Jennifer Tilly is a well-known poker player who achieved great success in the poker world, most notably when she won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2005. On June 27, 2005, she triumphed in the Ladies’ No-Limit Texas Hold’em event, beating 600 other players. This victory earned her $158,625 and solidified her reputation as a skilled poker player.
Following this win, Tilly continued her impressive poker career. On September 1, 2005, she won the World Poker Tour Ladies Invitational Tournament, held at the Bicycle Casino in Bell Gardens, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. Her success in these events helped her become a notable figure in the poker community.
Poker Player Like Jenifer Tilly Appears Also on TV Shows
In addition to her tournament victories, Tilly made appearances on various poker-related TV shows. One of her notable appearances was on the GSN Poker Royale series, which showcased poker tournaments with celebrity contestants. Tilly also competed in the Celebrity Poker Showdown on Bravo, airing on June 14, 2006. In this competition, she came in third place, losing to Bravo’s online poker champion, Ida Siconolfi. Tilly also appeared on the Poker After Dark show, a popular poker series where professional players compete in high-stakes games.
Tilly, known for her bold style, often wore low-cut tops and push-up bras during televised poker games, stating that she liked to “look cute.” However, she emphasized that real poker players are more focused on the game than on appearances. “If people are really playing poker, they don’t care. Nothing looks better to them than a pair of aces,” she remarked, noting that players are always focused on their own hands and not on what others are wearing.
Her poker career also extended to video games. Tilly appeared in the World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions 2007 Edition video game, which was released by Activision. This game featured her alongside her boyfriend, professional poker player Phil Laak. The inclusion of Tilly in this game reflected her growing fame in the poker world.
In 2005, Tilly gave an interview where she mentioned that she was more focused on her poker career than her acting career at that time. By December 2008, however, she made the decision to retire from professional poker, stating that although she loved the game, “greatness in poker is an elusive dream.” She felt that finding validation in poker was difficult and compared it to trying to find a “virgin in a whorehouse.” Tilly made it clear that while she was stepping away from poker as a career, she was not giving up the game entirely, as gambling had become an addiction for her. She planned to treat poker more like a hobby rather than a full-time career.
Despite her retirement, Tilly made a return to poker in January 2010, continuing to compete in tournaments. She was nominated for the PokerListings Spirit of Poker Living Legend Award in 2014, recognizing her lasting influence in the world of poker. As of July 2019, Tilly’s live tournament earnings exceeded $1 million, a testament to her skill and perseverance in the game.
Tilly’s journey from poker novice to professional player highlights her dedication to mastering the game. Her successes on the poker circuit, as well as her appearances in poker-related media, have made her one of the most recognized female players in the game. Even with her ups and downs, her passion for poker remains strong, and she continues to inspire many aspiring players today.