Friday, May 30, 2014 5:36 PM Local Time
Vanessa Selbst Wins Event #2: $25,000 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em ($871,148)
After overcoming a near seven-to-one chip deficit in the semifinals of Event #2: $25,000 Mixed-Max No-Limit Hold'em, Vanessa Selbst overcame yet another big chip disadvantage in the final heads-up match to defeat Jason Mo and capture her third World Series of Poker gold bracelet.
The match swung on Hand #63 when Selbst won a massive pot and took the chip lead. The turn was the case queen, giving Mo top pair and Selbst a set of queens, and Selbst called a big bet on the river. Mo doubled shortly thereafter, but was unable to chip up enough to even up the match.
Selbst says she benefited from the 20-minute break after the first 52 hands of heads-up play. She was able to watch the live stream for a little bit and prepare to comeback as a five-to-one underdog.
Only one woman, Barbara Enright, has as many bracelets as Selbst. The Team PokerStars Pro also has over $10 million in career live tournament earnings thanks to the $871,147 top prize.
This was Mo's second runner-up finish at the WSOP. In 2012 he finished runner-up to Brian Hastings in the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship, earning $229,722.
This unique event kicked off on Tuesday with 131 players playing nine-handed poker, and only 60 remained after Day 1 action. On Day 2 all of the tables were six-handed, and they played until the money bubble burst at 16. Phil Ivey and John Juanda exited empty-handed, finishing 18th and 17th respectively.
Al Decarolis led the remaining 16 players on the penultimate day, and retained the chip lead entering the heads-up semifinals. Unfortunately for him he was unable to get past Selbst, who as mentioned overcame a near seven-to-one chip disadvantage to advance. In the other semifinal, Mo took on 2013 November Niner JC Tran. The two started their match close in chips, but Mo won a big race and was able to seal the deal.
Mo carried the chip lead into the final match, and started to whittle Selbst down. The Team PokerStars Pro was down to as little as 1.68 million, but came roaring back to claim the title. To her delight, not only was Selbst's wife on the rail, but her puppies were allowed in the Thunderdome as well.
Congratulations to Selbst, who will now be a clear contender in the 2014 WSOP Player of the Year race, and made an instant impact in the 25K Fantasy league as well.
Be sure to continue sweating our coverage of the entire 2014 World Series of Poker right here on PokerNews, but for now, good night from the Rio!
Friday, May 30, 2014 5:05 PM Local Time
Jason Mo Eliminated in 2nd Place ($538,308)
Hand #72:
Jason Mo moved all in for 2.535 million on the button, and Vanessa Selbst called.
Mo:
Selbst:
Mo received no help as the board rolled out , and Selbst locked up her third WSOP gold bracelet.
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:58 PM Local Time
Hands #67-71: Selbst Stretches Lead
Hand #67: Jason Mo received a walk with .
Hand #68: Mo raised to 330,000 on the button, Selbst called, and the dealer fanned . Selbst checked, Mo continued for 275,000, and Selbst check-raised to 580,000. Mo folded.
Hand #69: Selbst limped in on the button, Mo checked, and the flop fell . The turn was the , the two checked again, and the river was the . Mo checked, Selbst bet 190,000, and Mo folded.
Hand #70: Selbst received a walk.
Hand #71: Selbst raised to 320,000 on the button, Mo three-bet to 800,000, and Selbst moved all in for effectively 3.355 million. Mo snap-folded.
| Vanessa Selbst | 7,265,000 | 1,625,000  |
| Jason Mo | 2,555,000 | -1,625,000  |
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:45 PM Local Time
Hands #64-66: Mo Doubles
Hand #64: Vanessa Selbst received a walk.
Hand #65: Selbst raised to 320,000, Jason Mo called, and the flop fell . Mo checked, Selbst fired out 220,000, and Mo folded.
Hand #66: Mo moved all in for 2.07 million on the button, and Selbst called.
Selbst:
Mo:
Mo took the lead on a flop of , and faded Selbst's outs as the turn and river both brought jacks — the and the . He doubled to 4.18 million, while Selbst still has a slight lead with 5.64 million.
| Vanessa Selbst | 5,640,000 | -1,650,000 |
| Jason Mo | 4,180,000 | 1,650,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:40 PM Local Time
Level 29 started
Level: 29
Blinds: 80000/160000
Ante: 20000
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:40 PM Local Time
Hands #61-63: Selbst Wins Five Million-Chip Pot, Takes Lead
Hand #61: Vanessa Selbst raised to 250,000, and Jason Mo folded.
Hand #62: Mo raised to 275,000, Selbst tanked then reraised to 820,000, and Mo snap-folded.
Hand #63: Selbst raised to 250,000 on the button, Mo three-bet to 750,000, and Selbst called. The flop came , Mo checked, and Selbst slid out 580,000. Mo instantly turned his attention to his own stack, reached for chips, and called.
The turn was the , Mo quickly knuckled again, and Selbst checked behind. The river was the , Mo led out for 1.315 million, Selbst called, and Mo showed for a pair of queens.
