Queen of the Felt: Vanessa Selbst, a Triple Threat in the Poker Arena! 

Historically, women lacked dominance in poker due to restrictions on participation. Barriers hindered their presence and success in tournaments. However, times have changed. We now see more women carving spaces for themselves in modern times. Poker now has women achieving incredible feats, with Vanessa Selbst leading the charge.

In live tournaments, Vanessa Selbst has bagged three poker bracelets and approximately 12 million dollars. She is the highest female poker earner and the first woman to rank first on the Global Poker Index (GPI). 

Her intelligent approach to the game, fearless style of play, and talent helped her break the stereotype barrier. Vanessa earned the respect of other poker elites who set her as a role model for other women in poker.

In today’s casino news, we will learn more about this female poker legend.

Vanessa Selbst: Yale Grad Turned Poker Legend

Vanessa Selbst, born on July 9th, 1984, to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York, was probably unaware she would become a professional poker player mastering poker in all its variants, including games like Jacks or Better.

She obtained a Political Science degree from Yale University after spending a year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Then, went on to work for McKinsey & Company, a consulting organization.

She started playing poker card games early, but because of her ambition to become a lawyer, Vanessa Selbst returned to Yale University in 2012 to obtain a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.

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An Early Interest in Card Games of Poker

Vanessa Selbst became involved with poker games in her teens when she developed a love and passion for the game. After properly mastering her poker strategies, she decided to test the waters of a tournament. 

In 2006, she competed at the WSOP and came 7th in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold ’em event, cashing out $101,285. In 2007, at the 38th WSOP, she secured third place in the $5,000 World Championship Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em, winning $128,968.

By 2008, Vanessa already had some experience and got a lot better. She competed at the World Poker Tour Ladies, where she came first in the $1,000 + 65 No Limit Hold ’em event to win $26,500. This year was unique for Vanessa as it marked the beginning of her record-breaking.

Known for her aggressive playing style and fearless approach at the poker table, earning her respect and admiration from peers and fans alike, she has become an inspiration for many casino online poker players.

Learn more about the poker games she dominates, by following our online casino guides section, where you can learn all sorts of tips and strategies that will help you hone your skills to become a pro poker player like her.

Turning Cards Into Cash: Tournament Wins and Achievements

She champions diversity in poker, becoming the top-earning woman with over $10 million in career winnings, and leading inclusive initiatives.

Vanessa Selbst and Her First WSOP Bracelet

In the same year (2008), Vanessa won her first WSOP bracelet when she competed at the 39th WSOP, cashing out $227,933 in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha. That same year, she won first place at the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket and went home with $115,000. She also finished first at the World Poker Finals the following year.

NAPT Winning Streak

Vanessa is the only female to record a winning streak in the North American Poker Tour. In 2010, she won the tournament’s $4,700 + 300 No Limit Hold ’em main event and earned a $750,000 prize.

The following year, she also finished first in the tournament’s $ 5,000 No Limit Hold ’em main event for $450,000. 

Second and Third WSOP Bracelet

In 2012, Vanessa competed at the 43rd WSOP and finished first in the $2,500 10-Game Six-Handed event, winning her second poker bracelet and $244,259.

At the 45th WSOP in 2014, Vanessa won her third poker bracelet. She came first in the $25,000 No Limit Hold ’em Mixed Max event plus $871,148, becoming the only woman to hold three bracelets in open events of casino games of poker.

Biggest Tournament Cash for Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst won her biggest live cash on September 2nd, 2010, at the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes. She finished first and won $1,823,430 in the €7,750 + 750 No Limit Hold ’em main event. 

At the 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in Paradise Island, Vanessa won $1,424,420 for finishing first in the $25,000 + 500 No Limit Hold ’em High Roller event. This cash cemented her name as the female with the most considerable earnings in poker history.

Her third most significant live cash was in 2015, at the Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout in Las Vegas, where she won $1,000,000 for first place in the $100,000 No Limit Hold ’em Shootout event.

Other Accomplishments

Vanessa’s achievement prompted PokerStars to sign her in 2010 into their Team PokerStars Pro. She has $11,906,246 in total live tournament earnings on the Hendon Mob profile. The Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WIPHOF) inducted Vanessa Selbst in 2022 for her impact in poker. 

Personal Life of Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa advocates for social justice under the stage name “Justice is Blind,” alongside her poker career and philanthropic endeavors.

Her law school course has been a great advantage for such an endeavor, and she has put that to good use in speaking for the weak. For this reason, she founded Venture Justice, a philanthropic organization.

In 2017, Vanessa announced her retirement from professional poker. Her reason is that poker is changing from being a fun activity to an actual job for her.

One interesting fact about Vanessa is that she is a gay woman. She got married to her female partner, Miranda, in 2018.

Fearless, Fierce, and Fabulous

Vanessa Selbst stands as a trailblazer in the world of poker, shattering stereotypes and carving a path to success with her unmatched skill and determination. From her early days honing her craft to her historic tournament wins and record-breaking achievements, Selbst’s journey exemplifies excellence and resilience. Beyond her poker prowess, Selbst’s advocacy for social justice and philanthropic endeavors further underscore her commitment to making a positive difference.

If you want to follow her path, visit Slots Paradise Casino to play poker online classic games and new poker variants like the Texas Hold’em Bonus.

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