Jena Lytle – Dealer Supervisor

Jena Lytle – Dealer Supervisor

Jena Lytle first started as a dealer back in 2006 when she undertook an eight-week course to work at a card room in Tampa Bay, Florida. She quickly progressed and that summer, started dealing at the World Series where she first met her husband-to-be Shawn (Tournament Director at the Irish Open). In 2008, only a few years after starting her career, she was named Dealer of the Year at the WSOP – out of more than 1,200 dealers.

Jena’s first Irish Open was in 2010 and, after the festival merged with the Norwegian Championships, she was appointed Dealer Supervisor and then Lead Dealer Supervisor in 2013.  Originally from Missouri, Jena and Shawn – who have been married for more than 12 years – have now settled in Gulfport, Florida. Her favourite part of the Irish Open is the €5 random lottery which traditionally takes place around halfway through the festival and always causes huge excitement!

Like Shawn, Jena plays poker when she can find the time – particularly stud and any version of poker with more than two cards! (So not Hold’em then! She and Shawn work year-round at tournaments all over the States, across Europe and on Card Player Cruises.

She said: The biggest challenge of my job is dealing with so many different personalities and languages. We have a dealer team of over 200 from all over Europe. I just do my best and try to make everyone happy.”