Vanessa Selbst wins PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun

Poker pro claims 2011 PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun main event

It's been a great week for poker pro Vanessa Selbst, who took down the $5 000 buy-in 2011 PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour Mohegan Sun Wednesday night after an exciting final table.

Selbst beat Dan Shak in a thriller of a heads up to collect the main prize of $450,000 and add yet another major title to her impressive live tournament record, bringing her career winnings to over $4 million.

387 players entered for the event, creating a significant prize pool from which $1.23 million was reserved for the final tablers, a group that eventually comprised Selbst and Shak, along with Tyler Kenney, Thomas Hoglund, Jr., Vincent Rubianes, 2010 NAPT Los Angeles winner Joe Tehan, Aaron Overton and Steve O’Dwyer.

Shak eliminated Tyler Kenney in third place, setting up a heads up between himself and Selbst, with Shak holding an almost 3 to 1 chip lead. It didn't deter Selbst, who played a thrilling mix of aggressive and disciplined poker to reverse the situation after the dinner break.

Once that happened it was only a matter of time before tightly controlled play and smart decisions by Selbst wore down her opponent, although he managed to stage at least two exciting comebacks before succumbing after two-and-half-hours of heads up action.

Shak's well-deserved reward as runner-up was $254 000.