Clonie Gowen
“Some women are intimidated by the idea of playing poker.”
[Clonie Gowen Myspace]
Cycalona (Clonie) Gowen spent her younger years as a high school jock, a champion basketball player and a skilled high jumper (7th in the state). Not surprisingly, she was also named Miss Teen McAlester, Oklahoma when she was 15
At an early age Gowen moved to Dallas, Texas. Her poker playing career started with driving to Louisiana on the weekends to play, where she would make a couple hundred dollars a week But it wasn’t until she followed up a top ten finish in WPT Costa Rica Classic with a win in the WPT Ladies Night event, which was the highest rated show in WPT history, that she burst on to the scene as a poker player, and a damn good looking one. In 2005, she had two top tens with one in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'em Ultimate Poker Challenge tournament and another in the
FullTiltPoker.net
Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Now she has over $370,000 in career winnings. Her popularity is apparent from the fact that when she plays the $100 buy in tables at Full Tilt, the waiting list often gets over 100, with just as many trying to chat with her.
As a poker player, Gowen is well known for staying cool under pressure. Whether it’s a bad beat or a big win, Gowen is accepting of any outcome. “With poker, there are certain things you can control and things you can't control.”
[Nancy Peterson Interview 2005, http://www.onlinepokercenter.com/articles/player_interviews/clonie_gowen_interview_2005_wsop.php]
Just like other popular pros, she is known for her aggressive style, as well as being a tough competitor.
Away from poker, Gowen enjoys being outdoors; hiking, scuba diving and camping. But she’d like you to know she’s not a “tree hugger or anything.” Costa Rica is Gowen’s favorite place to go on vacation. Gowen also writes a column for bluff magazine, which in only its third issue increased its circulation to 120,000.
Gowen is not your typical southern bell. She does, however, seem to be the wife that every man wants. She’s into sports and poker, tall and blonde, and according to an online poll, hotter than Paris Hilton. Her looks are not unrecognized; recently she was featured on Maxim and also was pokerbabe.com’s Poker Babe of the Month.
Some would be surprised to see a women as one of the top players in the world, but Gowen says they shouldn’t be. “(Women) have this notion that it's an extremeley complex game, one that is very tough to learn, let alone master. This is an idea that's reinforced by men, in the hopes of discouraging women from crashing this clubby world. Well let me give you the real scoop. Poker is a simple game to learn. My twelve year old daughter, Morgan, learned how to play at the age four.”
[Nancy Peterson Interview 2005, http://www.onlinepokercenter.com/articles/player_interviews/clonie_gowen _interview_2005_wsop.php]
In the future, Clonie's dreams include
“being the first woman to win the World Series of Poker, becoming a role model for women with non-traditional careers”
[Sexy Facts, parisplayspoker.com]
Gowen has has already begun reaching her
goals, currently a partner in a poker school teaching women (and men) the basics of tournament play and how to be successful in a competitive game where your own money is at stake.
But anything other than poker?
“(Laughs) Is there anything other than poker?”
[Nancy Peterson Interview 2005, http://www. onlinepokercenter.com/articles/player_interviews/clonie_gowen _interview_2005_wsop.php]
Common Misspellings: Clownie Gowen, Clony Gowen, Clonie Gowan, Clonie Gauwen, Clowy Gowen.
Learn more about Clonie Gowen at Full Tilt Poker.
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