WSOP 2010 - Vanessa Hellebuyck Wins Ladies World Championship

Event #22 of the 2010 WSOP was the $1,000 Ladies NL Holdem Championship.  1,054 players took part in this event that sparked more controversy than any Ladies event in history.

Controversy surrounded Day 1 of this event as several men decided to play in the event.  Among those men was Shaun Deeb, who claimed he played as the result of a lost prop.  When men busted, they were met by thunderous applause.  However, one of the men that entered would make the money.  That cash may cost him as Seth Palansky announced that there would be punishments for those that played in the event.

117 players were paid in this event.  Maria Ho finished in 75th, Liv Boeree in 53rd, Mimi Tran in 48th, and Linda Johnson finished in an impressive 31st.  Sidsel Boesen led the ladies into the final table.  Here are the final nine players and their starting chip counts:

Seat 1:  Vanessa Hellebuyck   277,000

Seat 2: Holly Hodge              279,000

Seat 3: Allison Whalen          344,000

Seat 4:  Kami Chisholm          529,000

Seat 5: Sidsel Boesen             789,000

Seat 6: Bonnie Overfield       226,000

Seat 7: Loren Watterworth    75,000

Seat 8:  Timmi Derosa 437,000

Seat 9:  Le Sengphet               206,000

Heads-up play in this event was between Sidsel Boesen and Vanessa Hellebuyck.  Hellebuyck held a more than 4 to 1 chip lead with 2.59 Million to just 564,000 of Boesen.  The final hand of the event saw Boesen move all-in from the small blind with 10d-9d and was called by Hellebuyck with pocket fives.  The board missed both players and Hellebuyck's pocket fives made her the Ladies World Champion.

Vanessa Hellebuyck is the Event #22 Champion.  She took both the bracelet and $192,132 in World Series of Poker prize money.  Congratulations!

The final table payouts were as follows: