Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst is an American professional poker player from Brooklyn, New York. She has accumulated earnings exceeding $11.9 million from live tournaments. During her poker career, she won the Partouche Poker Tour in September 2010, securing her best live cash of $1,823,430. Selbst also won three World Series of Poker bracelets from 2008 to 2014.

In addition, she had a sponsorship with PokerStars, which ended in December 2017 when she announced her retirement to pursue a different path. Selbst also appeared on High Stakes Poker.

Alongside her poker career, she founded Venture Justice where she began investing in nonprofit organizations. It provides legal advice and advocates on behalf of vulnerable communities in New York City. Moreover, her fame and prize money were used to fund her activism and help her make the world a better place.

Vanessa Selbst: Early Life

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Selbst attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology but later moved to Connecticut to pursue a degree in Political Science at Yale University, where she started playing poker. After graduating, Selbst went to Yale Law School while working as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co. She eventually quit the consultancy job since her winnings were enough to sustain her tuition. In 2015, she passed the bar exam.

Vanessa Selbst: Poker Journey on High Stakes Poker

She debuted on February 26th, 2011 in HSP S7 Episode 1. She participated in a $400/800 +$200 ANTE No Limit Hold ’em with Barry Greenstein, Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, and others. In this episode, she also incurred her biggest loss amounting to $197,100.

On March 1st, 2011, during HSP S7 Episode 2, Selbst was seated at the table with Barry Greenstein, Bill Klein, Robert Croak, and others. They played a $400/800 +$200 ANTE No Limit Hold ’em. She achieved her biggest win amounting to $42,200.

In her most recent appearance on March 21st, 2011, in HSP S7 Episode 5, she participated in a $400/800 +$200 ANTE No Limit Hold ’em with David Peat, Barry Greenstein, Andrew Robl, and others. In this episode, he incurred her most substantial loss of $96,500.

Vanessa Selbst: Live Tournament Participation

Selbst’ first recorded live cash occurred in July 2006 where she placed 7th in a $2,000 No Limit Hold’em at the 37th World Series of Poker. She cashed $101,285.

During the Partouche Poker Tour in Cannes in September 2010, she won her biggest live cash of $1,823,430. She finished 1st in a €7,750 + 750 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event.

In February 2020, she placed 22nd in a C$4,700 + 300 No Limit Hold’em at the WPT Fallsview. Selbst took home $14,915.

V.Selbst World Series Of Poker Bracelets

On June 10th, 2008, she secured her first bracelet at the 39th World Series of Poker (WSOP). Selbst took part in a $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha and won $227,933.

Following her poker success, in June 2012, she joined $2,500 10 Game – Six Handed Event #52 at the 43rd WSOP. She won a cash prize of $244,259 and secured her second bracelet.

During the 45th WSOP in May 2014 she clinched her third bracelet by winning the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em Mixed Max Event #2, earning $871,148.

Selbst Other Notable Achievements

• February 2008: $1,000 + 65 No Limit Hold’em – World Poker Tour Ladies at the L.A. Poker Classic (1st place, $26,500)
• November 2008: $1,850 + 150 No Limit Hold’em at the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket (1st place, $115,000)
• October 2009: $1,375 + 125 No Limit Hold’em at the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket (1st place, $74,224)
• April 2010: $4,700 + 300 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event at the PokerStars NAPT Mohegan Sun (1st place, $750,000)
• April 2011: $5,000 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event at the NAPT Uncasville (1st place, $450,000)
• February 2012: $5,100 No Limit Hold’em at the L.A. Poker Classic (1st place, $140,295)
• October 2012: $5,000 + 180 No Limit Hold’em at the Festa Al Lago in Las Vegas (1st place, 90,693)
• January 2013: $25,000 + 500 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller Event #30 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (1st place, $1,424,420)
• October 2013: £2,000 + 200 No Limit Hold’em – UKIPT High Roller at the EPT in London (1st, $109,443)
• December 2013: €5,000 + 300 Pot Limit Omaha Champs at the EPT in Prague (1st place, $137,994)
• June 2015: $100,000 No Limit Hold’em at the Super High Roller Celebrity Shootout in Las Vegas (1st place, $1,000,000)

Conclusion

Vanessa Selbst is a well-known professional poker player who has earned over $11.9 million from live tournaments. She has won three World Series of Poker bracelets and is celebrated for her skills in the game. After retiring from poker in 2017, she focused on helping others through her nonprofit, Venture Justice, which supports and provides legal help to vulnerable communities. Selbst’s story highlights her success in poker and her dedication to making a positive impact in the world.