Ester Rossi Takes 4th Place in the $1500 H.O.R.S.E.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 08:38Ester Rossi may not be a familiar face around the world of poker, she has played mostly stud events where she could find them for over twenty years. Last night she carved her name in poker history by being the fourth woman this year to make a final table at the 2008 World Series of Poker.
Ester began playing seven-card stud in 1987 when stud was “the” game in poker. Her first accomplishment in the 1988 WSOP $500 buy-in Ladies event rewarded her second place finish for $10,625. One of the first events created for girlfriends and wives at the World Series of Poker, officials thought this event would give them something to play as well while their significant others played the remaining events. Ester continued to play WSOP stud events off and on and would next have success in the 1991 WSOP $5K Seven Card Stud event where she eventually would finish in eighth place for another $10,650.
Over twenty years of poker Ester has, ten cashes at the World Series of Poker and two cashes in stud at the U.S. Poker Championships in Atlantic City. Recently Ester has ventured away from her stud game to play no limit holdem at the WPT Mandalay Bay Poker Championships and was successful enough to pull out a 44th place finish in the main event for over $10,000. Ester is currently ranked 52nd on the women’s all time money list and has earned over $306,000 in tournament winnings over her career.
Ester’s determination and success in a game she obviously loves, inspires women in poker to try other games. It was fantastic to see another woman’s poker success at the final table of the WSOP.
Comments
Tina wrote: "Last night she carved her name in poker history by being the third woman this year to make a final table at the 2008 World Series of Poker."
You are incorrect with your statement. I haven't checked every single final table - but off the top of my head, I can think of at least three females in addition to Esther Rossi who made final tables in open events; Kathy Liebert, Annie Duke, Vanessa Selbst (bracelet winner). Vanessa also took third place in the Heads Up, so she bubbled off that final table.
Thanks for the reminder.
So did you speak to her after she finished? How did she feel about her competition and/or playing admist the Phil Hellmuth circus?
Great article! Esther is amazing and a true champ. She is certainly due her day in the sun. Also, correct spelling is Esther.
Thanks for the update on Esther. I have watched her play poker for years and she has carried herself with a quiet professionalism that the poker community can be proud of. Congrats Esther on your finish.
Nice to hear about another successful woman at the WSOP...particularly someone who has "grown up" through the ranks. I definitely respect those who battled the game years ago...I'm guessing it was much tougher for a woman then than it is now. Good for Ester!