Vanessa Selbst is undeniably one of the most extraordinary poker players in the world. Her exceptional talent, relentless aggression, and groundbreaking achievements have left an indelible mark on the poker community.
Origins
Vanessa Selbst was born in New York in 1984, and her poker journey began as a teenager when she participated in home games. Her true introduction to the world of poker occurred while she was studying political science at Yale University, where she started playing online poker. Vanessa made her mark on the poker scene during the 2006 World Series of Poker, where she secured 7th place in the $2,000 No Limit Hold’em event, earning $101,285. This early success laid the foundation for her future achievements.
Notable Wins
Vanessa Selbst’s rise to prominence in the poker world was swift and remarkable. In just two years after her 2006 WSOP cash, she clinched her first WSOP gold bracelet by winning the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) event, claiming the top prize of $227,933 and the coveted bracelet. However, her most substantial career payday came in 2010 when she triumphed in the €8,500 No-Limit Hold’em event at the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes, France, pocketing a staggering 1.3 million euros. Her victory included defeating notable players like Tobias Reinkemeier and Soren Kongsgaard.
In 2011, Vanessa achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player ever to defend the North American Poker Tour Main Event title, securing a first-place prize of $450,000 in a field of 387 entrants. Her exceptional skills were on full display during the televised final table, where she ultimately defeated Dan Shak to clinch victory.
By 2013, Vanessa had become the top-earning female live tournament player and made history by winning three WSOP gold bracelets.
Online Play and Poker Retirement
Although Vanessa Selbst began her poker career with online play, her main successes were achieved in live tournaments. She adopted the screen name “fslexcduck” on PokerStars, later changing it to “V. Selbst” when she became a PokerStars Team Pro. While there is limited data on her online results, her success in live cash games and tournaments is widely recognized.
In a surprising move, Vanessa Selbst announced her retirement from professional poker at the beginning of 2018. Her decision was motivated by a combination of factors, including moral concerns about promoting poker to amateur players and the pressures of the poker spotlight. She expressed discomfort with the idea of encouraging amateurs to play for money, knowing that many would ultimately lose. Additionally, the evolving nature of poker had transformed it into something resembling a “real job,” which she found less enjoyable as she grew older.
Life After Poker
After retiring from poker, Vanessa Selbst took on a new challenge by working with the Bridgewater Associates hedge fund. She continued her philanthropic efforts through her organization, Venture Justice, which focuses on funding projects related to racial justice, economic equality, and opposing police misconduct and government abuse of authority. Vanessa also actively supports the rights of the LGBT community.
One of the driving factors behind her retirement was the desire to prioritize her family life. Vanessa had married Miranda Foster in 2013, and in 2018, the couple welcomed their baby boy.
Despite her retirement, Vanessa’s love for poker remained. In 2021, she rekindled her connection with the online poker world, and her presence on the virtual felt became evident. Vanessa is also actively involved with the LearnWPT training site, where she shares her expertise in various aspects of poker, including tournaments, cash games, live play, online play, and mindset coaching.
In conclusion, Vanessa Selbst’s poker journey is a testament to her exceptional talent, fierce determination, and commitment to her principles. Her remarkable career, retirement, and eventual return to poker have left an enduring impact on the game and the poker community as a whole. Vanessa Selbst’s legacy in the world of poker continues to evolve, promising more exciting chapters in her story.