LIPS Women in Poker Player Spotlight
Persia Bonella
Age: 38
Vancouver, Canada
What is your background?
I had my bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. What a great preparation for my poker career, don’t you think?!??! 
How did you get started in poker?
I got started playing poker at home games for fun with friends. It was an excuse to get together and have a few drinks. Then we started playing for money, and then there was no turning back.
What is a good early story about your poker beginnings?
I played in these home games for a good 2-3 years, then took off to Vegas on a family trip in October of 2009. There I gathered the nerve to actually enter a low stakes tournament at Harrah’s. I took 2nd place there, then came back the next day to play in the same tournament, and won! Right that moment I realized that I loved this game, and that it liked me a lot. Haha! With that confidence building up in me, in November of 2009, I went to my first WSOP Circuit event in South Lake Tahoe, and final tabled the Ladies (ring) event and took 7th place! My first hand at the final table I was in the Big Blind when everyone folded around to the Small Blind – the only male player at the final table playing a Ladies’ Event – his name was Greg Sessler. He went all in for like 40 bigs, and I woke up with suited AcQc. I had more chips than him, and I wanted to call him so bad! But it was my first hand at my first WSOPC final table ever, and I didn’t want to commit most of my chips with AQ. The inexperience me at the time had no clue what to do with all that pressure, so I folded. Like I said, I ended up taking 7th place in the event, and Greg went on to win the Ladies’ Event. To this day, we still make fun of a man winning a Ladies’ event! A friend had a chat with Greg in a later tourney, and he admitted that I did have the better hand in that situation. I should’ve gone with my gut. Haha!
Where do you go to find information about poker?
To find out about future events, I like going to WSOP and WPT websites, and the LIPS site of course to find out where the Ladies events are – they are my favorite and so much fun to play! I also go by hearsays of friends who travel around for poker, and when I hear of something I think would be fun, I just pack my bags and go! For information about my opponents, I like to go on blogs sites, stat databases such as Hendon Mob, to find out how they have done in the past or how successful of a player they are, to mentally prepare me to play with them.
Tell me about an unusual or unique experience you’ve had while playing poker.
At a WSOPC event, in the middle of the tourney, I was dealt pocket KK. The board showed all low cards on the flop, then turn. The board also looked pretty safe with no straight or flush possibility. I was first to act, and was betting strong pre-flop, on the flop and the turn, “with no raise from my opponent”, I was certain my KK were good. Then the river came… another low card. As I was grabbing chips to make my (hopefully) final bet of the hand, my opponent accidentally flashed her cards, and showed AA! Everyone, including the dealer froze. Obviously, I didn’t continue with my river bet, and the floor man was called. Floor asked me what I wanted to do and of course I just checked on the river with my smaller chip stack than her, and now KNOWING that I have the losing hand! My opponent checked behind (surprisingly), and took down the pot at showdown. This obviously was not a typical AA vs KK play, and everyone knew my opponent made an illegal move by flashing her cards prematurely. She got a 1 round penalty in spite of winning the hand. At that moment I felt like I should’ve been out of the tournament but instead was given another stab at it. A typical AA vs KK play would be an all in, even pre-flop, but that didn’t happen and I was saved with a few more chips and a chair. A few hours later in the tourney when we were down to the last 2 tables, I faced the same opponent. She had A10 off suit, and I had A5 off suit. We were both short stacked and I went all in. She called, but this time, she had less chips than me and was all in, but definitely had a huge advantage over me with the A10 starting hand. However, with the flop of 2, 3, 4, I had flopped the wheel, sending her to the rail and out of the tourney. I was on my way to the Final Table! This was definitely a unique and unusual poker experience for me, with the weird outcome and very untypical play from my opponent. I think I handled it pretty well.
How would someone external describe your poker play?
People think I am a very tight aggressive player for sure. I put a lot of pressure on opponents especially when I have chips to play.
Who do you confide in about your poker play?
I do have a few people I confide in for my poker stories. These are friends I have played with for years and know my style very well. I also trust their style and strategy, so that I could learn from them when they give me feedback on my play.
Is there a poker experience you are most proud of?