Selbst rolled over for a set of queens, and is now at a nearly a three-to-one chip advantage.
| Vanessa Selbst | 7,290,000 | 3,085,000 |
| Jason Mo | 2,530,000 | -3,085,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:27 PM Local Time
Hands #58-60: Selbst Closing the Gap
Hand #58: Jason Mo had the button, and raised to 250,000. Vanessa Selbst folded.
Hand #59: Selbst limped in on the button, Mo checked, and the flop was . Both players checked. The turn was the , the two checked again, and the river was the . Mo led out for 180,000, and Selbst folded.
Hand #60: Mo raised to 250,000 on the button, Selbst three-bet to 680,000, and Mo called. There was nearly 1.4 million in the middle when the dealer fanned a flop of , Selbst led out for 390,000, and Mo folded.
| Jason Mo | 5,615,000 | -425,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 4,205,000 | 425,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:17 PM Local Time
Hands #53-57: Selbst Doubles
Hand #53: Vanessa Selbst moved all in, and Jason Mo folded.
Hand #54: Mo limped in on the button, Selbst checked, and the flop fell . Selbst led out for 120,000, and Mo folded.
Hand #55: Selbst limped in on the button, Mo checked, and the dealer fanned . Both players knuckled, the turn was the , and the pair checked again. The river was the , Mo bet 180,000, and Selbst folded.
Hand #56: Selbst received a walk.
Hand #57: Selbst limped in on the button, Mo moved all in for effectively 1.875 million, and Selbst tank-called.
Mo:
Selbst:
"Seems wide!" someone on Mo's rail shouted.
The dealer fanned , giving Selbst top two pair and Mo a diamond flush draw. The turn was red, but the was a brick, as was the on the river and Selbst doubled through.
| Jason Mo | 6,040,000 | -2,100,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 3,780,000 | 2,100,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 4:08 PM Local Time
Level 28 started
Level: 28
Blinds: 60000/120000
Ante: 15000
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:49 PM Local Time
Hands #50-52: Break Time
Hand #50: Jason Mo limped in on the button, Vanessa Selbst moved all in for 1.77 million, and Mo folded.
Hand #51: Selbst raised to 200,000, Mo called, and the flop fell . Both players checked. The turn was the , the two knuckled again, and the river was the . Both players checked again, and Mo showed . Selbst had a big pair with , but the board played and the two chopped the pot.
Hand #52: Mo called on the button, Selbst checked, and the flop fell . Selbst checked, Mo bet 100,000, and Selbst called. The turn was the , Selbst checked again, and Mo fired out 200,000. Selbst folded.
The players are now on a 20-minute break.
| Jason Mo | 8,140,000 | 100,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 1,680,000 | -100,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:41 PM Local Time
Hands #46-49: Mo Getting Close...
Hand #46: Jason Mo had the button, and gave Vanessa Selbst a walk.
Hand #47: Selbst raised to 225,000 on the button, and Mo folded.
Hand #48: Mo raised to 225,000, Selbst three-bet to 540,000, and Mo folded.
Hand #49: Selbst limped in on the button, Mo raised to 325,000, and Selbst called. The flop fell , Mo led out for 275,000, and Selbst raised to 565,000. Mo moved all in, and Selbst folded.
| Jason Mo | 8,040,000 | 495,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 1,780,000 | -495,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:32 PM Local Time
Hands #41-45: The First All-In of the Match
Hand #41: Vanessa Selbst folded the small blind and gave Jason Mo a walk in the big.
Hand #42: Mo raised to 225,000, Selbst called, and the flop came down . Action went check-check, the dealer burned and turned the , and once again it went check-check. The river inspired Selbst to check for a third time and then call a bet of 320,000 from Mo. Mo tabled the for two pair, and it was good as Selbst mucked her cards.
Hand #43: Selbst opened for 225,000, Mo called, and the flop came out . Both players checked, the appeared on the turn, and Selbst bet 100,000 after Mo checked. Mo made the call and then checked for a third time on the river. Selbst slowed down and checked behind. Mo tabled the for a pair of fives, and it was good as Selbst mucked her cards.
Hand #44: Mo raised to 225,000 and Selbst folded.
Hand #45: Selbst raised to 225,000, Mo called and the dealer put out the flop — . Mo checked, as did Selbst, and the peeled off on the turn. Mo bet out 325,000, and Selbst pushed back with a raise to 840,000. Mo responded by moving all in and Selbst snap-folded.
| Jason Mo | 7,545,000 | 2,135,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 2,275,000 | -2,135,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:28 PM Local Time
PokerNews Podcast Episode #219: Kabaragoya
The crew is back for another episode of the PokerNews Podcast from the 45th annual World Series of Poker. Jason Somerville talks about his 18th-place finish in the $1,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event, and the crew discusses the Jason Mo vs. Vanessa Selbst heads-up match along with Darren Elias' affinity for North Faces and the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
You can subscribe to the entire iBus Media Network on iTunes here, or you can access the RSS feed here. The PokerNews family of podcasts is now available on Stitcher.
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:18 PM Local Time
Level 27 started
Level: 27
Blinds: 50000/100000
Ante: 10000
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:18 PM Local Time
Hands #31-40: The Battle Continues
Hand #31: Jason Mo received a walk.
Hand #32: Vanessa Selbst received a walk.
Hand #33: Mo received another walk.
Hand #34: Mo opened for 180,000, Selbst called, and the flop fell . Selbst checked, Mo bet 250,000, and Selbst folded.
Hand #35: Selbst raised to 180,000 and Mo folded.
Hand #36: Mo raised to 180,000 and Selbst folded.
Hand #37: Selbst opened for 180,000, Mo called, and the flop came down . Mo checked, Selbst bet 220,000, and Mo folded.
Hand #38: Mo raised to 180,000 and Selbst folded.
Hand #39: Selbst limped from the button, Mo checked his option from the button, and the two watched the flop come down . Mo checked, as did Selbst, and the appeared on the turn. Mo checked and then folded when Selbst bet 100,000.
Hand #40: Mo raised to 180,000 from the button only to have Selbst three-bet to 510,000. Mo eyed Selbst's stack but eventually released his cards.
| Jason Mo | 5,410,000 | -140,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 4,410,000 | 140,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 3:03 PM Local Time
Hands #25-30: Back and Forth
Hand #25: Jason Mo got a walk in the big blind.
Hand #26: Mo raised to 180,000 and Vanessa Selbst folded.
Hand #27: Selbst raised to 170,000 and Mo folded.
Hand #28: Selbst received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #29: Selbst limped from the button only to have Mo raise to 250,000. Selbst put out chips to make the call and the flop came down . Mo led out for 270,000, Selbst called, and the appeared on the turn. Mo fired out 680,000, and it was enough to get Selbst to lay down her hand.
Hand #30: Mo opened the button for 180,000, Selbst called, and the flop fell . Selbst bet 190,000, Mo called, and the dealer burned and turned the . Selbst led out for 330,000 and Mo folded.
| Jason Mo | 5,550,000 | 150,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 4,270,000 | -150,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 2:50 PM Local Time
Level 26 started
Level: 26
Blinds: 40000/80000
Ante: 10000
Friday, May 30, 2014 2:50 PM Local Time
Hands #17-24: Selbst with a Big Check-Raise
Hand #17: Vanessa Selbst opened for 135,000 and Jason Mo folded.
Hand #18: Mo raised to 140,000 and Selbst called, which brought about a flop of . Action went check-check, the appeared on the turn, and action repeated itself. The river saw Selbst bet 185,000 and it worked as Mo laid down his hand.
Hand #19: Selbst was first to act and limped from the button, which prompted Mo to exercise his option from the big blind by raising it up to 220,000. Selbst took her time before making the call, and the two players watched the flop come down . Mo checked, Selbst did the same, and the peeled off on the turn.
Mo checked for a second time, Selbst did the same, and the completed the board on the river. Once again Mo checked, and Selbst thought long and hard before coming out with a bet of 335,000. Mo wasted little time in releasing his hand.
Hand #20: Mo raised to 140,000 and Selbst folded.
Hand #21: Selbst opened for 135,000, Mo called, and the flop fell . Selbst bet 140,000 and Mo folded.
Hand #22: Mo raised to 140,000 and Selbst folded. After winning the hand Mo's rail, which includes Doug Polk, began chanting, "Lets go, J-Mo. Lets go, J-Mo. Lets go, J-Mo."
Hand #23: Selbst opened for 135,000 and was met by a three-bet to 400,000 by Mo. Selbst folded.
Hand #24: Mo raised to 140,000, Selbst three-bet to 380,000, and Mo called to see a flop of . Both players checked, the appeared on the turn, and Selbst checked. Mo did the same and the completed the board on the river. Selbst checked for a third time and Mo came out firing 425,000.
Selbst took her time before check-raising to 1.46 million total. Mo double-checked his hand, swiveled back and forth in his chair, and then slid his cards to the dealer.
| Jason Mo | 5,400,000 | -1,125,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 4,420,000 | 1,125,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 2:28 PM Local Time
Hands #10-16: Pairs of Queens Good for Mo
Hand #10: Jason Mo folded from the button and Vanessa Selbst received a walk.
Hand #11: Selbst opened for 135,000, Mo called, and the flop fell . Mo checked over to Selbst, who checked behind. When the dealer burned and turned the , Mo checked for a second time and so did Selbst. The river saw Mo check for a third and final time, which opened the door for Selbst to bet 115,000. Mo folded.
Hand #12: Selbst received a walk in the big blind.
Hand #13: Mo then got a walk himself.
Hand #14: Mo raised to 140,000 and Selbst folded.
Hand #15: Selbst raised to 130,000 and Mo folded.
Hand #16: Mo opened for 140,000 on the button, Selbst called, and the flop came out . Action went check-check. The appeared on the turn, and Selbst bet out 160,000. Mo made the call and then watched Selbst slide out a bet of 290,000 on the river. Mo called with for a pair of queens, which was good as Selbst held .
| Jason Mo | 6,525,000 | 415,000 |
| Vanessa Selbst | 3,295,000 | -415,000 |
Friday, May 30, 2014 2:17 PM Local Time
Level 25 started
Level: 25
Blinds: 30000/60000
Ante: 10000