Vanessa Selbst has Long Outgrown the Female Poker Rankings

It is high time we all dropped the 'female' qualifying adjective when talking about one of the top poker players in the world - @Vanessa Selbst  is simply one of the best. In the words of Phil Hellmuth, 'possibly the best No-Limit Tournament player on the planet – man or woman'.

She was born on July 9, 1984 in Brooklyn, New York (where she recently moved back from Vegas). Unlike many others from her generation whose passion for poker came up against fierce opposition from family and friends, Vanessa was actually encouraged by her mother to play and progress in the game.

Vanessa started playing online in college - learning a lot from 2+2 forum discussions - and was soon successful in the live tournament field, as well. By the time she decided to go back to school and pursue law studies at Yale University she had hundreds of thousands in live poker winnings.

I realised I wouldn’t be able to balance the two because when you’re playing poker it’s hard not to get completely wrapped up in it. I took out all the money I had online because I knew that if I had money in an account I’d just be tempted to play. So the first few years of law school, I didn’t really play that much poker. I played the Aussie Millions on winter break and a few World Series events on summer break, but I had summer jobs as well. So I played maybe a total of 15 tournaments over the course of those two years, which isn’t very much at all when you think about it – but I was fortunate enough to do extremely well in those tournaments.

In 2010, Vanessa decided she couldn't stay away from poker anymore, took a break from her studies, signed on with PokerStars and went on to earn close to $3 million in live tournaments:

The next big year in her personal and professional poker life was 2013. Vanessa and her partner Miranda got engaged on January 4th, just before she scored the second biggest cash in her career at the 2013 PCA High Roller event  - $1,424,420.

"I feel much more responsibility as a gay poker player. I think being a woman in the spotlight who is succeeding at what she does is great, but personally it’s more important that I’m a gay woman in the spotlight – particularly a woman who is non-gender-conforming. People joke that I look like a boy and I’m fine with that. I know how I come across and I’m totally comfortable with who I am. Being someone who has received a lot of media attention despite not looking traditionally feminine is something that’s very important to me because there are a lot of kids out there who are struggling with their sexual identity or their gender identity, and to see someone like me receive positive attention in the media is very important because they often don’t know there are people out there who are like them. There are so few people like me in the spotlight that I just feel it’s really important to be honest and open about who I am whenever I can."

Meanwhile, Vanessa has never given up her commitment to social justice and civil rights and her wish to use her own privileged place in the media spotlight to benefit others. Probably the only world class pro with a special social justice section on her website, Vanessa has helped fund many non-profit organizations and projects. One issue she feels strongly about is police violence and abuse of authority and the need to raise awareness, notably by promoting video taping and sharing documented instances of abusive practices.

"Even as an upper middle class white woman, I’ve been in situations where I’ve felt disempowered while trying to assert my rights. There are people who are harassed on a daily basis with no recourse. My law degree gives me the framework to address police misconduct and government abuse of authority, and to fight for racial justice and economic equality."

Last night Vanessa Selbst played a charity heads-up with tennis legend and fellow PokerStars ambassador @Rafael Nadal. She will be playing EPT Sanremo and Monte Carlo next and we send her our heartfelt GL wishes!

Sources: 

#womenINpoker 

http://www.bluffeurope.com/interview/en/Vanessa-Selbst-Pride-and-Prejudice-and-Poker-_12286.aspx

http://vanessaselbstpoker.com/

http://www.flourishinprogress.com/2012/12/hustle-hard-interview-project-vanessa-selbst.html

What Hoodies Are Really For

#pokeraccessories #foodforthought ;)

Two of the most famous and socially responsible PokerStars ambassadors are meeting tonight in a charity heads-up match at @Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco: tennis legend @Rafael Nadal and the highest earning female poker player in history and two-time WSOP bracelet winner @Vanessa Selbst.

“It’s a game of skill that requires mental strength and the ability to out-think your opponents… and now I’m looking forward to the challenge of playing against Vanessa”

The tennis legend @Rafael Nadal signed a sponsorship deal with PokerStars in 2012, shortly after the launch of the Spanish poker room.  After playing mainly online for almost two years, in January 2014 he won his first live tournament - the EPT Prague Celebrity Charity Event where he played in the illustrious company of none less than Ronaldo, Andriy Shevchenko, and pro poker's own star, @Daniel Negreanu. He has since been involved in two widely publicized online events - an hour of play on Facebook and a 'heads-up against Spain' on the PokerStars site.

Rafa is very much aware of his own social responsibility: "I’m lucky to be working on what I like and things go very well, so I think I’m in debt to society.”

The Rafa Nadal Foundation was launched in February 2008 with the aim of supporting and providing opportunities for socially disadvantaged young people. It has three active projects in Spain and India, that serve around 500 children and teenagers.