Definitely my 2015 LIPS National Championship title. I played really solid and with confidence. I entered late to the tourney, and wasn’t really going anywhere on Day 1. I slept on it and muscled through Day 2 with a lot of patience. In Day 2, I was making all the right calls, picking the right spots to make a move, bluff, maximize my wins, I was doing all the right things! At the final table, I was so confident that I knew I could take down the tournament, and even without sleep at 5am, with all the adrenaline rush I was wide awake and playing the best poker of my life. With some help with the cards and my rail behind me, I won and took the title! J
I also can’t forget about my WSOP Ladies Championship Final Table in 2014 when I took 6th place. I was 2nd place in chips at the start of Day 2, and went card dead for 5 hours, and lost most of my chips. I was down to 30 bigs close to end of Day 2 when my KK cracked AA after the case K came on the flop. I tripled up my stack, and went on to Day 3 at the Final Table! This was my first streamed event where I know people from all over the world could watch me play. I was so nervous and had to keep my focus and not get distracted by the cameras, the commentators, and even the rowdy fans behind the rail. This was the most memorable moment of my poker journey so far. J
What were some of the unexpected hurdles in poker?
Each poker player I am sure has had their streaks: both losing and winning streaks. Mine came a few years ago when I couldn’t do anything right. I went 0 for 30+ in tourneys, and even my cash game sessions were not hot. It did occur to me that maybe poker weren’t in the cards for me anymore and it was time to quit. But I didn’t quit. I knew poker was something I love and am passionate with, and when something is in your heart you go for it, no matter what it takes. That motivated me even more to keep going. I was reading books, watching strategy videos, I ate better, exercised, slept more, changed my mind set about the game, and prayed. Yes, prayed! Now, poker is very much a part of my life, and it has brought me success in every aspect of my life really. Poker makes you think, strategize, be healthy, better with relationships, learn that failures do come and go, exercise sportsmanship, and win with humility. Poker has definitely changed my life and somewhat shaped the person that I am today.
How do you identify your greatest competitor at the table?
A great competitor is someone who challenges you. I love the sharks at the table. To me they are the greatest competitor. They put you at your toughest spot, and make you perform your best. They are not only great at this game, but also respect the game and the players. To me those are the greatest competitors.
Have you ever played against a Poker Pro, and how was that experience?
I have played with many pros including Jennifer Tilly, Loni Harwood, Liv Boeree and Chris Moneymaker. Every time you go against a pro, it’s always a great and fun experience, win or lose. My last winning hand with Chris Moneymaker was fun. I had flopped a flush, with an open ended straight flush draw, and I was betting strong on every street for him to think I ain’t got it yet. It worked every time, and he lost about ¾ of his chip stack to me in that hand.
What are some of your greatest challenges in your game?
I need work on my mid game (middle of a tourney). I need to hang on to those chips! In the middle of a tourney, it’s easy to lose patience when you are short stacked, and also easy to play recklessly when you have the chips. I need to find the balance. I believe that having the best mid game is key to WINNING, not just cashing, a tournament.
Looking back at where you were when you started this poker journey, where did you think it was going to lead you?
To be honest I didn’t think poker would take me any farther than the low stake friendly home games with friends. I am a scientist by profession, and it never really occurred to me that I could make money while having fun playing this game.
Are you a member or follow any online poker social web groups? Which ones?
Yes, I am part of LIPS and the Vancouver Ladies Poker League. I have met some of my closest friends from both groups, and these ladies are so much a part of my social life!
Do you do any charity or non profit work?
Yes, a percentage of all my winnings go to church and charity groups.
Outside of poker, what do you do for fun?
How much space do I have to list them all? I love to travel… definitely love to travel. I travel at least once per year, that’s a must, or I’ll go crazy! I have a unique love for baseball and the San Francisco Giants. When I lived in the Bay Area, I went to a handful of games every week. Now that I am in Vancouver, I try to go back to the park and watch the Gmen at least once on every Bay Area trip. I have been to the World Series, each time they had lost and won, and both times were great experiences. I love to play chess. I am pretty good at it (wink), and try to play with friends when I get the chance. I have the best canine companions in my two Chihuahuas (and now that one of them had a litter, I’m gonna be a mom to 2 more!), I like to take them on walks, spoil and play with them. Spending time with family is a must. And last but not least, any chance I get to hang out with friends, I am down. We fine dine and wine, play, drink (responsibly), and have a great time!
