 It's not often these days that you see a pretty face taking down a poker tournament, much less a table full of pros. But that's exactly what happened this week when well-known PokerStars Pro member Vanessa Rousso took down the win on the new season of Poker After Dark. The win cemented yet another prize purse in a long career of strong money finishes for this sexy poker professional.
Team PokerStars Pro member Vanessa Rousso won $120,000 after winning her first NBC Poker After Dark title. Rousso knocked out four players out in a row, including Gus Hansen, Erica Schoenberg, Beth Shak and Clonie Gowen, as she beat out five Full Tilt Pros in a decisive victory. After this win, Rousso has earned over $1.6 million lifetime in tournament winnings, making her one of the best female pros in recent years.
“Taking home my first Poker After Dark title is a great feeling,” said Rousso. “It builds needed momentum heading into the World Series of Poker. Hopefully I can use this win and my strong play at PokerStars’ EPT events as a launch pad to take home my first gold bracelet this summer.”
Rousso busted out Gus Hansen when she caught him making a move after he survived consecutive all-ins. Rousso then took out Schoenberg with A-Q to her K-8. Shak made a move with pocket 8’s but ran into Rousso’s pocket Queens. With a 4-1 chip lead, Rousso entered heads-up play with Clonie Gowen, who’d been the chip leader much of the week. It took Rousso only a few hands to eliminate Gowen when Rousso rivered two-pair versus Gowen’s busted straight draw.
“Poker After Dark is where the top pros come to play,” added Rousso. “I was honored to play with Gus and the top female pros at the table. I felt confident with my play and remained focused and tuned into my instincts throughout the match.”
Since going pro in 2006 Rousso has built an impressive portfolio. Rousso won a WPT event at the Borgata in 2006 and took 2nd in the PokerStars World Cup of Online Poker in 2007. Rousso also finished seventh place at the 2006 World Poker Tour championship event, and took eighth in the 2006 World Series of Poker $5000 No Limit Hold 'em Shorthanded event.
Next on the Rousso's poker itinerary is Europe’s biggest poker tournament, the PokerStars European Poker Tour Grand Final, which takes place in Monte Carlo from April 12-17, 2008. Rousso will then head down to the first PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 3-5. Satellites for the EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo and the LAPT are running now on PokerStars. |
