World Poker Tour

Clonie Gowen

Birthplace
Oklahoma

Hometown
Sachse, Texas

Birthday
November 30

Total Winnings
$221,909

Cycalona Gowen, nicknamed Clonie, was born during a storm in Oklahoma, thereby earning a unique name that would fit her unique personality throughout her life. As the sixth child in a large family, she was no stranger to competition and team sports; she excelled in basketball and track and field during high school. Despite her athletic abilities, however, her feminine side came through when she was crowned Miss Teen McAlester Oklahoma at the age of 15. But everything changed when her boyfriend's father introduced her to poker, and all other career options seemed to be off the table.

When Clonie became of legal age and was living in Dallas, Texas, she would spend weekends driving to cities with casinos and card rooms, making enough money on each trip to inspire her to go back again. Though she owned a travel agency at one point, her true passion was poker, and by the time she began playing tournaments and taking home considerate cash prizes, there was no returning to a traditional job.

In 2002, Clonie demonstrated her poker skills in the first season of the World Poker Tour at the Costa Rica Classic by placing tenth. The following year, she was invited to play in the first WPT Ladies Night tournament and won over opponents like Jennifer Harman, Annie Duke, and Kathy Liebert. The notoriety that ensued has never ceased, and she has gone on to cash in a number of tournaments since that time, all while juggling her personal life with two young children and living in Dallas.