Every revolution needs a leader and Maria Konnikova is ready to step forward as the heroine for her chosen passion of poker.
While some women may flinch at the prospect of walking into a room filled with men who may view their presence around the poker table with a hint of cynicism, it needs a strong mind and an equally robust temperament to make a mark, and Konnikova has those qualities in abundance.
In fact, the Russian-born PokerStars ambassador - who emigrated to America with her family when she was a child - appears to have an edge over her rivals in a game she only took up after being tutored by her poker mentor, Erik Seidel.
Initially studying Seidel playing in high-stakes tournaments as part of her research for a book she was working on, Harvard graduate Konnikova quickly became hooked on poker, and is now one of the most respected players on the circuit.
Female First caught up with Maria on the Monte Carlo stop of the PokerStars travelling roadshow, and when you spend time in the company of this profoundly intelligent young woman, you can’t help but be inspired by her eagerness to advance the female cause in a game dominated by men.
“When I didn’t know anything about poker, I thought it was a game played by fat guys with big cigars in smoke-filled rooms. Poker in movies and that is what we are presented with, and this is not an environment women would want to get in to,” she told us in an exclusive interview.
“Now that I am hooked on poker, I see it in a very different light. For me, this game has proved to be a real source of empowerment and it has allowed me to get in touch with some elements of myself that I didn’t really know existed. I believe the confidence I have gained playing poker has helped me away from the table.
“Poker is a woman’s game. Based on my solid evidence from my time getting a psychology PhD, I firmly believe woman have an advantage in poker over men.
“The way that society has evolved over time, women have been cast a subservient role. This has been a man’s world for as long as any of us can remember and it still is in many ways. Women have had to adapt, and one area where they have had to excel is reading social skills and understanding what other people are thinking by picking up on body language signals.
“Men don’t tend to need to navigate challenging social situations because they have always been the dominant people in a room and that carries through, but women have had to work out other ways to navigate their way into a conversation or into a social group.
“That takes skill, especially when you are not instantly accepted, and it means that understanding other people on an emotional level is a vital part of what you need to do to get on in life.
“This game is all about mental skill and I feel this is where women could have a edge over men on an emotional level when this game reaching crucial moments.
“Well, understanding people is what you need to do to be good at poker and that is why I would encourage all women to appreciate that they can do well if they study this game and develop a passion for it.”
Engaging and driven in her mission to change the face of poker for female players, Konnikova is also succeeding on a grand scale after her breakthrough win at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure event in the Bahamas last year, as she scooped $84,600 in a victory that propelled her to star billing in the poker world.
She has backed that up with solid success at subsequent tournaments, but it’s clear that money is not the driving force behind her ambition to make a mark in the game.
“I’m proud to think some people might look at my story and take inspiration from it,” she added. “I now love this game and firmly believe that this game is a powerful tool for people to become better at life and to live better lives.
“Hopefully by looking at my story, people who may never have considered getting into poker [are given] some inspiration to do so, and maybe it will raise the profile of the game and make people aware of what a great teaching tool it can be for the mind.
“It’s not all about becoming a gambler. That is not what poker is. I’m always quick to correct people who question how I became a professional gambler because this is not just a game of chance, this is all about skill. Part of what I’m doing here is trying to change the profile of poker and it feels like I have made some impact by what I have achieved so far.
“At some point in the future, I’d love to run a programme that allows me to go into corporate environments and teaches poker to women. I think this game can help them to find strength within themselves to go to levels they may have believed they could reach.”
If you fancy following in the footsteps of Maria Konnikova check out how to get involved with PokerStars here - https://www.pokerstarslive.com
Words by Kevin Palmer, who you can follow on Twitter @RealKevinPalmer.