The 2009 BLPT Grand Final

HELEN REIGNS SUPREME IN GRAND FINAL

 

Helen Firth is the new queen of Britain’s card rooms after securing a £20,000 sponsorship package for 2010 by winning the Grand Final of the Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour.

 

The 35-year-old from North Yorkshire beat pre-event favourite Sue Adams heads-up at London’s Western Club to claim her first victory in her debut year competing in the series.

 

One of 10 players to contest the Grand Final, Helen had qualified in July as a result of finishing second in Swansea to previous heat winner Kim Jagger. She proved she was a thoroughly deserved champion by conquering a strong field to capture the lucrative prize on offer.

 

With 250,000 chips in play, Helen, who had 90,000 in her stack, was well behind Sue at the start of the heads-up after Emily Curzon had been eliminated in third place.

 

But she moved ahead when hitting a straight after going all in, and then sealed victory with a full house after holding pocket kings while Sue had A-6. The flop yielded K-7-10 and although Sue had four hearts at that point, another seven on the turn meant even a flush would have been insufficient to deny Helen victory.

 

“It feels amazing to be the Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour champion,” said mother-of-two Helen who, along with her husband Shaun, is currently in the process of taking over their second pub/restaurant. They are already the licensees of The Hungry Fox in the village of Beal and are also taking charge of the Crown in Monk Fryston.

 

“I didn’t think I would get anywhere near to winning but I just played my own game and sat and waited for the right cards. I feel gutted for Sue but what can you do? If you have the hands you’ve got to push and someone has to win.

 

“It’s my first year on the tour, I’ve finished fourth and second and now I’ve won the final. I had a great day in London and everyone was so lovely.

 

“I haven’t a clue which tournaments I will play next year, although 30 of us from the pub are going to Las Vegas next year so some of the sponsorship money might be spent there.”

 

Helen was a 12/1 outsider for glory before the final but Betfred boss Fred Done hailed her as a worthy winner and a player who will be an excellent representative of his company during 2010.

 

“I’m delighted for Helen because she’s a fantastic poker player and a lovely person,” said Fred.

 

“I know she will be a terrific ambassador for Betfred Poker in card rooms everywhere and I wish her the very best of luck over the next 12 months. I’m sure this is only the beginning of her success at the poker table.”

 

Betfred Ladies' Poker Tour Grand Final finishing order

 

1 Helen Firth (Swansea leg runner-up)

2 Sue Adams (leaderboard winner)

3 Emily Curzon (Leeds winner)

4 Michelle Bricknell (Stockport leg winner)

5 Alyson Chadwick (Calahonda leg winner)

6 Kim Jagger (Sheffield and Swansea leg winner)

7 Kelly Jackson (Birmingham leg winner)

8 Mel Lofthouse (Scarborough leg winner)

9 Charlotte Langton (London leg winner)

10 Karen Tomczak (online satellite winner)