In today’s post, we’re going to be looking at a selection of the world’s most famous female gamblers. In such a male-dominated industry, some incredibly talented women are often overlooked, and this is something we’re going to try and help change. Today, we’ll show you some very talented female gamblers, and look at their impact on the industry as a whole.
Famous Female Gamblers: Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Harman – But Who Else?
When it comes to discussing the most famous female gamblers of all time, there are always two names that appear: Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Harman. These women are both professional poker players, and to be fair, they’ve done an insane job – both winning millions of dollars!
However, their fame often means that many other influential female gamblers are overlooked – and today, we’re going to do our best to change that. We’re going to take a look at some of the other famous female gamblers who’ve made a big impact in the offline and online gambling world.
Barbara Enright: Trailblazer for Women Gamblers
Barbara Enright is a trailblazer in the world of poker and has become an icon for countless women in the industry. She’s best known for being the first woman to reach the final table at the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1995, sparking a surge in interest among women in the game.
Enright’s impressive career includes three WSOP bracelets and her induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007, solidifying her status as a pioneer for women in poker. Her success is not only due to her outstanding poker skills but also her determination in overcoming adversity.
Throughout her career, she faced skepticism and discrimination because of her gender, but Enright continued to defy her critics, consistently demonstrating that women can compete at the highest level in the game.
Her determination and accomplishments have contributed to a more inclusive and diverse poker environment, paving the way for future generations of female poker players.
Kelly Sun: Master of Baccarat and Edge Sorting
Kelly Sun, a master of baccarat and edge sorting, has made a name for herself in the gambling world with her incredible skills and strategies. Edge sorting, a controversial technique that involves identifying small imperfections in the patterns on the backs of playing cards, has been the key to her success.
Sun’s journey began in her native China, where she developed a passion for gambling. After losing a lot of money, she became determined to learn edge sorting. She decided to apply it to baccarat – the same game poker pro Phil Ivey won millions of dollars on. Armed with her newly learned skills, Sun made a remarkable comeback – winning back all the money she’d lost, and a lot more!
However, like many in the gambling industry, Sun’s story is not without controversy, as some argue that edge sorting is cheating. Despite legal battles and challenges, she continues to hold a strong reputation, and, in our opinion, she’s earned her place in this list of the world’s most famous female gamblers.
Annette Obrestad: The Youngest World Series of Poker Champion
Annette Obrestad, known for her one-of-a-kind poker face – and, of course, her exceptional poker skills – made history as the youngest World Series of Poker Europe champion. She was born in Norway in 1988, and she started to play poker when she was just 15 years old! By the time she turned 18, she had managed to become a formidable force in the online poker world and had won more money than most of us make in a lifetime!
In 2007, at only 18 years and 364 days old, Annette won the first-ever WSOP Europe Main Event, earning a staggering £1 million prize. The impressive victory showcased her exceptional talent and set the stage for a successful career in poker.
In the years that followed, she continued to perform well in both live and online events. Her continued wins and multi-million-dollar earnings made her one of the most feared opponents at the table – and it’s said that some of the best male pros would sigh if they learned they were playing at the same table as her!
To us, it’s remarkable that Obrestad managed to see so much success at such a young age. Her achievements have had a huge impact on women in gambling, as she’s convinced many females to try poker out for themselves!
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Victoria Coren Mitchell: Poker Pro and Media Personality
Victoria Coren Mitchell has a unique blend of wit, charm, and intelligence that has allowed her to thrive in various roles, from hosting quiz shows to writing engaging columns.
She’s a familiar face on British TV, often showcasing her comedic talent and dry humor, as well as impressing audiences with her knowledge on trivia shows. In the poker world, Victoria has left her mark as the first woman to win an event on the European Poker Tour (EPT).
