Females Dominate as WPT South Africa Kicks Off

Females Dominate as WPT South Africa Kicks Off

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

The World Poker Tour’s first main event in South Africa got under way yesterday but before the action kicked off it was ladies day as Melanie Weisner claimed her first live win.

The diminutive pro managed to take down the $1,000 6-max event over the weekend and claim $41,000. Her route to victory wasn’t an easy one as she found herself pitted against former EPT Champion Lucien Cohen.


Indeed, things got tougher for her when the Frenchman stormed to a 5-1 chip lead. Weisner managed to dig deep though and reverse her fortunes, eventually taking down her opponent and the event.


While Weisner claimed gold in South Africa, Vanessa Selbst was busy winning the Bellagio $5,000 event. A tough field turned out for the event but Selbst did what she does best and added another $90,000 to her live earnings.


The double female victory will certainly go down as one of the most significant for women in a long time. Indeed, it’s a sign of not only women’s but poker’s progress that two of the game’s toughest players are now non-males.


With the community buzzing over the Weisner and Selbst double, the $3,300 main event kicked off yesterday in Johannesburg.


74 players entered on Day 1A and when the chips had settled and the day concluded it was Dominik Nitsche who stood atop of the chips counts.


The action will resume today when even more of the poker world’s best are expected to grace the felt.


Weisner tweets



Tags: WPT South Africa, Melanie Weisner, Vanessa Selbst