Cardiff-based Emma Strutt ensured the Betfred Ladies Poker Tour trophy for the Swansea leg remained in Wales as she won the fifth heat of this year's event at Aspers Casino.
Strutt, who had made her debut in the tournament at Sheffield in July, got the better of tour regular Linda Blundell at the end of a gruelling 13-hour game.
While the world's best female long-distance runners were contesting the Olympic marathon in Beijing, the cream of Britain's lady poker players had to display their own reserves of stamina at the card table.
And it was Strutt who emerged with the equivalent of the gold medal as she won the heads-up with three of a kind, having pushed all in with 3-3 whereas Blundell held a pair of kings. A three on the flop and no sign of a king meant Strutt, originally from the Lake District, took the £1,740 first prize.
More importantly, however, she also booked a place in the Grand Final on November 22 with the chance to secure a £20,000 sponsorship package from Betfred for 2009.
"I'm delighted to win on only my second appearance on the tour," said Strutt. "Now I can't wait for the Grand Final and the opportunity to capture such a fabulous prize."
She joins previous victors Michelle Bennett, Karen Dennett, Gina Short and Sue Adams in having clinched a seat in the Grand Final.
For Blundell, who had finished third at this year’s curtain-raiser in Newcastle, there was the significant consolation of moving to the top of the leaderboard for the most consistent non-winner, as well as the £1,160 second prize.
The lady who tops those standings after the last heat in London on November 1 will also receive a seat in the Grand Final.
Third place among the 48 entrants went to Angela Evis, while Newcastle runner-up Liz Costa was given a free buy-in for a future leg of the tour for being the first player eliminated.
Final table finishing order in Swansea:
1 Emma Strutt
2 Linda Blundell
3 Angela Evis
4 Gail Pirie
5 Johanna Richards
6 Luan Fraser
7 Mel Lofthouse
8 Becky Neilson
9 Sue Adams
10 Robyn O'Neil
The next leg of the Betfred Ladies Poker Tour takes place on September 20 at the Stanley Circus casino in Stoke. Full details of that leg and all the others planned are available at www.betfredlpt.com
by Jon Wilde 20/08/2008 BACK TO TOP ^ |
