?

But I think he will play. Let’s see.

Follow Marsha on X.

^{Additional images courtesy of Annie Duke/Jared Gruenwald Photography/Triton Poker.}