Jennifer Cassell

Jennifer Cassell has long been one of the most familiar Aussie grinders on the Asian Poker Tour, and her steady results have cemented her as one of the most respected female players in the region. She already owns two APT trophies, both from women’s events, including a victory right here in Taipei in 2024. With her latest cash in the Ultra Stack Championship today, Cassell has pushed past USD 500,000 in career live earnings and continues to fly the flag as one of Australia’s highest-ranked female players.

Cassell touched down in Taipei at the start of the festival and has slipped straight back into the rhythm of the series. “I arrived at the start of the series. Yeah, feeling good,” she said as she prepared for another deep run.

She has already cashed in both the National Cup and the Ultra Stack Championships, and is currently playing the Natural8 Cup Championship. Her plan for the rest of the series is simple. “I’ll be playing in as much as I can, everything if possible. Well, hopefully not everything. Hopefully, I’ll be running deep into some more things,” she joked.

The festival has been dominated by strong performances from women so far, with Ruiko Mamiya winning the National Cup Championship and Sofia Lovgren taking down the Mystery Bounty Championship. Cassell shared her perspective on whether being a woman affects competition at the tables. “I mean, I don’t know if it matters all that much, the way that I see it anyway,” she explained. “But when you’re actually at the table playing versus specific people, it can definitely help you in some parts where maybe they don’t know what you’re capable of. They underestimate you for sure.”

Jennifer Cassell won the Women's Event at APT Taipei 2024

It is a dynamic she still encounters. When asked if players assume female competitors are less competitive, she answered without hesitation. “You get that attitude sometimes, one hundred percent.”

Cassell has also been playing the daily Ladies events this series. “I have, yeah. I’ve played maybe two or three of them so far, but with no luck, they’re too good for me,” she said with a smile.

The Australian player praised APT’s efforts to support and grow the women’s field across Asia. “Yeah, I think APT are doing an amazing job at that, and it shows because there’s nearly a hundred runners in these Ladies events that are happening every single day. It’s really cool how much support in Asia and APT there is for women in poker.”

Cassell shared her thoughts on the $10k Main Event freezeout and APT’s effort to bring more freezeout formats back into the schedule. “I like them. I like a mix. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don’t,” she said. The structure itself does not force a major change in her approach because the series offers so much variety. “At APT there’s always something else to play, so it’s alright,” she explained, meaning that busting a Freezeout is not the end of her day. With so many options on the schedule, she does not feel pressured to adjust too heavily. “Maybe you can push people around a little more because maybe they’re more scared to bust,” she added with a grin.

As for the Main Event, there is no doubt she will be in the field. “Yes, definitely,” she confirmed. When asked for a prediction on total entries, she guessed, “I’m not sure, at least 500, I think. I hope for the guarantee.”

Cassell continues to be one of the most respected competitors on the tour, and with another strong start in Taipei, another deep run can't be far away.