Event One: Newcastle

The first leg of the 2008 Betfred Ladies Poker Tour got underway at approximately 15:30pm on the 19th April 2008. 41 players lined up all with the shared goal of reaching the grand final in London on 22nd November 2008 and a share in the £5100 prize pool.

The table draw was as follows:

Table 1

Seat 1: Elisha Blundell
Seat 2: Dorothy Littlewood
Seat 3: Christine Evans
Seat 4: Donna Ormston
Seat 5: Vicky Thomas
Seat 6: Andrea Scott
Seat 7: Sadie Rowshanaei
Seat 8: Carla Goddard
Seat 9: Mel Lofthouse

Table 2

Seat 1: Annette Knight
Seat 2: Val Gray
Seat 3: Caroline Manson
Seat 4: Danielle Allen
Seat 5: Landan Lundon
Seat 6: Kim Jagger
Seat 7: Rosi Barry
Seat 8: Susan Elliott

Table 3

Seat 1: Joan Kirkup
Seat 2: Lesley Devine
Seat 3: Gladys Jarvis
Seat 4: Susan Adams
Seat 5: Sui Cheung
Seat 6: Somkhuan Harwood
Seat 7: Elizabeth Costa
Seat 8: Pamela Butler

Table 4

Seat 1: Clare Millward
Seat 2: Michelle Bennett
Seat 3: Cheryl Routledge
Seat 4: Debbie Peng
Seat 5: Sebriah Lunn
Seat 6: Lynne Beaumont
Seat 7: Gale Pirie
Seat 8: Karen Walton

Table 5

Seat 1: Abigail Reid
Seat 2: Hazel Birchnall
Seat 3: Catherine Johnston
Seat 4: Rachael Costa
Seat 5: Helen Aspinall
Seat 6: Carey Hollick
Seat 7: Laura Hood
Seat 8: Linda Blundell

 

 

The first significant hand of the tournament came when Mel Lofthouse with A K went up against Donna Ormston with A A. The flop came down 7 4 2 (rainbow), on the turn came a 7 and the river revealed a ten meaning that Donna's aces held up and leaving Mel on the brink of elimination.

 

In the very next hand Mel was forced to push all in with 6/7 off suit. There were three callers and Dororthy Littlewood's hand of J Q held up which gave us the first tournament casualty and left us with four tables of ten.

 

There were 8 casualties prior to the break leaving the chip counts as follows:

 

Seat 1:
Seat 2: Dorothy Littlewood 6.3k
Seat 3: Christine Evans 12.6k
Seat 4: Donna Ormston 11.7k
Seat 5: Vicky Thomas 4.3k
Seat 6: Andrea Scott 3.8k
Seat 7:
Seat 8: Carla Goddard 4.2k
Seat 9: Kim Jagger 11.9k
Seat 10: Val Gray 9.9k

 

Table 3

Seat 1: Joan Kirkup 11.3k
Seat 2: Lesley Devine 6k
Seat 3: Gladys Jarvis 10.1k
Seat 4: Susan Adams 7.2k
Seat 5: Ladan Lundon 5.4k
Seat 6: Somkhuan Harwood 3k
Seat 7: Elizabeth Costa 7.8k
Seat 8: Pamela Butler 11.2k
Seat 9:
Seat 10: Annette Knight 2.9k

 

Table 4

Seat 1: Clare Millward 8k
Seat 2: Michelle Bennett 4.2k
Seat 3: Cheryl Routledge 9.3k
Seat 4: Debbie Peng 7.9k
Seat 5: Sebriah Lunn 5.8k
Seat 6:
Seat 7: Gale Pirie 4k
Seat 8: Karen Walton 2k
Seat 9: Caroline Manson 8.4k
Seat 10: Susan Elliott 1.8k

 

Table 5

Seat 1:
Seat 2: Hazel Birchnall 7.4k
Seat 3: Catherine Johnston 2.1k
Seat 4: Rachael Costa 4.1k
Seat 5: Helen Aspinall 14.2k
Seat 6: Lynne Beaumont 8.2k
Seat 7: Laura Hood 6.5k
Seat 8: Linda Blundell 22.1k
Seat 9:
Seat 10:

 

 

At approximately 19:15 the field was down to 22 players with Vicky Thomas being eliminated. She pushed all in pre flop with 3 3 and was called by the A Q of Val Gray.

