What It Means to Be a Fearless Player in a Male-Dominated Game

By Ebony Kenney

Ebony Kenney has never fit neatly into poker’s traditional boxes. She shows up to the table in heels, covered in glitter, full of laughter, and absolutely unfazed by what people expect her to be. That’s not by accident. It’s her edge.

“I’ve been underestimated my entire life,” she says. “And it’s okay. It works for me.”

Fearless Poker is Self-Trust

To Kenney, fearless poker isn’t about playing every hand aggressively or going all-in on every bluff. It’s about something deeper: self-trust. “Fearless poker means being at peace with your decisions,” she says. “Treating each hand as an opportunity to trust yourself, especially after making mistakes.”

That’s not just mindset, it’s survival. In a game that bombards players with pressure, self-doubt, and social noise, Kenney’s ability to anchor in self-awareness is what gives her strength. “I used to care what people thought. I used to want to prove myself,” she admits. “Now? I honestly don’t care. That’s on them.”

The Triton Experience

It wasn’t always that way. In the lead-up to the Triton high roller in 2022, Kenney faced a tidal wave of criticism. Many in the poker community saw her invitation as a stunt. “The entire poker world thought it was a terrible idea,” she says. “And honestly, so did I at first.”

But that experience forced her to face something important: the difference between how others saw her, and how she saw herself. With the help of mindset coach Jason Su, she began to reshape her confidence, not based on results, but on preparation and self-knowledge. “I’m very proud of who I’ve become,” she says. “Even with the things I’m not proud of. It all matters. It’s all part of it.”

Self-Care as Strategy

That self-awareness is now baked into everything she does, from the way she prepares for events to how she recovers from setbacks. It also shapes how she views other women navigating poker’s male-dominated landscape. Her advice? Take care of your body. Get outside. Meditate. “Poker is constant stress. And if you don’t take care of yourself with intention, poker will do it for you.”

Kenney isn’t just advocating for balance, she’s living it. These days, she travels with affirmation decks, sound machines, incense. She takes breaks when she needs to. She respects her body’s limits. And most importantly, she doesn’t apologize for it. “Anything you respond mentally well to is good for your game.”

Giving Herself Permission

What she’s doing, in her own words, is giving herself permission to want more. To want success, visibility, respect, and not feel like she has to hide or harden to get it. “I used to think I had to shed the parts of me that got me here,” she says. “But now I know better. I love this version of me. She’s enough.”

And if she could sit at a poker table with her younger self, she’d tell her this: study, run from bad relationships, and stop trying to be what others want you to be. “The joy and confidence and worthiness you seek comes from loving yourself,” she says. “Be the love you never got. Be that for other women.”

Living Fearlessly

Ebony Kenney doesn’t just play poker fearlessly. She lives fearlessly, in full color, in her own voice, and on her own terms. And in a game that demands edge, that’s the sharpest one of all.

Ready to play fearlessly?

Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your poker journey, the key is trusting yourself and playing on your own terms. Join Americas Cardroom and start building your confidence at the tables.

Be fearless. Be yourself. Be unstoppable.