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Wellington poker player in SI swimsuit issue second in Heads-Up tourney

Vanessa.jpg

It turns out Vanessa Rousso, the Wellington High graduate profiled in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, can play a little poker, too.

Rousso finished second this weekend in the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, defeating Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Paul Wasicka, Daniel Negreanu and Bertrand Grospellier to reach the final.

She lost to Huck Seed on Sunday in the final of the 64-player event, modeled like an NCAA basketball tourney. The heads-up events were one game only, other than the final, which was best-of-three.

The tournament is taped for broadcast on NBC over six consecutive Sundays beginning April 12.

Rousso made news earlier this year when she appeared in a two-page "custom content" (advertorial) in Sports Illustrated.

Seed won $500,000.

"This has always been one of my favorite tournaments of the year," said Seed, who has participated and finished in the money in every Heads-Up event, according to a press release. "I’ve played well in the past, but things especially went my way this weekend and I was able to make a run all the way to the top."

Seed reached the final table by defeating Jonathan Little, Gus Hansen, Glen Chorny David Oppenheim and Sam Farha, while Rousso ended up in the last pairing by taking down poker heavyweights Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Paul Wasicka, Daniel Negreanu and Bertrand Grospellier along the way. Seed took the first two matches of the best-of-three final, as his off-suit king/seven in the final hand was enough to claim the title.

With her runner-up finish, Rousso, who was recently signed as the newest GoDaddy.com spokesperson, completed the best run for a woman competitor in a Heads-Up tournament. Shannon Elizabeth reached the semi-finals in 2007.

The celebrity participants, led by Don Cheadle and Brad Garrett, once again made some noise. Garrett advanced to the second round by defeating poker pro and Celebrity Apprentice star Annie Duke, while Don Cheadle reached day two of the tournament with a win over David Pham.

The single-elimination competition began Friday morning and ended Sunday. The tournament was presented by GoDaddy.com at the Caesars Palace Poker Tournament Room in Las Vegas.

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Can she PLEASE teach me how to play...

Can she PLEASE teach me how to play...

How come no one is talking about the pari-mutual betting being proposed for the equestrian area?

Is it hush-hush?

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Maybe you've made the right play, maybe you haven't. Your heart speeds up, your stomach rumbles.

That's why it's called gambling.

ACTION is a view of the numbers, the psychology and the flavor of gambling here in South Florida, through our lens.

We do have one sure bet. There's something here for you.

NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, early training for his... < More >
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