Sunday, 05 February 2012
Jennifer Harman

If you’re at the Bellagio looking for a high-stakes poker game, watch out for the young, petite blonde with the big, brown eyes. Her name is Jennifer Harman, and she’ll take you to the cleaners.

Harman holds the distinction of being the only woman to earn two World Series of Poker bracelets: in 2000 at Deuce to Seven No Limit (a game she had never played up to that point), and in 2002 at $5,000 Limit Hold'Em.

But it’s only been recently that Harman has made a dent in tournament play. She’s still known as a cash game player; however, after taking a year off to undergo a kidney transplant, Harman has rattled off some successful results, including fifth place at the first-ever Professional Poker Tour event.

Called the most feared poker player in the world by Sports Illustrated, Harman was raised in Reno and held a string of odd jobs (including as a cocktail waitress) and nearly gave up poker after a bad year in 1993.

But a loan from a friend helped establish her at the Mirage, and now she’s earning seven figures every year. She even piled up $1.7 million at a single game, the largest non-tournament pot on record.

Harman has invested well, and donates a portion of her earnings to kidney awareness.

Harman is married to Marco Traniello, a star hairdresser and a poker player in his own right. They live in Las Vegas with a family of five dogs.

 
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