Selbst wins third WSOP bracelet

Vanessa Selbst solidified her place as the best female poker player of all time, winning the $25,000 buy-in Mixed Max No-Limit Hold ’em event Friday during the 45th annual World Series of Poker at the Rio Convention Center.

Selbst defeated Jason Mo after 72 hands of heads-up play to take home the $871,148 first prize. It is the third career gold bracelet for the 29-year-old Selbst, tying Barbara Enright for most among women.

Selbst is already the winningest female player in history, and the latest payday pushes her career winnings to more than $10 million.

Selbst was at a nearly 5-to-1 chip disadvantage against Mo at one point, but their duel swung on the 63rd hand when Selbst won a huge pot. Selbst was holding pockets queens against Mo’s ace-queen, and the final queen in the deck came on the turn (fourth) card. Selbst called Mo’s 1.315-chip bet after the river (final) card was turned up, giving her a nearly 3-to-1 chip lead.

Mo pocketed $538,308 as he finished second in a WSOP event for the second time in his career.

Also, Brandon Shack-Harris won his first career bracelet, taking down the $1,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha event. Shack-Harris bested a field of 1,128 players and earned $205,634.

Shack-Harris came from behind on the final hand, catching a straight on the river card to bust Morgan Popham, who won $127,245.

Two-time bracelet winner Steve Billirakis finished fourth after entering the six-handed final table with the chip lead.