Shundan Xiao surprises the World Series of Poker after following his wife’s advice

Two years ago, Shundan Xiao was an amateur poker player who enjoyed his games at home and occasionally went to the casino.

Her wife suggested that she take part in tournaments – and that turned out to be sensational advice.

Xiao just landed a huge $300,000 win and made a name for himself with a lucrative run in the largest World Series of Poker Main Event in history.

Over 10,100 players took part in the No Limit Hold’em World Championship, which offers an unexpected prize of $10 million to the overall winner.

Out of the sidelines and into the game

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Only 358 of those players were women, and Xiao was one of only two to make it to the last 59. She eventually finished 28th and attracted a lot of interest within the sport.

This also gave her the opportunity to talk about her LGBTQ identity.

The 36-year-old Chinese native told Poker News: “It was hard for me. Especially because I come from a country where it’s not particularly accepted.”

“But I feel very comfortable now after telling everyone. I really want to express myself in a way that is true.”

Xiao also told Poker News that she identifies as “95% lesbian.” She lives in San Jose, California with her wife, Youngqun Yian. They reportedly met at work and have been married for about a year.

It was Yian who brought Xiao to the WSOP in Las Vegas for the first time last year, where the latter won nearly $4,000 after finishing just outside the top 50 in the Ladies Championship.

Xiao said her outstanding run this year will be “a really beautiful memory” for her. She added: “I think more women should participate in this competition. It’s a lot of fun and gender shouldn’t matter.”

Last month, Poker News published a series of articles about LGBTQ players for Pride Month.

One gay player, Niclas Thumm, reported that he was the target of online hate speech after kissing his boyfriend during last year’s PokerStars Players No-Limit Hold’em Championship in the Bahamas, where Thumm finished in sixth place.

The German had also been subjected to homophobic insults during an online tournament earlier this year.

Thumm told Poker News that it was “super important” to him to highlight pride in poker.

“It’s really important for the community to be seen. Wouldn’t it be great to have an award for the greatest ally in poker? Or a special Pride Month tournament series? We need to stay strong as a community.”

The series also featured two winners of the coveted WSOP bracelets, both of whom are gay: American Ryan Laplante and Swiss Alexandre Vuilleumier.