FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Luis Zedan Wins Largest Pot Of The Day, Chops Down Martinez's Stack

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/1,200)
Total Day 1B Entries: 86
Day 1B Players Remaining: 31

It's hard not to smile if you're Luis Zedan (Miami, FL), sitting with a stack of over (350) big blinds, now ten levels into the day.

We just witnessed the largest pot of the day, which went down over at Table 4.  After Luis Zedan raised to 5,800 (on a flop of J♠ 7♥ 2♥), Juan Martinez would three-bet to 15,800.  The fireworks didn't stop there though, as Zedan collected chips for a four-bet, and tossed out a total of 35,800.  Martinez quickly made the call, and the two would see the 9♦ on the turn.  Zedan stared down Martinez, and cut out a sizable amount of chips, pushing forward a bet of 67,000.  Martinez made the call before Luis could even move his hand back towards his cards, with the dealer completing the board by dropping the 9♣ on the river.  The board pairing did not deter Zedan, who announced himself all-in, putting Martinez in a spot to decide for his tournament life.

Juan took about a minute to think about his next course of action, deciding to release his hand, and give the pot to Zedan.  Luis chipped up to over 425,000, while Martinez saw his stack shrink down to 80,000.

Luis Zedan - 428,000 (356bb)
Juan Martinez - 80,000 (66bb)

Players are about to head on their final break of the day, and will be returning to Level 11, with new blinds of 800/1,600/1,600.

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Players Remaining In The Day 1B Field

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/1,200)
Total Day 1B Entries: 86
Day 1B Players Remaining: 33

Players are ten minutes removed from the beginning of Level 10, with the final break of the day to commence at the level's conclusion.  A full list of players remaining in the Day 1B field is posted below:

Table 1

1. Ivan Starostin
2. Erik Nomberg
3. Bob Zlatkiss
4. Manny Manaya
5. Michael Beasley
6. Tom Millward
7. Brian Wilson
8. Nagui Yassa

Table 2

1. Joshua Hillock
2. Dmitry Agrachov
3. David Coughlin
4. Joshua Kay
5. Zack Milchman
6. Bill Farnan
7. Eduardo Christ
8. Matt Smith 

Table 3

1. Andre Daire
2. Raj Vohra
3. Paul Balzano
4. Dan Rashbaum
5. Vanessa Rousso
6. Alan Ramkhalawan
7. Chad Millward
8. Steve Rosen
9. Sheldon Gross

Table 4

1. Skip McDonough
2. Luis Zedan
3. Juan Martinez
4. Scotty Nguyen
5. Farid Dridi
6. Mike Landress
7. Miguel Capriles
8. Ian O'Hara

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Updated Chip Counts From The Field, Zedan Leading The Way

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/1,000)
Total Day 1B Entries: 86
Day 1B Players Remaining: 37

The card protector that sits atop the stack of chip leader Luis Zedan (Miami, FL).

It's been a little bit since we last checked in on chip counts from the field, but it's a familiar name still sitting atop the leaderboard.  Luis Zedan (Miami, FL) was the first player to eclipse the 100,000 mark (back in Level 4), and has now become the first to crack 300,000.  Zedan currently sits with 325,000, and is running away from the rest of the field.  Updated chip counts tallied during the middle of Level 9 are posted below:

Luis Zedan - 325,000 (325bb)
David Coughlin - 210,000 (210bb)
Vanessa Rousso - 130,000 (130bb)
Juan Martinez - 127,000 (127bb)
Tom Millward - 115,000 (115bb)
Farid Dridi - 105,000 (105bb)
Joshua Kay - 95,000 (95bb)
Erik Nomberg - 90,000 (90bb)
Nagui Yassa - 70,000 (70bb)
Scotty Nguyen - 31,000 (31bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Farid Dridi Doubles Through Chad Millward In Dramatic Fashion

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/1,000)
Total Day 1B Entries: 85
Day 1B Players Remaining: 40

Farid Dridi (Germany) found a very fortunate runout against Chad Millward, making a flush on the river to beat Chad's flopped set.

Towards the end of Level 8, we could see three players standing up at Table 10, which usually means something is going down.  We would approach the table with Farid Dridi (Germany) all-in against Chad Millward, on a board of 6♣ 2♦ 3♣ J♣. Dridi was all-in for 41,100, with over 30,000 already in the pot, with the hands exposed on the table:

Dridi: A♦ A♣
Millward: 6♥ 6♠

River: 4♣

Millward had flopped top set on the flop, and was just one card away from having a top five stack...but a fourth club would fall on the river, giving Farid the winning flush.  Chad couldn't' believe the runout, and was visibly shook after the chips were shipped the way of Dridi.  Millward still returned from break with (40) big blinds, and while it's below average at the moment, it's more than manageable at this point in the day.

