The 10 best female tournament players in poker Part 2
In Part 1 of this series I detailed #’s 5-10 on my list of the best female tournament poker players; in Part 2 I will now look at the top four players on my list as well as three female players to watch in the future.
#4 - Annette Obrestad
Obrestad came into the live poker world with a big online reputation, which she backed up by winning the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event at the ripe old age of 18! Since then Obrestad hasn’t broken through with another big win, but has performed very well in side events.
Obrestad is one of those poker players that could go on a $4 million heater at any time, so you never know when she is going to simply break-through into the Vanessa Selbst category of female players -which basically means you are among the best male or female poker players.
Career tournament earnings: $3,721,676
#3 - Xuan Liu
If you don’t know who Xuan Liu you better take notice. The young Canadian poker pro has been the best performing female player on the tournament scene over the last 12 months, including a 4th place finish at the 2012 PCA and a 3rd place finish at the 2011 EPT San Remo.
In only her second full year on the tournament scene Liu looks to be the real deal.
Career tournament earnings: $1,255,866
#2 - Kathy Liebert
Liebert has been considered one of the top tournament players for over a decade, and in the mid-2000’s was easily the best female tournament player in the game. After a lackluster two-year span, Liebert toils away in relative obscurity due to her lack of a sponsorship deal - If Kathy was sponsored like most of the other top players in the game there is no doubt in my mind she would be in the #1 spot on this list.
So what has Liebert accomplished in her poker career? A better question would be what hasn’t she accomplished! Liebert was the first woman to win a $1 million tournament, which she did at the 2002 Party Poker Million; she also has four WPT Final Tables under her belt, including a runner-up finish and two 3rd place finishes; not to mention a WSOP bracelet which she won in 2004. Liebert currently sits in the #1 spot on the all-time money list for female players.
Career tournament earnings: $5,827,393
#1 - Vanessa Selbst
Selbst is an absolute beast at the poker tables, and is one of the best finishers in the game -if she makes the final table there is a really good chance she is going to hoist the trophy. Selbst is the only openly gay female poker player, which allows her to carry the banner for two minority groups in poker.
Selbst is a WSOP bracelet winner, won the 2010 Partouche Poker Tour Main Event, back-to-back NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Events, and has a long list of major final tables including 5 WSOP final tables and a WPT final table.
Career tournament earnings: $4,911,582
Player to Watch - Celina Lin
Lin is crushing the Asian tournament scene including winning the 2009 Macau Poker Cup. Lin has been a regular in both Australia and Chinese poker tournaments for the past five years where she has amassed over $200k in tournament earnings.
Player to Watch - Melanie Weisner
Weisner is on everyone’s to watch list, and the young online poker star turned live tournament pro has had a number of brushes with a big win. Weisner is currently sponsored by Lock Poker.
Player to Watch - La Sengphet
Sengphet has been tearing up the WSOP Circuit series over the past two years, and seems to be on a similar path as Dwyte Pilgrim.