Together with his brother Tomeu, Rafa Nadal is also involved in the PokerStars sponsored The Good Hand Project: "a charity project born in the heart of the poker community, which seeks to mobilise as many people as possible in the social networks". You can find out more and join the initiative at: http://thegoodhandproject.org/en/

"Friday, I'll face Rafael Nadal HU in Monte-Carlo. I know he's a brilliant tennis strategist... can't wait to see what he brings to the felt!"

Vanessa Selbst is a Yale University law graduate and has always been passionate about social work and civil rights causes. 

"I think when you’re young, especially as a poker player, it’s easy to ignore those social responsibilities; to put them off to a later date, but we’re old enough now. We’re able to make a real difference and I think it’s important that we do."

Vanessa has been funding various non-profit organizations and initiatives and means to start a full-fledged project of her own related to police violence and civl rights violations. A special section of her website is dedicated to social justice and you can check what issues she feels  strongly about: http://vanessaselbstpoker.com/social-justice/

Which is Your Favorite Inspirational Chess Quote?

Here are six inspirational quotes from chess grandmasters that poker players can appreciate and embrace as their own:

1.

For success I consider three factors are necessary: firstly, an awareness of my own strengths and weaknesses; secondly, an accurate understanding of my opponent's strengths and weaknesses; thirdly, a higher aim than momentary satisfaction. Alexander Alekhine

2.

This is the essential element that cannot be measured by any analysis or device, and I believe it's at the heart of success in all things: the power of intuition and the ability to harness and use it like a master. Garry Kasparov

3.

Ultimately, what separates a winner from a loser at the grandmaster level is the willingness to do the unthinkable. A brilliant strategy is, certainly, a matter of intelligence, but intelligence without audaciousness is not enough. Given the opportunity, I must have the guts to explode the game, to upend my opponent's thinking and, in so doing, unnerve him. Garry Kasparov

4.

Enormous self-belief, intuition, the ability to take a risk at a critical moment and go in for a very dangerous play with counter-chances for the opponent - it is precisely these qualities that distinguish great players. Garry Kasparov

5.

Too many times, people don't try their best. They don't have the keen spirit; the winning spirit. And once you make it you've got to guard your reputation - every day go in like an unknown to prove yourself. Bobby Fischer 

6.

Self-confidence is very important. If you don’t think you can win, you will take cowardly decisions in the crucial moments, out of sheer respect for your opponent. You see the opportunity but also greater limitations than you should. Magnus Carlsen

Which one is your favorite? Can you add more on the #chessANDpoker topic?

Weekly RankingHero Highlights

“Every hand is just as much a battle against yourself as it is against your opponent” - our regular guest star blogger, Roothlus @Adam Levy, treats us to another strategy article this week: Gotta Know When to Fold 'Em

Available in French here: De Comment Se Coucher Au Bon Moment

In the 1990s and early 2000s Magic:The Gathering became a breeding ground for top online and live poker players. Our own founder and Rankinghero ambassador @Pedro Canali is a famous MTG pro champion and you’ll be surprised how many others share a passion for this game AND for poker!

Players of Magic:The Gathering Who have Discovered the Magic of Poker

And check out the photo album on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Rankinghero

Goodbyes and new beginnings: Sofia Lovgren is no longer the ambassador for the innovative poker room #PKR and Kristy Arnett leaves PokerNews; top online tournament PKR player, Eleanor Gudger signs on as the latest sponsored member of the PKR Team Pro and Sam Trickett’s fiancee, Natasha Sandhu, promises exciting news and insider tips as the new PokerTube video host!

@Sofia Lovgren is a recent member of the RankingHero community so let’s help her feel at home - follow her profile and give her distinctions!

Featured ranking: Germany’s six-month earnings ranking topped by this week’s birthday boy, Fabian Quoss! 

A warm welcome to @Julien Kron @Lola-sylvie Marques @Steven Maiffredy @Simeone Vulliet @Chris Louviere @Yassir Erragh @Nicolas Martin, to mention only a few of the hundreds of new members who have joined us in the past week!

Special thanks to our active members @Olivier Demabre @GOLIF @Manu Mars @NIGHTMARE8 - keep posting, liking and spreading the RankingHero news! :)

And finally, we will be looking forward to: @European Poker Tour  #Sanremo next week, check back for updates!!!

Yours truly, @Annie RKH 

Sam Trickett's High-School Sweetheart Natasha Joins PokerTube as Video Blog Host

The fans of #EverestPoker ambassador @Sam Trickett will be thrilled to know that they are likely to get more insider updates about  their favorite player as his long-time girlfriend and travel partner on the circuit, Natasha Sandhu, has teamed up with PokerTube as their new video blog host.  

Natasha has already taken on her new role of PokerTube host. The first video is up (a visit to the @Dusk Till Dawn casino in Nottingham) and so is Natasha's introductory blog in which she describes herself as  "a 27-year-old food loving, dog loving, music, shopping and gossip loving, half English half Indian, over excitable, photo and selfie taking addict".

