Event Seven: Calahonda

ALYSON REIGNS IN SPAIN!

 

Alyson Chadwick ensured she had a holiday to remember by winning the first ever overseas leg of the Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour in the Spanish resort of Calahonda.

 

The 36-year-old from Chorley was one of several dozen tour stalwarts who flew to the Costa Del Sol for the penultimate heat of this year’s tour and she returned home with a place in next month’s Grand Final, plus the winner’s prizemoney of £1,890.

 

Competing on her fourth final table since her tour debut just over a year ago, Alyson was chip leader with five players left and got heads-up with Lisa Scotney when Lynne Beaumont, the two-time BLPT champion, was eliminated in third place.

 

The heads-up at Caesar’s Sports Lounge lasted only a few minutes as Alyson held a huge advantage and when Lisa went all in with Ace-5, the Lancastrian’s King-10 proved to be the winning hand when another 10 appeared on the turn.

 

“It’s fantastic to have won and it doesn’t feel real,” said an overwhelmed Alyson, who has only been playing poker for two years.

 

“I made up my mind to go out to the leg in Spain as soon as I heard it was going to happen, so I booked a holiday for four nights which I decided to combine with playing poker. And I really fancied my chances of winning – I do every time I play!”

 

Alyson is the seventh player to book her seat in the Grand Final at London’s Western Club, joining Emily Curzon (Sidcup), Mel Lofthouse (Rotherham), Kim Jagger (Stoke-on-Trent), Helen Firth (Yorkshire) and Birmingham duo Michelle Bricknell and Kelly Jackson.

 

They will be joined by three more players, and the 10 finalists will have the chance to follow in the footsteps of dual champion Lynne Beaumont by securing a £20,000 poker sponsorship package for 2010 from Betfred which goes to the overall winner.

 

The remaining three seats will go to the winner of the final leg in London on November 7, the player who finishes top of the points standings for the most consistent non-winner and also the victor of an online satellite tournament.

 

On the points leaderboard, Sue Adams is on the brink of claiming a third consecutive Grand Final appearance having finished seventh in Calahonda to extend her lead at the top of the table.

 

Final table finishing order and prizemoney for leg seven of the 2009 Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour at Caesar’s Sports Lounge, Calahonda, Spain:

 

1 Alyson Chadwick £1,890 + a seat in the Grand Final

2 Lisa Scotney £1,260

3 Lynne Beaumont £945

4 Cara Moore £630

5 Lesley Devine £441

6 Wendy Parry £378

7 Sue Adams £315

8 Sue Mosely £189

9 Catherine O’Brien £141.75

10 Mandy Sheriki £110.25

 

The final heat of the 2009 Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour takes place at the Western Club, London on Saturday, November 7.