The 2011 World Series of Poker is just around the corner and poker players and fans will be discussing and betting on who they think will be walking away with a coveted gold and diamond WSOP bracelet. I would be prepared to bet a significant sum myself that almost none of them would mention a women winning a WSOP event this year, which is strange when you think about it because poker is unique in that women and men can go to battle as equals and of course, there are some very talented female players in the game today.

The obvious choice for WSOP poker glory would have to be Annette Obrestad simply because she is the female player with the highest profile and already has a bracelet to her name after winning the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in 2007. She took part in her first WSOP last year and had four solid cashes, finishing 72^nd from 792 competitors, 126^th out of 1,245 entrants, 11^th from 1,397 players and 36^th from 460 entrants. I think this could be the year Miss Obrestad adds another piece of poker jewellery to her wrist.

One female player you may not have heard of but is a brilliant talent is Melanie Weisner. The 25-year old Texas native is better known for her demolition of online heads-up SNG but has spent a large part of the last two years travelling the live poker circuit, the European Poker Tour in particular. Although she may lack the results of someone like Obrestad, rest assured Weisner is a very talented player and one who could surprise a lot of people at this year's WSOP.

Last but certainly not least is another bracelet holder, Vanessa Selbst, also known as “fslexcduck” in online poker circles. Thanks to the fact she has won more than $3,600,000 from live poker tournaments and she has a sponsorship with an online poker site, Selbst will not be on the list of any 2011 WSOP Qualifiers but she will certainly be there or there abouts in a number of events. She won her bracelet back in 2008 in a $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event and has only cashed twice since. It is about time she put that right and 2011 could be the year of the 'duck.