Clonie Gowen

Cycalona (Clonie) Gowen was born on November 30, 1971. Her first name, Cycalona, was inspired by the fact that she was born during a powerful storm.

Clonie grew up in Kiowa, Oklahoma and she won Miss Teen McAlester, Oklahoma at the age of 15. She was a member of the varsity basketball team and placed seventh in state high jump. Clonie had althletic ability and good looks to go with it.

Gowen was introduced to poker by her boyfriend's father. Clonie started playing while living in Dallas and she would drive to Shreveport, Louisiana on the weekends to play poker. Clonie took the experience and success she had to her first major tournament, the 2002 World Poker Tour Costa Rica Classic placing 10th, just short of the final table. That earned Clonie an invite to the WPT Ladies' Night Invitational in September 2003, where she beat out a field of more experienced poker players, like Annie Duke and Jennifer Harman, to take 1st place.

Clonie served as a guest commentator for the Ultimate Poker Challenge, The Gaming Club World Poker Championship and the 888.com Women's Poker UK Open. She is a regular columnist for All In magazine, a member of the Board of Directors of the non-profit United States Poker Association. She frequently hosts tournaments and charity events and is now a partner in a poker school.

Clonie Gowen is also a member of "Team Full Tilt" at Full Tilt Poker. Clonie appeared on the NBC television program Poker After Dark in 2007, where she took 1st place and $120,000 during "Ladies Week" in Week 10 and again during Week 17. Gowen, Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth and Johnny Chan are currently the only four players to win at least two tournaments on Poker After Dark.

Fun Facts:

• Has served as a guest commentator for the Ultimate Poker Challenge and the European World Poker Championship in Dublin.
• Used to own a travel agency.
• Has been featured in the New York Times, the Dallas Observer, Texas Monthly, and Esquire.
• Has appeared in a segment of Good Morning America.
• Has two children.