Annie Duke - Poker Champion- Up Close

Annie Duke or Anne LaBarr Lederer was born in New Hampshire on the 13th of September, 1965. If you think poker is a man's world, then you haven't seen anything yet. This professional poker player is not only the Duchess of the game but also an author of repute who has the 2004 bracelet in her kitty. The winner of the 2004 World Series of Poker - $2,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Event is also credited with the championship at the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions in the same year.

Annie Duke shone with the title of the Winner-Take-All prize that amounted to a whooping $2,000,000. Her Concord, New Hampshire upbringing is seen in all she touches - the Midas touch really! She is the daughter of a writer Rhoda S. Wait, the family is not over yet! Annie Duke has a brother by the name of Howard Lederer who is also a professional poker player. And the tryst with destiny goes on with her sister, Katy Lederer being an author in her own right. In fact, the poker book: Titled Poker Face: A Girlhood Among Gamblers is about the family.

Today, Annie Duke is the proud mother of four children - Maud, Leo, Lucy and Nell. The Duchess attended the Columbia University. She is not one who was a drop out or in any way deprived and hence turned towards poker, no not this one! Annie Duke is a double major in Psychology and the English language. She also has enjoyed a NSF Fellowship that enabled her to attend the University of Pennsylvania to continue her graduate studies with psycholinguistics. A major in cognitive psychology and the poker table, quite a combo isn't it!

Annie Duke married her college sweetheart Ben Duke. After marriage, the family moved on to Columbus, Montana. After a formal education, Annie Duke took up professional poker playing. Today, not only is she one of the highest female poker players of all time, but she is also recognized the world over as one of the most advanced World Series of Poker champion. Annie Duke finished in the 10th place at the poker tournament held in 2000. This was only the beginning of a sojourn that was to redefine the relationship between poker and the women of today.

Annie Duke has proved to the world that women can play poker and how! She has mastered the game and exhibits the highest standards of precision and focus. Since her move to Portland, Oregon in 2002 her job at a software company ieLogic, she also moved on to the tables of real time online casino gaming. Life had other things in store for Annie Duke and in 2004 the marriage was on the rocks. She and Ben got divorced but you know what! There was a wager on this one too! Imagine, our Annie Duke won a $500 wager for predicting that her marriage wouldn't see the daylight of more than 5 years. So much for intuition, right!