Lena Ayad made the run of a lifetime, despite having little experience playing poker
Lena Ayad made an impressive debut by winning the Celebrity Poker Tour’s H3 Game Night at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. Despite having no prior experience at the poker table, Ayad walked away with the top prize of $5,000 after outlasting several notable participants, including H3 Podcast co-hosts Ethan and Hila Klein, and head of production Dan Swerdlove, whom she defeated in the final heads-up battle.
The winning hand! 👏🏻🏆@LenaAyad_ had NEVER PLAYED POKER before yesterday, and now she’s a CHAMPION! 🤯
The full recap of the H3 Game Night will be on the Celebrity Poker Tour YouTube! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/7MWXrG46Ug
— Celebrity Poker Tour (@celebpokertour) October 8, 2024
In a post-victory interview, Ayad expressed her surprise and excitement about her unexpected win. “I learned from the best, first of all, Ethan and Hila over here, and also I just kind of learned the mechanics of the game,” she said. “But in terms of actually playing, I’ve never done that.”
The event also drew popular YouTube stars Tana Mongeau and Steiny as special guests. Unfortunately, neither made it to the final payouts. Steiny was knocked out early, finishing in ninth place, while Mongeau narrowly missed out on the money, finishing just shy of the bubble in fourth place.
Ayad’s victory marks a milestone as she became the sixth female champion in the Celebrity Poker Tour’s history. Other notable women to have claimed titles in the past include Maria Ho, Princess Love, and Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou. “This is for women everywhere!” Ayad cheered after her win, celebrating the growing presence of women in the poker scene.
Looking ahead, the Celebrity Poker Tour’s biggest event of the year, the CPT Championship, is set to take place on November 20. This high-stakes competition is expected to attract more big names and intense action, as players will compete for honors in the poker world. Ayad’s victory adds excitement to what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable tournament.