Farid Dridi - 119,000 (119bb)
Chad Millward - 41,100 (41bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Players Heading On Break, Looking Forward To Next Month's Card Player Poker Tour

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/800)
Total Day 1B Entries: 84
Day 1B Players Remaining: 43

Players are heading on their third break of the day, and will be returning to Level 9, with new blinds of 500/1,000/1,000.  While there is a short lull in the action, it gives us a moment to take a look at next month's Card Player Poker Tour schedule, which boasts an $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($200,000 GTD).

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): It's Scotty Time Baby!! Scotty Nguyen Joins The Flight 1B Field

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/800)
Total Day 1B Entries: 83
Day 1B Players Remaining: 46

Players have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Scotty Nguyen (Henderson, NV), who joins the action a day later than scheduled (he was under the weather, and chose to bypass Day 1A).

To an avid poker fan, the 1998 WSOP Main Event winner needs no introduction.  The "Prince Of Poker" has been one of the most colorful character on and off the felt, and has a style unmatched by anyone.  Scotty Nguyen (Henderson, NV) has won four WSOP bracelets in his career, and amassed tournament earnings of $12,587,805.  He's 26th on the all-time money list, recording a total of (307) results in his twenty-seven year career.

The game of poker is ever-evolving, and one thing that Scotty has done is withstand the test of time, case in point his most recent headlining score.  Nguyen reached the final table of the $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Roller (Event #42) at the WSOP, finishing in third place, and earning $592,875.  He shared the felt with players that are currently considered some of the best (Shaun Deeb, Benjamin You, Jason Koon), and proved that Scotty is always a force to be reckoned with...baby.

Scotty now has to deal with some of the best from the Florida poker community, as he is seated at a table with Jeffrey Trudeau, Ian O'Hara, and Juan Martinez.

Scotty Nguyen - 30,000 (37bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Rousso Doubles Through Thuy Kawano, Now Over 115,000

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/600)
Total Day 1B Entries: 83
Day 1B Players Remaining: 46

Vanessa Rousso (Miami, FL) got off to a strong start, but then got stuck around the 50,000 mark...until moments ago, when she doubled through Thuy Kawano.

Media focus was on Table 4, as Richard Rice wads doubling through Juan Martinez (A♣ K♠ > A♦ J♣ for a 50,000 pot), but quickly shifted to the neighboring table.  Vanessa Rousso and Thuy Kawano were heads-up on a 10♦ 7♥ 5♦ flop, with a 10,000 bet in front of Rousso (action leading up has not yet been verified).  Kawano clicked it back, and tossed out a raise to 20,000, eliciting a shove from Rousso.  Thuy went deep into the tank, asking for an exact count from the dealer, after about a minute.  It would be 29,700 more for Kawano to call, which was most of what she had left.  

There was a little talk between the players, but much of it was inaudible.  The only thing that could be made out, was Thuy asking Vanessa if she had aces.  Kawano lifted her cards in a manner that would make one believe they were going to find the muck, but ended up making the call:

Rousso: 10♥ 10♣ (top set)
Kawano: K♥ K♣ (over-pair)

Turn: 2♣
River: 6♦

The turn and river would run out clean for Rousso, who would double up to just over 115,000.

Vanessa Rousso - 117,000 (195bb)
Thuy Kawano - 6,700 (11bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Event #9 Champion Raj Vohra Enters The Fray, Looking For A Repeat Performance

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/600)
Total Day 1B Entries: 81
Day 1B Players Remaining: 46

Not only did was the Event #9 win the first outright tournament win of Raj Vohra's career, but it helped him eclipse the $1,000,000 mark in lifetime earnings.

Most players that work a long day on Friday, can only think about getting home to the couch/bed, and relaxing for the evening.  Not Event #9 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD) winner Raj Vohra (Lake Worth, FL), who just took his seat at Table 3.  This is the exact time we saw him enter Flight 1C last week, and he was able to bag up 152,000.  Vohra would be happy to bag on his first entry once again, and make the same type of run he did less than a week ago.  

The $70,469 that Raj earned for first place, helped him hit a milestone mark, as he now has over $1,000,000 in lifetime earnings.  It's a number that most tournament players can only dream about, but he reached the mark after eleven years of recording results.

Raj Vohra - 35,000 (58bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Coughlin Continues To Rise, Sends Home Patrick Biancone

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 300/500/500)
Total Day 1B Entries: 78
Day 1B Players Remaining: 51

The chip leading stack of David Coughlin, who continues to pull away from the rest of the field.

