2008 World Series of Poker

Congratulations to Vanessa Selbst, Event No. 19 Champion ($227,905)

Omaha's reputation as the "action game" was well served at today's final table, as Vanessa Selbst survived a memorably manic heads-up confrontation with Jamie Pickering to win the bracelet in Event No. 19, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event.

Selbst took the chip lead midway through Day 1, and immediately began applying pressure to all of her shorter-stacked opponents. She increased her lead throughout Day 2, then a gutsy play in the final hand of the ten-handed final table propelled her to a massive chip lead entering today's play.

Selbst maintained control of the final table as the shorter stacks dropped away one by one. Then, at three-handed both eventual third-place finisher Stanley Statkiewicz and Pickering managed to double up through Selbst, and suddenly we were looking at three players with very even stacks.

Selbst soon retook her advantage, though, and after knocking out Statkiewicz managed to negotiate her way through the land mines of Pickering's no-look pot-sized raises to take home the bracelet. Selbst is the first woman to win a WSOP bracelet this year in an open event.

It's been a wild one here at Table No. 15. Thanks to everyone for following the coverage!

Tags: Vanessa Selbst.

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