Ivonne Montealegre, a renowned poker player and industry leader, has marked yet another career milestone with the historic launch of the inaugural SiGMA Poker Tour (SPT) in Monte Carlo.
The event, hosted at the newly opened Monte Carlo Poker Club, notches a significant moment in her ongoing efforts to elevate the global poker scene and bring the game closer to poker enthusiasts around the world.
Ivonne Montealegre, who is originally from Costa Rica and now based in Malta, has long been recognized for her contributions to the game of poker, especially when it comes to promoting inclusivity and gender equality.
As the current Director of International Affairs for the Women’s Poker Association, Ivonne has fought for the visibility and involvement of women in poker around the globe.
Seeing 105 women show up to play? That’s beautiful. We want to keep creating these opportunities, helping women transition from smaller events to major stages where they can win life-changing money.
Moreover, SiGMA entrusted Ivonne with the ambitious task of launching the SiGMA Poker Tour, which saw Montealegre relocating to São Paulo for months of intensive planning and committing fully to the project.
Her relentless dedication and direct approach laid the foundation for what has become a thriving event at one of Europe’s most prestigious and sought-after locations.
For Montealegre, however, the SPT represents more than just another poker tournament, as she said that “this is about making an impact”.
From here, the tour’s partnership with the charitable SiGMA Foundation highlights its broader mission to give back to communities and drive meaningful change around the world.
In addition to its charitable goals, the SPT also brings a major economic boost, and due to the fact that it is held together with the world-renowned SiGMA conference, the event creates the perfect platform for business networking, innovation, and cultural exchange.
The next stop for the SiGMA Poker Tour is Malta in September, with Ivonne highlighting SiGMA’s exceptional collaboration with the Portomaso Hotel and hinting at exciting things ahead.
We have a fantastic partnership with Portomaso Casino, and everything runs smoothly there. But no matter where we go, our core values stay the same: community, fun, and inclusion. As the former president of the International Women in Poker Association, those values aren’t just part of the event. They’re part of my life. They’re part of my legacy.
From Costa Rica to Monte Carlo, Ivonne Montealegre’s journey in the world of gaming continues to reshape the poker scene, empowering those without a platform, bringing people together, and showing that poker is more than a game, but rather a movement.