David Coughlin (Lighthouse Point, FL) gets the rare back-to-back blog post, after knocking out Patrick Biancone.  Coughlin would open from early position, with players folding around to Biancone, who was in the small blind.  Patrick made the call, and the two players watched the dealer fan out a flop of J♦ 10♥ 9♥.  Biancone checked to Coughlin, who put out a 20,000 bet (well over pot), to which Patrick would call.  Biancone checked the 2 on the turn, with Coughlin wagering enough to put Biancone all-in.  The call was quickly made, and cards were tabled:

Coughlin: K♥ Q♥
Biancone: A♥ 3♥

Both players had flush draws, but Coughlin flopped a king-high straight, which also took outs away from Patrick (as he drew to a straight flush).  The board would pair on the river with the 10♦, sealing the pot for David, who chipped up to 168,000.

David Coughlin - 168,000 (336bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Cards Are Back In The Air, As Players Focus On Finding A Bag

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 300/500/500)
Total Day 1B Entries: 77
Day 1B Players Remaining: 51

David Coughlin (Lighthouse Point, FL) returned to dinner as the Day 1B chip leader, sitting down to a stack of 125,000.

The remaining Day 1B players are back in their seats, and the cards a once again in the air.  David Coughlin (Lighthouse Point, FL) had a very strong Level 5, chipping up to 125,000, which currently leads the field.  Followers of the blog may remember Coughlin from a few weeks ago, when he final tabled the opening event of the series (Event #1 $175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD).  David was part of a four-way deal that ended the event, earning himself third place money, which was worth $17,245.  The result was Coughlin's career best cash, and helped bring his overall earnings to $84,841.

David Coughlin - 125,000 (250bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Players Heading On Dinner Break, Play Scheduled To Resume At 7:10PM

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/400)
Total Day 1B Entries: 74
Day 1B Players Remaining: 57

Players in Day 1B of Event #14 ($1,500 No Limit Hold'em FSPC Main Event $500,000 GTD) are about to head on dinner break, and will be returning at 7:10pm.  When play resumes with Level 6, the new blinds being posted will be 300/500/500.

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Updated Chip Counts As Dinner Break Approaches

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/400)
Total Day 1B Entries: 72
Day 1B Players Remaining: 56

A few orbits after the first break, Ryan Gianquitti (Lake Worth, FL) won a sizable pot against Vanessa Rousso, as the result would see the two swap spots on the leaderboard.

Players are about fifteen minutes deep into Level 5, which means they are just over a half-hour away from the day's scheduled dinner break.  The break will last (50) minutes, running from 6:20pm-7:10pm, with action resuming in Level 6 (blinds of 300/500/500).  Luis Zedan still sits atop the leaderboard, but a group of players are just a small pot away from surpassing his number.  One of those players is Ryan Gianquitti (Lake Worth, FL), who entered Day 1B on the late side, but has quickly ran his stack up to 71,000.

Luis Zedan - 100,000 (250bb)
Patrick Biancone - 72,000 (180bb)
Ryan Gianquitti - 71,000 (177bb)
Juan Martinez - 64,000 (160bb)
Vanessa Rousso - 63,000 (157bb)
Zack Milchmann - 60,000 (150bb)
Chad Millward - 60,000 (150bb)
Eduardo Christ - 50,000 (125bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Luis Zedan The First To Crack 100,000, After Knocking Out Brian Wilson

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 200/300/300)
Total Day 1B Entries: 70
Day 1B Players Remaining: 56

Luis Zedan (Miami, FL) just became the first Day 1B player to eclipse the century mark, after his two-pair held up against the flush draw of Brian Wilson.

We approached Table 9 on the turn (of a board reading K♦ J♠ 7♠ 3♦), in a hand between Luis Zedan and Brian Wilson.  With close to 20,000 already in the pot, Zedan checked to Wilson, who put out a bet of 12,300.  Brian immediately saw some resistance from Zedan, who checked raised to 60,000, which was enough to put Wilson all-in.  

"I'm about to make such a bad fold," Wilson said, as he jumped away from the table.  He was visibly irritated with the spot he was put in, and continued to cut out his chips, and talk to himself.  "When is registration open until," he asked the dealer, who informed him that it didn't close until Monday's Day 2.  Just as another player at the table called for a clock, Wilson made the call:

Wilson: 2♦ 5♦
Zedan: K♣ 3♣

River: 2♠

Nobody at the table could have guessed that those were his holdings, as Wilson struggled mightily with what do with the five-high flush draw.  The river would pair Wilson's hand, but it was still the second best holding.  Brian would exit the table after shipping over his remaining stack, which helped Luis eclipse the 100,000 mark.

