Poker Women: Williams, Duke and Petresco

Plenty of women have come onto the poker scene, proving that it's more than a man's game now - anyone can be a celebrity and anyone can make the big money.

Brandi Williams is one of the recognizable faces of poker and is the current host of the Ultimate Poker challenge. Cameras on the set have taken to showing her off the world and no one can blame them for it. Before the Ultimate Poker Challenge could make her famous, she lived in Perryopolis and was working for the Arizona Cardinals as a cheerleader. Later on, she would move past the pom-poms and go to Las Vegas, where many celebrities would have the honor of working with this future poker celebrity. The show itself would serve as only the beginning, as she would work with shows as Entertainment and NYE live.

Annie Duke, the future poker superstar and celebrity, would spend the first few of her married years broke in downtown Montana. Her brother Howard would encourage her to pick up the cards and play for real money to help work the couple out of the hole, having seen her skills when she was young. Howard believed in her sister's abilities to the point that she would receive her initial bankroll from him. Annie would play on the poker tables with her brother's coaching pushing her to higher and higher achievements. Annie Duke would find her poker celebrity life starting in the World Series of Poker. Annie would, surprisingly, outperform her brother, actually finish thirteenth overall. Her luck would change with the cards as Annie would bluff and bet her way out of their debt, winning over seventy thousand dollars in the next few months. At the World Series of Poker Annie would carve out her accomplishments. She would even defeat Phil Hellmuth after a tense heads up battle for over two million dollars in winnings.

Carmel Petresco, another poker celebrity, was only waiting for the right time to show off her skills. The Five Diamond World Poker classic would be where she'd find her chance. In a no Limit Texas Hold'em event, Carmel would come in ninth, impressing both men and women across the table and around the world. Her achievements would climb each other as she would quickly participate in the No Limit Texas Hold'em Summer Series. The World Series of Poker would not be saved from her wins as she would also take on the greats there.