The Ladies tournament first played in 1977 as a seven-card stud event, the Ladies Event just like the WSOP, has grown considerably over the last couple of decades. It didn't catch the imagination in the early days and a handful of women entered that first event, but how times have changed since Jackie McDaniels triumphed.

By 1990, the numbers had improved and breached the100-player mark for the first time, Marie Gabert coming out the winner in that event and over-coming 110 players in the process. In 1992, the buy-in was upped from $500 to $1,000, this was not to the ladies liking, and it caused a slight dip in numbers. However, by the end of the 90's the numbers had returned and has held its appeal ever since.

In 2000, the WSOP event had a make-over to appeal more to the participants from stud to a mixed limit hold'em/stud event, and Nani Dollison would win the next two Ladies Events back-to-back becoming the third woman to win two Ladies Events titles along with Poker Hall of Famer Barbara Enright (1986, 1994) and Susie Isaacs (1996, 1997).

In 2004 the event was played as limit hold'em only. A record turn-out of 204 players participated that year, with Hung Doan winning. In 2005, the game was switched to no-limit hold'em, and as we saw elsewhere at the WSOP, there was a boom in entries. At total of 601 came out to play that year, with actress Jennifer Tilly the victor. The field size peaked in 2007, with Sally Anne Boyer emerging from a field of 1,286 women to claim the bracelet.

This year is turning into a classic, with 1.054 signed up the tournament is down to the final table. Some not so well known names among the nine battling it out for the first ladies bracelet, include current leader Sidsel Boesen from Denmark. Others making up the final to be concluded today, Kami Chisholm, Timmi Derosa; Anne Whalen, Holly Hedge; Vanessa Hell. Bonnnie Overfield; La Sengphet and Loren Watterworth.