Luis Zedan - 105,000 (350bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Maurice Hawkins Takes His Seat In The Field, Joining Fashionably Late Group

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 200/300/300)
Total Day 1B Entries: 67
Day 1B Players Remaining: 55

Anyone that knows Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL), understands that he's capable of getting under player's skin...but nothing could excuse what happened to him during Event #66 of the WSOP.

The 2018 WSOP was a below average series for Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL), who cashed in three events, totaling just over $10,000 in combined earnings.  Even with the sub-par results, Hawkins made the headlines, and became part of one of the most talked about moments of the summer.  During Event #66 ($1,500 No Limit Hold'em), Hawkins spent most of the tournament at the same table as Sorin Lovin.  The two had been matched up in hands a number of times over the course of the day, with Maurice getting the best of it.  Lovin slow-rolled Hawkins in a sizable pot, and then proceeded to rub it in with some verbal jarring.  Maurice took things in stride, and began joking with Sorin, who wasn't having it at all.  Sorin used a racial slur when speaking to Hawkins, with numerous players at the table present to hear the verbiage.  

Maurice was able to distance himself from the situation, as he walked away from the table, and allowed the tournament staff to deal with it.  Lovin was given a penalty, but when Jack Effel (Tournament Director) got word of what happened, he decided to disqualify Sorin Lovin from play (before Day 2 started).

"Somehow the headlines find me" Hawkins just said during break, as he recapped what happen that evening.  With that now behind him, Maurice is back at the Isle Casino Poker Room, and looking to bag up a top stack.  Hawkins arrived just before break, joining some other players that chose the fashionably late entry:

Bill Farnan
Joshua Kay
Rafael Fernandes
German Zaga
Anthony Utnage
Skip McDonough
Rodney Moret-Rojas

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Juan Martinez Off To Solid Start, Trying To Put Tough Beats Behind Him

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/200)
Total Day 1B Entries: 60
Day 1B Players Remaining: 53

Juan Martinez (Dade City, FL) ha s little more to smile about this afternoon, after experiencing a couple of really rough beats over the last week.

While Juan Martinez (Dade City, FL) has done very well this series (cashing for over $22,000), his most recent memories on the felt have been less than pleasurable.  Juan was bounced from the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em (Event #9) with two tables left, after flopping a set (getting it all-in), and watching as his opponent made a royal flush on the turn.

Fast forward a few days to yesterday's Day 1A, Martinez would get his stack in (in a three-way pot), holding J♠ J♥ on an A♠ J♦ 9♥ flop.  His opponents held A♦ K♦ and 9♠ 9♣, and while you would think he'd be a lock to win the hand, Tom Gity turned quads.  Juan would be left shaking his head, as he exited the tournament area way earlier than he wanted to.  

Today has been much better for Martinez, who will be heading to the first break with close to 72,000.  That is one of the top stacks in the field, as we are still waiting for the first player to eclipse the century mark.

Juan Martinez - 71,500 (357bb)

The day's first break will be in just five minutes, with players returning to Level 4, and new blinds of 200/300/300.

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Brian Wilson Halts Shaw William's Comeback Story

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/200)
Total Day 1B Entries: 51
Day 1B Players Remaining: 47

Without research, Brian Wilson (Ft. Myers, FL) may have spent the day under the radar, but a little Hendon Mob search yielded a resume that boasts over $712,000 in lifetime earnings. 

Shaw William lost a majority of his stack in one of the final hands of Level 2, but after being left with just 2,500, he was able to triple-up to start Level 3.  Just a few hands into this level, William would shove for 8,500 (three-way pot), on a flop of 6♣ 4♥ 3♣.  Erik Nomberg just flatted, leaving Brian Wilson left to act, with Wilson deciding to re-shove for 21,500.  Nomberg went into the tank, eventually tossing his hand into the muck, after over a minute of thought.  "I don't know," Nomberg said, "I think he may have a set or something."

Erik's read would be spot on, as he turned over 3♠ 3♦, up against the K♠ 6♦ of William.  The turn would pair the board with the 4♠, and while making a full house is usually a good thing, it actually kept Shaw drawing live.  He would need another six to appear on the river, which didn't occur, putting a halt to William's miraculous comeback story.  Wilson chipped up to 40,000 with the pot, while Shaw heading down the escalator, and towards the exit.

Brian Wilson - 40,000 (200bb)

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Millward Leaves FSU Campus, In Hopes Of Recording That Breakout Score

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 100/100/100)
Total Day 1B Entries: 46
Day 1B Players Remaining: 44

Chad Millward (Boca Raton, FL) has had an opportunity than many poker players around the country can dream about...playing (legally) in a brick and mortar casino.

