"Ultimately I would like to be professional, and after gaining more confidence at the World Series of Poker last year, I would really like to make that happen. At the moment I work to live and live to play poker - I love it so much."
The progression from local cash games and tournaments to New Zealand's main event has taken eight years for Thorby, but she says she's no longer intimidated at the tables.
"Men tend to be more aggressive toward women at the tables and that makes it harder for us I think. It can be a bit intimidating, not for me now because I have a bit more confidence, but it's a natural thing to try and get an advantage over your opponent any way you can so if it's picking on the ladies, so be it.
"But often it backfires because we're normally quite solid players, so if they three-bet we come back over the top and they run away."
Thorby said that with no kids and her mortgage paid off, she's looking for fun in life, and is 'addicted' to the fun at the poker tables.
"There's not a lot to do in Thames, so a group of us got together and started a Poker Club, just to have something fun and social to do. Since then it's got pretty serious and we are always taking trips to SKYCITY Auckland or elsewhere throughout the country to play in major poker tournaments.
"I think there are a lot of women out there that play small games. In our club probably 50% of our players are women. But I think a lot of them are probably scared to take that next step because it's a bit daunting that first big buy-in tournament at the casinos.
"We hope to take a dozen of us or more, to Las Vegas next June to play the World Series of Poker and see how we compete on the world stage."
The Auckland Festival of Poker offers ten side events ranging from $50 to $1100 buy-in and culminates in a $1650 buy-in main event that is expected to generate a prize pool of over $310,000.
The nine-day tournament begins on Saturday 19 November with the main event held from 24-27 November.
The Ladies event is a $275 buy-in and starts at 5.30pm on Monday 21 November.
Thorby's advice for any woman keen to give poker a go: Don't be afraid, start small. Build your confidence and remember you're just as good as the men.
Full tournament schedule, registration details and full terms and conditions for the 2016 SKYCITY Festival of Poker can be viewed here.