Annie Duke eliminated Erik Seidel to become the first woman to win NBC’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship. For the performance, she received $500,000.

“I came into this tournament really focused and it feels great to finally break through in this event,” Duke said.

Prior to Duke’s victory, Vanessa Rousso’s second-place finish last year marked the deepest advance a female player had made in the tournament.

“I think it’s great that a woman came in second last year and a woman finished first this year to really represent woman players,” Duke said. “There are some great female poker players out there.”

Seidel earned $250,000 for finishing second.