Vanessa Rousso is one of the most successful and diversified female poker players ever. Her life has always been about setting new records and making trailblazing achievements, starting from her school days. She’s a skilled card player, successful lawyer, businesswoman, music producer, and reality TV star.
At some point, she put on hold her legal career to play poker, and it paid off. Rousso has earned millions of dollars playing at various tournaments. Today, she is an ambassador for major online casino poker and hosting brands, a top-rated poker advocate, and among the top eleven on the all-time money list.
In this casino news, we will elaborate more on the life and career of this highly reputed and successful poker beauty.
Poker Prodigy Vanessa Rousso: A Jack of All Trades!
Right from a young age, Vanessa Rousso stood out for her academic excellence. She was born on February 5th, 1983, to Marc and Cynthia Rousso in White Plains, New York. She is the first of three female children the couple gave birth to. When Vanessa was 3, the family moved to France to start a new life. Seven years later, when things turned around, they moved back to the US to settle down. They went to New York up north but finally settled in Florida.
Rousso began high school at Wellington Landings Middle School, graduating as valedictorian in 2001. She also participated actively and excellently in debate competitions for the school. After graduating, Vanessa enrolled at Duke University to study economics (major) and political science (minor). She paid attention to game theory, one of the relevant courses in economics, which contributed significantly to her understanding of poker.
Vanessa Rousso learned how to play poker at age 5 and honed her skills by participating in low-stakes games with fellow college students. She also had an active presence online, playing under the screen name “LadyMaverick.”
She continued her academic studies by attending the University of Miami Law School but didn’t finish initially because of her poker pursuits. However, in 2018, she returned to obtain her law degree. By then, she had answers to questions like What is a flush in poker? How to bluff, and more.
Live Poker Tournament Debut
At 21, Vanessa Rousso patronized the Hard Rock Casino, where she engaged in Sit-and-go games like free video poker and then transitioned to multi-table tournaments.
Her first recorded tournament was at the 2005 Bayou Poker Challenge in New Orleans, where she cashed $6,465 in the $200 + 25 No Limit Hold ’em event for finishing seventh among 833 entrants. That was when her talent and determination caught the attention of many casino Hold em players.
Vanessa began her 2006 gaming adventure with a $17,550 win at the WSOP tournament in Atlantic City. She finished 5th in the $1,500 + 90 No Limit Hold ’em event, leaving behind 190 other entrants.
Biggest Poker Tournament Wins and Achievements
Vanessa Rousso won $263,625 on April 18th, 2006, at the Fourth Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic in Las Vegas. She finished 7th in the $25,000 + 500 WPT Championship No Limit Hold ’em among 605 entrants in popular poker casino games.
Again, in September 2006, she defeated other players at the WPT in Atlantic City, winning $285,450 in the $5,000 + 200 No Limit Hold ’em event.
In 2008, she came first at the Ladies Entry restricted Poker After Dark (PAD) Season III in Las Vegas, where she won a $120,000 cash prize in the $20,000 Week 8 Gus and the Ladies.
Rousso finished second in March 2009 at the NBC National Heads-Up Championship in Las Vegas, winning $250,000 in the $20,000 No Limit Hold ’em event.
In May of the same year, Rousso participated in the €25,000 + 500 No Limit Hold ’em European High Roller Championship event at the EPT Monte Carlo. She came first in the game, winning her biggest live tournament prize, €532,500 ($700,160).
At the 2010 Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas, Vanessa Rousso won $358,964 for finishing third in the $10,000 + 30 No Limit Hold ’em Championship Event.
In May 2011, she won €100,000 ($148,423) at the EPT Grand Finale in Madrid after finishing 5th in the €25,000 + 500 No Limit Hold ’em High Roller event.
In October of the same year, Vanessa Rousso won £142,300 ($222,413) at the EPT in London after finishing second in the £10,000 + 300 No Limit Hold ’em Six Max High Roller Turbo event.
All Bets Are On With Vanessa Rousso
Vanessa Rousso has successfully etched her name among the world’s most famous poker players and stands tall with live tournament wins of $3,554,328.
She has actively worked to inspire and mentor poker players who aspire to become famous in the industry, particularly women in both live and online poker games. She is a coach and instructor at poker training camps, sharing her knowledge and experience with up-and-coming players who also love to play free video poker games. Rousso’s efforts to foster a more diverse and inclusive poker community have earned her the admiration of many.
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