The second-ever event of the World Poker Tour Ladies took place at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, where Vanessa Selbst walked away as the winner after defeating Full Tilt Poker Pro Erica Schoenberg in heads-up play. Crystal Osgood, founder of the Ladies Poker Association, would finish in third place. The inaugural tournament of the WPTL took place on January 20th in Atlantic City. The buy-in for this event was $1000, and 82 players ponied up the buy-in to compete for the title. There were 81 ladies in the field and 1 man, as it is not legal in California to actually exclude a specific group from any form of gambling, making it possible for men to join the field. The one man did not last very long, leaving the ladies to battle it out amongst themselves. Also among the ladies in the tournament were WSOP bracelet winner Cyndy Violette and 2007 WPT Ladies Night winner Pamela Brunson.
Vanessa Selbst has become a recognizable name over the past few years, mostly due to her success at the WSOP where she has made three final tables, including an eighth place finish in the Ladies’ Event. She will b even more recognizable now that she has her first major tournament victory, a victory she was previously lacking. Vanessa won $26,500 for her victory. Erica Schoenberg earned $14,690 for her runner-up performance, while thrid place finisher Crystal Osgood was awarded $10,920.
The third event in the WPTL will take place at the Bay 101 Shooting Star Casino, located in San Jose, California. This event will take place in March. The season will finish in April at the Five Star World Poker Classic at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, where the $1,500 buy-in WPT Ladies Championship Event will take place.