"...you may or may not already know that I’m also the fiancée of professional poker player Sam Trickett. We have been together for 8 years now into our 9th year. We are very happy in our home together and have 2 amazing doggies, I support him whenever and wherever he needs me to and its my main priority to look after him (feed him)."

In addition to insider reports about the poker high life and Sam's high and low poker moments, Natasha offers her help to anyone in need of advice about travel arrangements and sightseeing along the poker circuit - "As well as this I am here to offer my advice and tips, If you are thinking of travelling the poker circuit I can offer travel and booking advice, the best places and times to book, also where I think is good to eat, what I think is good to do. You may have different tastes to me but I’m here to help!"

Natasha Sandhu's contribution on #NationalCleavageDay 

Read on:

Sam Trickett - the World's Youngest Old School Player?

Happy Birthday Fabian Quoss!

A very happy birthday and lucky year to @Fabian Quoss and congratulations on topping the Germany 6-month Earnings Ranking!

The #GermanPoker community is a formidable force on the world live poker scene and the most successful one in Europe in terms of live earnings. Fabian has long been right up there with the likes of @Tobias Reinkemeier @Philipp Gruissem and @Ole Schemion but in the past 6 months he has shot up to the very top, with $2,405,791, bringing his total live earnings to $5,559,355. 

The just turned 32-year-old Fabian was born in Nuremberg, Germany and lives in London. He started playing live events as a student in Germany and one of his finest poker achievements and a major cash of $427,912 dates back to 2009, when a bracelet was within his hand's reach and he finished second in a $5,000 buy-in event at 2009 WSOP.

The next career highlight came in 2010 when Fabian won the English Poker Open triumphing over a field of 193 players - “I’ve finally won a tournament! It’s my fourth heads up and I’ve lost the first three. The final table had a pretty high level of play, even compared to my WPT final table. It was pretty tough.”

In the year 2013 - that Fabian has called 'unlucky' because he didn't win a title - he made FOUR final tables. Then a title and two important cashes in 2014 alone nearly doubled up his career winnings: the 2014 PCA High-Roller Event victory and the 5th place in the Aussie Millions $250,000 Boutique Challenge.

"I feel that, after 2013, when luck wasn’t on my side, I kind of deserve it. In 2014 things will be different.”

And so they are indeed - GG and GL, Fabian :)

New PKR Ambassador - English Pro Eleanor 'Elz442' Gudger

@Eleanor Gudger is the latest addition to the Pro Team of the innovative poker room #PKR. She has been playing poker for seven years, much of that time on PKR where she is known as Elz442 and is one of the most successful tournament players in the site's history, with more than $225,000 in PKR tournament earnings since 2007.

At 31, the law graduate from Durham University considers herself a professional poker player and is thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue poker  - a passion that she shares with her partner and "number one supporter" ForFoxSake (whom she met on PKR, by the way :)

Interestingly enough Eleanor's father happens to play competitively too, but it was not from him that she was smitten with the poker bug. Rather, the opposite happened:

I'd mentioned I was playing poker, enjoying it and having some success so he had to learn it too. A few home games later and he was hooked. I'm proud of how well he has developed as a player since then taking on advice, but I can't take all the credit as he's put the effort into learning. Luckily competitiveness is a good trait to have in poker so maybe we'll keep driving each other to better. He is also a massive luckbox which always helps - maybe another family trait :P

Elz442 is big fan of video games and loved the 3D graphics on the PKR site where she started playing in 2007. She cites MTTs as her area of expertise:

I focus mainly on MTTs. I love the element of constant fluctuation meaning that you have to be able to adapt not just to your opponents but to other factors such as stack size and how it relates to the changing blinds, structures, payouts etc. It's very engaging and if you get it just right, and with just the right amount of luck, nothing beats the feeling of winning one.

Yet, as you can see from her RankingHero stats, Eleanor has had some high moments in live poker as well - most notably her 6th place finish at the 2013 WSOP Ladies Championship, with a cash of $27,045. This is the one acheivement that she singles out as the most memorable and inspiring one. The best thing about her newly signed sponsorship deal is that it will allow her to play major live events and certainly Eleanor will be in Vegas this summer for the WSOP.

I want to win a major live title as part of Team PKR of course!! I know some people frown about setting result-orientated goals but the goal has always got to be to win. I hope luck is on my side when I need it but in having that goal, all I can do is ensure I'm in the best position to achieve it. 

More about PKR and its ambassadors: 

Happy Birthday to Sofia Lovgren!

