She loved school and admits she was “not a cool kid”, and didn’t exactly fit in. Ema was the new kid, struggling to learn a new language (French). She spent most of her educational years here in Canada. She was born in Yugoslavia just before the devastating, decade-long Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001) a catastrophic scar in world history that led to the death of over 140,000, and displacement of more than 4 million people. Her family escaped the tragedy in 1996, leaving behind everything to start a new life in Quebec City. Ema was 6. Past Begets Strong Will to Overcome OddsĮma didn’t have what you’d call a typical upbringing-not by a long shot. That deep run earned her another US-$49,335, bringing her total career live tournament earnings to US-$555,924 (CA-$733,516). Finishing 215 th, she was one of only 8 Canadians left in the running at that point, and nearly half as many females. Preliminary events eluded her, but the 2018 WSOP Main Event did not disappoint. Zajmovic made it to Day 5 before joining the railbirds. A month later, she was back in Las Vegas for the 2018 World Series of Poker. And he was right.Ī half-dozen cashes later in April 2018, Ema ground her way through a NLHE even at WPT Amsterdam to finish 2 nd for €100,260. “You’ll be hearing a lot more from her in the future,” he promised. “Ema’s win was no fluke”, he said shortly after posing for this photograph (credit WPT). Sexton knew then that Ema Zajmovic was the real deal. Mike Sexton poses with 2017 WPT Playground Title Winner Ema Zajmovic – photo credit, WPT In February of 2017, she emerged victorious in the WPT Playground Main Event in Kahnawake, Canada for CA-$241,500, and a title of her own-the very first WPT Title ever won by a female in an open-entry event. She had clearly made an impression on him, though-an impression that was more deeply embossed a few months later. There, she met legendary poker player Mike Sexton. Ema landed in 5 th place for CA-$102,010, while her new friend Mike took down the tournament and WPT title. In November 2016, Zajmovic entered the WPT Montreal Main Event, where she grinded her way through table after table to make the final. But then, she headed back home to Montreal, Quebec, where-so it turns out-there were much bigger fish to be fried. It wasn’t until 2016 that she began carving her name into the poker world. Zajmovic collected $15,000 for a 929 th place finish in the 2016 WSOP Main Event-little more than the $10k buy-in and expenses to enter. That earned her three small cashes between 20. She started out small time, just playing for fun in cash games. Bicknell spent many more years earning her stripes, both live and online. Ema was still in grade school, knew nothing of poker, while Kristen was busy crushing her foes, playing more than 2.5 million hands online in 2006. Yet, in just two short years, Ema’s pocketed well over half a million dollars in live events all over the world. That’s saying a lot, since young Ema has much less hands-on experience. Ema Zajmovic Shoots for the StarsĮma shows as much promise as fellow Canadian Kristen Bicknell. She is a world traveler, professional rounder, and fierce grinder of the felt. She is one of the few Canadians-and even fewer women-to make it to Day 5 of the 2018 WSOP Championship. She is the first woman to ever claim an open-entry WPT Main Event title. One who experienced more trials and tribulations in her youth than most experience in a lifetime, and at just 28 years of age, has earned more money playing major live poker events than some of us see in a decade. Who is this beautiful brunette with the steely-eyed gaze and deceptively cunning smile? She’s one of Canada’s most recently beloved poker players. “ Aggressive …not afraid to play pots,” a winner whose success has been “ no fluke.” Those were the descriptive words from the mouth of WSOP bracelet winner, WPT titlist and Poker Hall of Famer Mike Sexton when referring to one of today’s biggest and brightest rising stars of the poker world.
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