The Rise of Female Poker Players
As poker continues to gain popularity year after year, female poker players are making their presence known in the competitive world of poker. Several women have achieved great success, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. To achieve such success in poker, players must put in countless hours of practice to hone their skills. The early 2000s saw an influx of women joining the game, as poker became widely accessible online and casinos opened their doors. These talented women have become so skilled that they challenge their male counterparts in various poker tournaments. So, who are some of the best female poker players that have utilized advanced poker techniques to climb to the top of the poker world? Let’s find out.
Celebrating the Success of Female Poker Players
Vanessa Selbst (USA)—$11.85 million
Vanessa Selbst is the only woman to ever reach the number one ranking in the world of poker. Born in 1984, she is regarded as the best female poker player of all time. Selbst has won over $11.8 million in poker tournaments, placing her at the top of the female poker player money list and 41st on the all-time money list. She was a member of Team PokerStars Pro under the name V. Selbst.
Vanessa is the first woman to win three World Series of Poker bracelets in open field events during her career, and she has competed in eight World Series of Poker tournament finals. Throughout her career, she has been influential in the world of poker, winning the North American Poker Tour Main Event twice in a row. Selbst is also known for speaking out about gender discrimination issues in the poker industry. Join our online casino and experience the thrill of playing poker today
Kathy Liebert (USA)—$6.17 million
Kathy Liebert has had an impressive poker career, beginning as a prop player in Colorado. She played her first poker tournament in 2002, the Party Poker Million, which featured a $1 million winner prize. Liebert has enjoyed success in the World Poker Tour (WPT), competing in six final tables. In 2005, she finished third in the WPT Borgata Poker Open, which was the highest finish for a woman in the tournament until 2007.
In 2009, Liebert played in the Shooting Stars tournament, finishing second behind Steve Brecher in one of the longest WPT table games in history. She has a WSOP bracelet from winning $1,500 in Limit Texas Hold’Em Shootout, and she was one of three women to win an event in 2004. Liebert has also participated in smaller tournaments such as Poker Royale: Battle of the Sexes and the World Speed Poker Open in London. Throughout her career, she has won $6.17 million from live poker events.
Annie Duke (USA)—$4.27 million
Annie Duke was one of the most successful poker players before Vanessa Selbst claimed the number one spot. She won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet and was once the leading woman in money won in poker. Duke ranks in the top four globally as an all-time money winner.
Duke’s last tournament was in 2010, and she has since retired from actively playing poker. She has notable wins in the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions in 2004 and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2010. She has authored instructional books on poker, such as Decide to Play Great Poker and The Middle Zone. Duke also contributes to charity work in developing countries through her non-profit foundation, Ante Up for Africa.
Annette Obrestad (Norway)—$3.93 million
Annette Obrestad is a Norwegian poker player who began her poker career at just 15 years old. She holds the record for the youngest poker player to win a World Series of Poker tournament in 2007. Obrestad has a personal blog on YouTube, Annette’s Makeup Corner, where she posts tutorials and reviews on poker casino games. When she first emerged as Annette_15, she claimed she never deposited any money as a bankroll and acquired it from playing free online poker tournaments.
During 2005 and 2006, she won over $1 million playing on PokerStars, UltimateBet, and Full Tilt, ranking as the best on PocketFives. Annette Obrestad is known for utilizing Triple Edge Poker rules in her gameplay, which has contributed to her success in various tournaments.
Vanessa Rousso (USA)—$3.56 million
Vanessa Ashley Rousso is a French-American poker player and TV personality born in 1983. She uses the name Lady Maverick when playing online poker and was a team member of Team PokerStars from 2006 to 2015. She also served as a spokesperson for Team PokerStars during the same period.
Rousso won over $700,000 with a second-place finish in the main event of the World Championship of Online Poker. She won over $3.5 million playing in live poker events between 2005 and 2011 and finished in the money 17 times in the World Series of Poker. In recent years, she has been less active but is still ranked as one of the top 10 women in poker history.
Conclusion
In addition to the success of these best female poker players, there are several popular poker games that are widely played in casinos and online, including Mississippi Stud Poker, Let It Ride Poker Multi Hand, and Three Card Poker. These games offer different levels of complexity and strategy, making them suitable for both beginner and advanced players. Online Poker Real Money options are also available, providing a convenient way for players to enjoy the game from the comfort of their own homes.
We have highlighted some of the top female poker players in history, showcasing their achievements and contributions to the poker world. These accomplished women have not only made a name for themselves in poker but have also made an impact in other areas outside of the game. Whether you are a seasoned player or a beginner, you can also join the action and play online poker real money games.
Some of these women currently hold records for the highest amount of money won in a single tournament or overall tournaments played. Additionally, some have started their own successful businesses or launched poker-related products.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about these influential women in poker and feel inspired to try your hand at the game. Who knows, maybe you will become the next female poker champion! To get started, check out our how to play Three Card Poker guide and open an account to start playing today. Good luck!
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