One of the beautiful things about poker in Florida, is the fact that you only have to be (18) years old to be able to play.  In many of the other "notable" gaming states (Las Vegas, California, New Jersey), you need to be at least (21) years old.  That is one of the reason that Florida has churned out some of the biggest names in poker, as they were able to get a "head-start" on the rest of the community. 

Chad Millward (Boca Raton, FL) is heading into his senior year at Florida State University (Tallahassee), and even though he's currently taking summer classes, he drove down here in order to play this particular event.  We've watched as Chad's poker career has blossomed, originally playing in smaller buy-in events, and now sitting down in this main event field.  Chad has amassed lifetime earnings of $15,547, with his largest cash coming in July of last year ($5,809 in a $250 NLH event at Coconut Creek).  We've seen Millward do well in opening flights of multis, but he has yet to turn that into a super deep run.  

Chad is just a table away from his father Tom, who has over $67,000 in career earnings, including three recurring tournament titles here at the Isle Casino Poker Room.  The father and son combo were part of a late arriving group to the Day 1B field, joining players like: 

Paul Shafran
Jeffrey Trudeau
Frederico Dabus
David Coughlin
Nicholas Baurichter
Scott Runyon
Farid Dridi
Thuy Kawano

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): Joshua Hillock Still Working Towards Getting "Patched Up"

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 100/100/100)
Total Day 1B Entries: 37
Day 1B Players Remaining: 36

Joshua Hillock (Orlando, FL) is missing one thing in the picture above, the patch that he thinks he so willingly deserves, which would be the first that the Isle Poker Room gives out in a long while.

The Isle Casino Poker Room hasn't handed out patches to players just yet, and while it seems unlikely that it'll happen in the near future, it hasn't deterred Joshua Hillock (Orlando, FL) from campaigning. Hillock is a staple in the room, and although most of his time is spent playing high-limit cash, one would never know when looking at his tournament resume.

Joshua has over $877,000 in lifetime earnings, including two Isle Poker major tournament wins.  His first came back in 2011, when he won the $2,200 No Limit Hold'em Six-Max event, during the Florida State Poker Championships ($31,323).  The second win came earlier this year, when Hillock won Event #16 during the Battles At The Beach ($360 No Limit Hold'em).  Joshua would best a field of (367) entries, topping a four-way deal that ended the event ($17,611).  His best result in this poker room came during the 2011 Isle Open, when he finished runner-up in the $2,200 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($96,736).

Hillock sits fifth on Isle Poker Room's all-time money list, earning an impressive $314,793 at this property.  Joshua headlines the early list of notables in the filed, which consists of names like:

Michael Tait

Rick Kalgstein

Thomas Gari

Jose Parra

Christopher Gilkey

Eric Brewster

Erik Nomberg

FSPC Event #14 (Day 1B): With The Florida Bar Exam In The Rear-View Mirror, Vanessa Rousso Takes Her Seat In The Flight 1B Field

2018 Florida State Poker Championship
Event #14 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 100/100/100)
Total Day 1B Entries: 32
Day 1B Players Remaining: 32

Vanessa Rousso (Miami, FL) has been away from poker for close to a year, but she still ranks as one of the top five women in the history of tournament poker.

After more than a year away from the felt, and less than (24) hours after wrapping up the Florida Bar Exam, Vanessa Rousso (Miami, FL) has taken her seat in the Flight 1B field.  One of the most well-known players of all time sits down to Table 3, boasting a tournament resume that has over $3,554,000 in lifetime earnings.  Rousso has won eight titles in her career, including a WPT (WPT Johannesburg), PCA ($1,000 NLH Ladies Event), EPT ($25,000 NLH High Roller Monte Carlo), and Borgata Poker Open ($5,000 No Limit Hold'em).

Widely known as one of the best female players in the world, Rousso broke down those walls, becoming one of the best overall players.  Her talents didn't stop at poker though, as Vanessa pursued a successfull DJ-ing career, and also made an appearance on one of the most popular reality shows in the world (Big Brother - Season 17).

Vanessa's poker career began to blossom while she was law school (University Of Miami), and while she was in the top 5% of her class, she decided to put that on the back burner (and pursue her poker career).  She returned to law school last year, and and graduated (magna cum laude) earlier this spring.  Most of her time since had been devoted to studying for the Florida Bar Exam, which she completed yesterday afternoon.

Rousso arrived towards the end of Level 1, and is currently sharing the felt with notables Alan Ramkhalawan, and Chad Millward.