 

Flop came down J 6 5 (rainbow)

 

Turn: Ace

 

River: 10

 

We were down to two tables at the second break and the chip count was as follows:

 

Table 1

 

Seat 1: Carla Goddard 6.6k
Seat 2: Pamela Butler 13.6k
Seat 3: Christine Evans 11.5k
Seat 4: Donna Ormston 13.1k
Seat 5: Cheryl Routledge 8.6k
Seat 6: Andrea Scott 7.3k
Seat 7: Helen Aspinall 7.7k
Seat 8: Lynne Beaumont 10.1k
Seat 9: Kim Jagger 8.2k
Seat 10: Val Gray 18.6k

 

Table 3

 

Seat 1:
Seat 2: Lesley Devine 14.6k
Seat 3: Gladys Jarvis 12.7k
Seat 4: Susan Adams 9.7k
Seat 5: Michelle Bennett 35.1k
Seat 6: Hazel Birchnall 9.6k
Seat 7: Elizabeth Costa 11.4k
Seat 8: Catherine Johnston 7.4k
Seat 9: Caroline Manson 12.6k
Seat 10:Linda Blundell 28.7k

 

Out on the bubble and 11th place is Pamela Butler.

 

The 10 players decided to give the player out in the bubble £50- so Pam goes home with £50!

 

The final table chip count was as follows:

 

Seat 1: Andrea Scott 6.6k
Seat 2: Carla Goddard 27.6k
Seat 3: Val Gray 34.8k
Seat 4: Kim Jagger 15.3k
Seat 5: Gladys Jarvis 17.2k
Seat 6: Susan Adams 8.8k
Seat 7: Elizabeth Costa 21.6k
Seat 8: Michelle Bennett 56.2k
Seat 9: Lynne Beaumont 25.7k
Seat 10:Linda Blundell 32.3k

 

Out in 10th place is Susan Adams. Sue went all in short stacked with K J and Carla on the BB called her with 8 8. The board came 7 6 4 4 Q. Nothing to help Sue and so Carla's 8's hold up! Down to 9

 

At approximately 23:00 Gladys Jarvis moves all in with JQ Hearts and is called by Elizabeth Costa with 88. The flop came 7c6h2s.....turn 9c & the river came Kds. Elizabeth doubles up! Gladys has now been crippled!!

 

Gladys moves all in with Q4 suited on BB.. She is called & is dominated by KQ....
No help for Gladys and sadly she departs in 9th.

 

The chip count at 23:15 was as follows:

 

Seat 1: Andrea Scott 5.k
Seat 2: Carla Goddard 9.8k
Seat 3: Val Gray 37.6k
Seat 4: Kim Jagger 9.8k
Seat 5:
Seat 6:
Seat 7: Elizabeth Costa 47.6k
Seat 8: Michelle Bennett 60.4k
Seat 9: Lynne Beaumont 37.7k
Seat 10:Linda Blundell 42.8k

 

Andrea Scott is forced to go all in, very low with 5.4k. All fold around to SB, Linda Blundell who calls with 2 2. Andrea turns over her K Q o/s. The board came J 5 3......3.......6 and we lose Andrea in 8th place.

 

Andrea takes home £153

 

Our 2007 Champion, Lynne Beaumont was knocked out in 6th place!
In the hand following the break Lynne makes a move with 2s 3s and was called by both Carla (A K o/s) and Linda (A J o/s).

 

Flop comes 9 10 5

 

Turn: 9

 

River: 4

 

Carla wins the main pot and doubles up and Linda takes the side pot. Val Gray leaves the comp in 5th place. She went all in with Q Q and was called by Linda with K 10.
The flop came 5 5 4, so no help for either player, however the turn was another K, giving Linda K K. River: 7.

 

Val goes out and takes home £357. Linda moves into the leading position.

 

Linda is on a roll at the moment and has just taken Carla out.

 

Carla raised 15k, Linda went all in and Carla calls. They turn their cards- Carla shows Ad Kd and Linda A A. The flop came 5 9 2, Turn 4, River 10.

 

Carla takes 4th place and Linda picks up another 30k.

 

Linda Blundell finished in 3rd place and takes home £765. Michelle raised on the SB with 9h 10h and Linda re-raised with A 7. Flop came 10 2 2. Michelle pushes all in and Linda calls.

 

Turn K and river 9, nothing for Linda so Michelle wins with 10 10, leaving Michelle heads up with Elizabeth Costa.

 

 

By 2am it was all over! We have our 1st winner of 2008!

 

The winner of this year's 1st tour event is Michelle Bennett from Huddersfield.

 

The game was all over in reality 3 hands before the final nail was hammered in.

 

It was fairly even on chips.

 

Both ladies declare All In after a flop of:

 

5 3 6

 

The ladies put the cards on their backs and Michelle shows 7 8. Elizabeth showing A 7

 

Turn: 5

 

River: 9

 

Giving Michelle a straight and a chip lead of 250,000 Vs 6,000!!!!

 

The next 3 hands are All In's blind from Elizabeth, winning the first 2 and coming unstuck at the 3rd attempt, but a brave attempt from the local girl who has been solid all day long.

 

 

The final word must go to Michelle who played solidly all day and we look forward to seeing you all in Liverpool for the second leg of the tour!