Over the course of her recent career, Rania Nasreddine has looked bulletproof at the poker felt. Reaching two recent EPT Main Event tables looked fearsome enough but heading into 2025, there are few players to fear more. We dug into the mindset of one of poker’s toughest cookies recently as she prepares for the biggest year of her life on and off the felt… but can she defeat our 15 Bigs?
In every poker tournament, even the eventual winner is likely to be down to 15 bigs at some stage. It’s the moment where they must fold or push, to double-up or fade away. Our 15 Bigs are similar – they’re 15 questions that will test each player to their limit. Can Rania Nasreddine double-up and make that metaphorical final table once again… or will she spiral out of contention?
Let’s find out!
You’re on a long-haul flight and can only choose one TV Show or Movie to watch on repeat, which is your pick?
Home Alone or Homeland.
If you were stranded on a desert island with one book for company, what would it be? A photo album with pictures of my family and pets.
What’s the song you could listen to on repeat forever?
Desperately Wanting by Better Than Ezra.
What’s your favourite place to play poker and why?
Monte Carlo. It was where I played my first EPT final table so it’s always going to be special and because the ceiling of the room retracts to allow you to play ‘outside’.
If you were to be shot at dawn, what would be your last meal and drink?
My last meal would be a big fat cheeseburger with a side of caviar and a very tart margarita!
Where’s your favourite non-poker holiday destination?
Lebanon.
You can play poker every day for a year or play no poker for a whole 12 months – which do you choose?
Poker every day for a year. No one loves it more.
Who is the person you don’t have around anymore that you miss the most?
My friend Leah – she died at age 40 from ovarian cancer and she had a laugh that could warm the coldest of hearts.
Which person would you most like to meet but never have?
Robin Williams – I want to convince him the world still needed his light even if he couldn’t share it.
When’s the last time life put you on tilt?
My brother has been hospitalized for basically five months and almost died in November. It’s a hard thing to regroup and push forward every day – it’s like having aces cracked every day for 150 days straight.
If you couldn’t play the WSOP Main Event next year, which family member would you put into the action in your place?
My Dad who taught me to have no fear, take no prisoners and to outmanoeuver everyone.
What’s your best poker skill?
My lack of fear.
And your biggest leak?
My lack of fear.
If you could make one rule change to poker, what would it be?
An automatic one round penalty for all of the damn vapers who vape in the play area and upon second offense, removal from tournament!
You have just ten seconds with the person of your dreams… what do you say?
Welcome to the party!
Not only did Rania ride out the tough questions that lean on her emotions but she crushed those where everything is up for grabs. We’re banning vapes, chilling with a cheeseburger and a margarita and having no fear at the poker felt from now on!
Photograph courtesy of Hayley Hochstetler for the WSOP at Hard Rock Tulsa.
