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!
Vanessa Selbst took 200,000 off Jamie Pickering before the final hand took place.
Surprisingly we had a limped pot that brought a flop .
Pickering checked to Selbst who bet 90,000. Pickering then looked at his cards and moved all in.
Selbst made the call and flipped over .
Pickering flipped over .
The turn came and river .
It's over as Vanessa Selbst's hand holds up and she wins Event 19, the $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha. Jamie Pickering takes home $145,459 for second, and Vanessa Selbst grabs $227,965 and her first WSOP bracelet.
Congratulations also go to Jamie Pickering for his second-place finish and helping this be one of the most entertaining final tables of this year's WSOP.
Jamie Pickering is contiuing to bet and raise blind and it has helped him win two smallish pots from Vanessa Selbst. She doesn't seem to know how to play him but is enjoying it all the same.
She folded in these two hands to give Pickering the pots and he had her drawing dead twice when blind!