Sofia Lovgren Leaves PKR for Mysterious New Adventure

#womenINpoker 

Will the Poker Community Forget, Forgive or Forbid Howard Lederer from Ever Coming Back

Now that U.S. Full Tilt players are finally getting repaid after having their funds frozen on #BlackFriday, speculations have been surfacing about a possible poker comeback of @Howard Lederer. A hilarious new video by SrslySirius feeds on - and in turn refuels - these rumors:

As poker players we must, of course, understand that Lederer is probably hurting to come back. However, judging by the extreme reactions his name still elicits in the forums, it might as yet be unsafe and far too soon for the man vilified as 'public enemy number one' to return to the poker circuit.

While he was nowhere near welcoming Howard Lederer back as a friend just yet, in a rare recent interview, @Phil Ivey was cautiously forgiving and understanding: 

“I talked to Howard (Lederer) a month ago as a matter of fact. I expressed my disappointment with his (PokerNews) interview. I told him that I thought some of the things he said were not true. He thought everything he said was true. Howard’s a very stubborn person.

Do I consider Howard a friend? No, not anymore. We used to be friends, and you know, maybe one day we can be friends again. You know? I’m a very forgiving person. I just hope he gets in a better place. He’s had a real tough time. He took a lot of heat for a lot of things, and there were a lot of things that he took heat for that he may not have been responsible for.”

At the end of the day the players are getting back their money. What happened and what could have been a disaster ended up not being a disaster. I think if the guy wants to come and play poker, he should be allowed that right. He should be allowed to sit down and play poker and he shouldn’t be bothered. That’s just my personal opinion.”

It remains to be seen whether Lederer will indeed venture out in the live poker felt this summer and whether the poker community is ready to forgive, if not forget.

Watch the famous PokerNews Lederer Files - a seven-part series compiled from an exclusive interview conducted with Howard Lederer on Saturday Sept. 8, 2012: http://www.pokernews.com/lederer-files.htm

Phil Ivey Bluff Magazine interview: http://www.bluff.com/magazine/pulling-back-the-curtain-22118/

Players of Magic:The Gathering Who have Discovered the Magic of Poker

Here at RankingHero we are particularly fond of Magic:The Gathering. And not simply because we love all strategic, community-building, subculture-generating addictive games (though these would all be valid reasons in themselves). We have an additional very special reason for this affinity with MTG - our own founder and RankingHero ambassador, @Pedro Canali, is a champion of the game. Back in 2004, in his very first professional tournament, Canali won the Pro Tour-Columbus with a deck called “Affinity” :)

Magic:The Gathering is a collectible card game which revolutionized this sector of the gaming industry in the 1990s. It has continued to thrive to this day, with millions of fans all over the world, professional tournaments and championships, as well as amateur leagues and communities, and a huge secondary market for Magic cards. Each game represents a battle between mighty wizards who employ spells, artifacts, and creatures depicted on individual Magic cards to defeat their opponents.

In the early 2000s, at the time of the poker boom, MTG became something of a “breeding ground for world class poker players”. Rather than the rules of the game itself, it was the strategic thinking, and above all, the culture and lifestyle associated with poker that attracted many MTG players. And the money, of course. Unlike MTG, poker made it possible to make a living without compromising on the lifestyle. 

Successful poker players with a background in Magic: The Gathering include WSOP bracelet winners, WPT and EPT champions, and online poker wizards. 

@David Williams:
"I think the biggest correlation is that it teaches the brain how to work. It's problem-solving, logical deduction. Most people aren't sharpening their brains constantly. We've been honing our skills for years; high-level thinking is pretty much all we do. That's great training for playing poker under pressure."

@Brock Parker:
"Poker is a job, 'Magic' a game. I never want to play poker in my free time. 'Magic' you can. You can't make a living at 'M:TG,' but it's just the more enjoyable game."

@Isaac Haxton:
"Some guys have done it for eight years by the time they get to 21, and that makes us better; If you get deep in a tournament and aren't used to the high-pressure situations in person, it's a problem. 'Magic' prepared us for that."

Photo from a 2013 blog entry by PokerStars ambassador Katerina Malasidou, poker notables - including the 2009 MTG World Champion @Andre Coimbra - relaxing with Magic:The Gathering 

 
@Manuel Bevand  from @Winamax mentions on this fascinating blog post how his skills aquired from MTG translated into poker to give him an edge 

Below you will find a non-exhaustive list of notable players who share a passion for MTG and poker; you can check their profile pages on RankingHero to see their live poker tournament achievements:

@Adam Levy  @Andre Coimbra  @Andrea Dato  

@Anton Morgenstern @Brock Parker @Christopher DeMaci   

@Dario Minieri @David Williams @Eric Froehlich 

@Gabriel Nassif @Isaac Haxton @Jose Ignacio Barbero 

@Justin Bonomo @Kevin MacPhee @Manuel Bevand  @Mickey Petersen 

@Noah Boeken @Scott Seiver 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering_World_Championship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_Tour_(Magic:_The_Gathering)