#23: Mother’s Day Special: Poker Moms Balancing Family and The Felt

#23: Mother’s Day Special: Poker Moms Balancing Family and The Felt

Mother's Day is just around the corner (Sunday, 11th May 2025), and whilst many will be planning brunches and buying bouquets, a special group of women will be juggling diaper changes and nail-biting river decisions. Today on The Gaming Grapevine, we're going to talk about the Poker Moms—those formidable females who expertly navigate the demanding worlds of motherhood and poker together.

It's a tightrope walk of epic proportions, balancing bedtime stories with bluffing strategies and school runs with deep stack tournaments. And some of them don’t just do it but do it surprisingly well too. The poker world, traditionally perceived as a male-dominated arena, has seen a surge of talented women making their mark in recent times, especially in India.

What's truly inspiring is the growing number of these accomplished players who are also mothers, proving that success in one field doesn't necessitate sacrificing another. They are rewriting the narrative, demonstrating incredible resilience, time-management skills, and a fierce determination both at the felt and at home. For all of them, Happy Mother’s Day!

1. Kitty Kuo:
   This Taiwanese pro, known for her aggressive playing style and vibrant personality, is also a devoted mother. She has openly spoken about the challenges and joys of traveling the poker circuit while raising a family. You will find her at almost every major live event around Vegas, Atlantic City, and even Taipei—all this while successfully raising her now 1-year-old, Tony.

2. Vanessa Selbst:
   Often considered one of the greatest female poker players of all time, she had initially stepped back from professional play to focus on family. She took a break in 2018 to focus on a corporate job and start a family with her wife, Miranda Foster. She plays a little bit of live-streamed poker here and there these days.

3. Annie Duke:

   Who could forget the ‘Duchess of Poker’, a formidable player and mother of four? Her career, marked by both triumphs and tribulations at the table, ran parallel to the demands of raising a large family (Maud, Leo, Lucy, and Nell), showcasing an impressive capacity to handle pressure on multiple fronts. She also released her bestselling book ‘Thinking in Bets’ in 2018.

4. Farah Galfond:
   Wife of poker player and coach Phil Galfond, Farah often makes appearances in cash games and tournaments around Las Vegas. However, she’s got the full responsibility of their son, Spencer, who is a math genius, by the way. Never know, he could become the best poker player in the family in a few years.

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5. Kasey Lyn Mills:

   A prominent figure who embodies this role is Kasey Lyn Mills, also lovingly known as ‘PokerMommaa’. Her moniker isn't just a catchy handle, but it also reflects her multifaceted identity. As a professional player, commentator, and host, Kasey has become a recognisable and respected face in the poker community.

Closer to home, the Indian poker scene boasts its own inspiring examples. Smita Agarwalla has been a consistent presence in the Indian poker circuit. Balancing her poker aspirations with family responsibilities, she demonstrates the growing participation and success of women in the Indian poker landscape.

Radhika Shankar is another name that resonates within the Indian poker community. Her journey as a player, alongside her role as a mother, highlights the increasing number of women who are carving out their space in this competitive field. Very recently, she completed a record 24-hour live stream on her YouTube channel called ‘Hashtag Poker Mom’.

These Poker Moms are more than just skilled card players; they are role models. They are proving that passion and ambition don't have to be shelved when starting a family. They are demonstrating incredible strength and adaptability, navigating the late nights of tournaments and the early mornings of parenthood with equal measure. This Mother's Day, let's raise a virtual glass (or perhaps a celebratory cup of tea) to these remarkable women who are expertly balancing family and the felt, proving that you can indeed have a full house in life.

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