PokerStars pro claims $1.4 million first prize to go top of all-time female earnings leaderboard
It’s been a long time coming but finally after claiming the second largest win of her career, Vanessa Selbst can now call herself the highest earning female poker player of all time. The all important landmark victory came in this year’s $25k High Roller Event at the PCA in the Bahamas. On winning the tenth major title of her career and after collecting the $1,424,420 pay cheque, Selbst leap-frogged previous leader, Kathy Liebert, to go $1.1 million clear at the top of the leaderboard. The win brings the 28-year-old American’s total career earnings to an incredible $7,004,036.
This year’s $25k PCA High Roller event attracted 161 entries, 43 rebuys and amassed a total prize pool of $4,998,000. Heading into the final eight there was no shortage of big name stars but after only 12 hands that number was reduced to five after Micah Raskin, Tobias Reinkemeier and Bryn Kenney were quickly eliminated and all at the hand of German, Ole Schemion. The German’s luck soon ran out though when he shoved all-in on a huge river bluff against Selbst only to be called by her second-nuts pocket kings on a K♦-10♥-6♥-10♣-2♦ board. From there, Selbst grabbed the chip lead and never looked back, eliminating fellow American Shaun Deeb in 5th followed shortly by Canadian Mike Watson who finished in 3rd.
With the final two set Selbst had already claimed the womens earnings record, and all that stood in the way of the coveted PCA title was Russian, Vladimir Troyanovskiy, but the American was the big favourite thanks to her substantial chip lead. To Troyanovskiy’s credit he fought back well and closed the gap right down, but eventually he too ran out of luck when all the chips went in, Selbst was actually behind with her A-Q up against Troyanovskiy’s pocket kings but an Ace on river was a killer blow for the Russian who had to settle for second place despite being only one card away from almost certain victory.
After hitting her miracle on the river, Selbst remarked “I’ll take it… I’d rather be lucky than good.” Troyanovskiy took the beat well and was gracious in defeat, but why wouldn’t he be, the Russian has racked up over $1 million dollars in earnings at this year’s PCA.
Here is how the final table finished up:
1. Vanessa Selbst, USA – $1,424,420
2. Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Rus – $792,180
3. Mike Watson, Can – $462,320
4. Ole Schemion, Ger – $354,860
5. Shaun Deeb, USA – $289,880
6. Bryn Kenney, USA – $229,900
7. Tobias Reinkemeier, Ger – $174,940
8. Micah Raskin, USA – $129,940