She later became the first player to win two EPT Main Event titles. As both a media personality and a poker pro, Victoria Coren Mitchell has become a role model for young women who aspire to follow in her footsteps and make their mark in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Kristen Bicknell, The Canadian Crusher
Kristen Bicknell, dubbed the “Canadian Crusher,” is an incredibly talented poker player, and she’s made a huge name for herself in the online gambling world. Bicknell was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she spent the majority of her early life.
After getting a taste for playing poker during college, she started to realize she possessed quite a talent for the game. She started to make small deposits at online poker sites – and before long, she was dominating online tournaments and cash games, beating some of the world’s best male players.
However, it wasn’t until 2013 that her career really started to take off. This happened when she won her first World Series of Poker gold bracelet. The win came during a No-Limit Hold’em Ladies event – a special and unique event put on by the WSOP each year to promote female empowerment and bring more female players into the game.
She won a huge amount of money by winning the tournament – but it wasn’t just the money that changed her life; she also became seen as one of the most competent live female players, and this reputation has stuck with her ever since.
Since her iconic win, she’s continued to be a massive winner in the game. For example, she won her second WSOP bracelet in 2016 in the 2016 No-Limit Hold’em event. As a result of this win, she ended up being crowned the Global Poker Index (GPI) Female Player of the Year in 2017.
Even more impressively, she won the GPI Female Player of the Year award in 2018 and 2019, too. In a recent interview, Bicknell revealed that she believes her edge is due to her strong work ethic, dedication to improving her game, and her ability to stay focused under pressure.
Landmark Achievements by Women Gamblers
Many renowned women gamblers have achieved remarkable milestones in their careers. These accomplishments have not only brought them personal success but also helped elevate the status of women in the gambling industry. Let’s take a look at some landmark achievements by women gamblers and how they’ve contributed to the growth and evolution of the industry.
PLAYER NAME | MAIN ACHIEVEMENT |
---|---|
Vanessa Selbst | The highest earning female poker player with over $11.9 million in winnings. |
Barbara Enright | The first woman in history to reach the final table of the WSOP Main Event. |
Kathy Liebert | The first female gambler to win over $1 million in a poker tournament. |
Victoria Coren Mitchell | The first player, female or male, to win two EPT Main Event titles – London 2006 and Sanremo 2014. |
Vanessa Rousso | Managed to win more than $3.5 million in poker tournaments while studying law at Duke University. |
Liv Boeree | The first woman in history to win both EPT and WSOP titles – Sanremo 2010 and WSOP 2017. |
How did Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Harman become famous gamblers?
Both Vanessa Selbst and Jennifer Harman rose to fame through their exceptional poker skills and consistent success in tournaments. Selbst is known for her aggressive playstyle, which has led to her becoming the highest-earning female poker player. Harman, on the other hand, is respected for her cash game expertise.
What makes Barbara Enright a trailblazer for women in poker?
Barbara Enright has earned her status as a trailblazer for women in poker by achieving numerous groundbreaking milestones. One of her most notable accomplishments was being the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table, which you can read more about in the Barbara Enright section.
What is edge sorting, and how has Kelly Sun mastered it?
Edge sorting is a technique that involves identifying small imperfections on the backs of playing cards. Kelly Sun managed to perfect the technique and applied it to baccarat, winning millions from casinos worldwide. While some in the gambling industry class edge sorting as cheating, this is a pretty fringe view, and most consider her to be a legend of the game.
How did Annette Obrestad become the youngest World Series of Poker champion?
Annette Obrestad started playing poker online at the age of 15 and quickly became a force to be reckoned with. At 18, she made history by winning the first WSOP Europe Main Event and scooping £1 million, triumphing over John Tabatabai, who came second.
How has Victoria Coren Mitchell balanced her poker career with her media work?
Victoria Coren Mitchell has managed to excel in both her poker career and media work by utilizing her intelligence, wit, and charm. As a writer, presenter, and broadcaster, she has made a significant impact in both industries. She’s married to David Mitchell, a famous actor and TV presenter in the UK, best known for his work on Peep Show.