Second WSOP bracelet for poker’s leading lady
Believe it or not, but the Big One wasn’t the only WSOP tournament taking place this week. And while all the world’s eyes were on which millionaire pro or luckbox businessman would ship poker’s biggest ever prize, Vanessa Selbst quietly went about her business in the $2,500 10-Game, seeing off Michael Saltzberg heads-up for her second WSOP bracelet in four years.
Selbst, who became the only the second female player in history to win two bracelets in open events alongside Jennifer Harman, claimed the $244,259 winner’s cheque in quiet corner of the Rio, as the masses crowded round the One Drop stage just metres away.
But those who chose to watch Hellmuth and the gang battle it out missed a stellar performance from Selbst, who eliminated all but one of the final table, before crushing Saltzberg heads-up.
‘I’m so happy, I have no words for once in my life,’ Selbst told PokerNews afterwards. ‘Normally when I bulldoze a table, it’s in like big bet events when I could bully people, this one I just ran like god. … I just hit every hand. It’s a pretty surreal experience.’
After the success of Allyn Jaffrey-Shulman in the Seniors Event, and several deep runs for female players at the 2012 WSOP, Selbst’s victory is another high point for the finer species in 2012. Who knows, if things keep going as they are we could have our first female Main Event winner in WSOP history…
Here’s how the $2,500 10-Game finished up:
1. Vanessa Selbst $244,259
2. Michael Saltzburg $150,840
3. Tommy Hang $97,884
4. Chris Bjorin $64,649
5. Thomas Chambers $43,099
6. Mike Gorodinsky $30,169
