GGPOKER

Trailblazing Upon the Grand Stage

Walking around on Day 1B and 1C of the World Series of Poker, the atmosphere is electric. Thousands of players all vying for the most prestigious award in poker, the Main Event Championship. Millions for the top prize, a bejeweled gold bracelet – the envy of poker players around the world, and a place in the history books alongside poker’s trailblazers like Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Chris Moneymaker. From the very first WSOP in 1970, where 8 of the best played Hold’em over a few days for the honor of being named champion, to today, where nearly ten thousand players travel annually to Las Vegas for the same purpose. The logistics, the planning, the staffing…all of it is nothing less than a logistical nightmare, but somehow, each year it keeps biggering, and bettering.

PLAY AT THE WSOP

The gentle chatter of a thousand voices, all in distinct conversations, none interrupting each other but all overlapping. The thrum of hundreds of decks being constantly shuffled and washed. The clattering of chips being continuously shuffled, flipped, and rolled, as each and every one of the players knows, deep down, this is their year.  But even amidst the maelstrom that is the Main Event, something was lacking. Looking around the room,  you could see poker players of every color, creed, background, and ethnicity. What was missing were the women. The great disparity of gender representation that perpetuates poker’s reputation as a man’s game, is one of the most corrosive hurdles to be conquered before poker truly becomes a globally inclusive game.

Creating Safe Spaces for Women in Poker

This imbalance prompted the unparalleled Daiva Byrne to create FLIP (Fantastic Ladies in Poker), promoting women in poker by creating a community and safe space where they can work and learn together. They are the architects of change, building bridges where walls once stood, creating sanctuaries where women can hone their craft without the weight of a thousand stares or the whispered assumptions that they don’t belong. Among their most compelling voices is Sinead Davenport, a divine woman whose very presence commands attention just entering the room. Tall and elegant, with the refined bearing of someone who carries herself like royalty, which she is in the British poker scene, Sinead possesses that rare quality of making those around her feel they’re in the presence of greatness. Her background as a nurse, where precision and composure meant the difference between life and death, has translated seamlessly into a poker demeanor that is both formidable and graceful. When she settles into her chair at the felt, her movements have an almost aristocratic quality, a deliberate propriety that speaks to years of discipline and an innate understanding of the human condition. 

An Unlikely Beginning

Sinead’s journey to full-time poker player began in the most unlikely of places – not in the hallowed halls of a casino, but in the busy atmosphere of an eatery where she worked while studying. “I learned about poker while watching a group of regulars playing at the place I worked while I studied nursing,” her voice carrying the measured cadence of someone who has learned words matter. “There was a group of regulars that would come in to play and, being curious, I watched and eventually they let me join. And I enjoyed it.”

What began as innocent curiosity soon evolved into something deeper, something that would call to her during the darkest hours of her nursing career. After completing her studies and diving headfirst into the demanding world of healthcare, Texas Hold’em became her sanctuary, her escape from the relentless intensity of saving lives. “When I started work full time, I would play as a hobby to unwind after the long shifts,” she explains. “The environment, while chaotic, was an emotional release from nursing. It was a strange yet methodical tranquility.” Yet in both worlds, she found the same fundamental truth: success demanded unwavering focus, emotional control, and the ability to read people in their most vulnerable moments.

The transformation from part-time passion to full-time pursuit came wrapped in love and partnership. Meeting Matthew Davenport didn’t just change her personal life; it revolutionized her entire trajectory. “I became a full time player after meeting my husband,” she shares, and there’s a warmth in her voice that suggests this wasn’t merely a career change but a complete reimagining of what life could be. “We wanted to spend more time together, but even working as a travelling nurse wouldn’t allow us the time we wanted. He suggested that I start playing poker with him.”

Love and Transformation

It was during this period of that Sinead discovered FLIP, and more importantly, that FLIP discovered her. For someone who had spent years being one of the few women in predominantly male poker rooms, the organization represented something revolutionary. “FLIP is community,” she says with unmistakable conviction. “It is a safe space for women to work, learn, grow and support each other without any drama. We all want to improve poker for women and work to that end. It is part of what allowed me to feel comfortable at the poker tables.”

Finding Community Through FLIP and GGPoker

The word “comfortable” carries particular weight when spoken by someone who has navigated the treacherous waters of gender disparity in poker. For Sinead, FLIP wasn’t just an organization – it was validation, support, and proof that she wasn’t alone in her journey. Here was a group of women who understood the unique challenges she faced, who had felt the same sideways glances and heard the same whispered doubts about whether women truly belonged in poker’s inner sanctum.

Through FLIP, Sinead found not just camaraderie but purpose. She became living proof that poker’s future didn’t have to look like its past, that excellence could come wrapped in elegance, and that the game’s most compelling stories might be told by voices that had been historically marginalized. Her success on the felt became more than personal achievements; they became beacons for other women contemplating their own poker journeys.

As her reputation grew and her skills sharpened, Sinead began to envision a future that extended far beyond her current accomplishments. “I want to learn more,” she says, her eyes lighting up with the same curiosity that first drew her to those eatery games years ago. “I want to start studying the mixed games and become a more rounded poker player.”

Evolution and Innovation in Poker

The evolution of poker itself continues to fascinate her, particularly the technological innovations that are reshaping how the game is played and experienced. Speaking about the WSOP+ app, her enthusiasm is palpable: “It’s fantastic. No more queues, no more waiting on your table draw, and I do not have to walk around with cash. You can tag the players, and look up their history. I do wish there was more history on the other players, but the app makes everything so easy.”

But perhaps the most telling moment in any conversation with Sinead comes when asked for advice for women who remain hesitant about entering poker’s male-dominated world. Her response is immediate, unequivocal, and delivered with the quiet authority of someone who has walked through fire and emerged stronger: “Do it. Just go play. Be brave. There is a community to support you and the opportunity is there waiting.”

Those words – “Be brave” – encapsulate everything about Sinead’s journey and her vision for poker’s future. The acknowledgement that courage is required, that the path isn’t always easy, but that it also carries the promise that the rewards are worth the risk. She has become one of the too few pushing the boundaries, shattering poker’s glass ceiling, proving that women are fierce and mighty competitors and have earned their places as equals.

Sinead’s vision extends beyond personal achievement and individual success stories. When asked what she would like to see to help promote poker to women, her response revealed some of that strategic mind that has helped make her a formidable player: “I would love to see more Ladies events. Or maybe a mixed bounty event where only the men carry bounties. Something to offer a bit more value to the women so they are inclined to play.” Wise words from someone who has been there and understands that lasting change requires more than just inspirational stories.

Standing in the electric atmosphere of the World Series of Poker, watching thousands of players chase their dreams while the gentle chatter and clattering of chips create poker’s signature symphony, one thing becomes abundantly clear: the game’s future will be written by those brave enough to envision it differently and turn those visions into reality. In a world where the cards fall where they may, perhaps the most important hand being played is the one that deals everyone an equal chance to ante up without fearing they do not belong.

If you want to join FLIP and help this great cause, or just learn more about it, you can start contributing to the conversation on Facebook by clicking here: LEARN MORE ABOUT FLIP

Article written by: Shawn Altbaum