Event Three: Reading

The third leg of the Betfred Ladies Poker Tour took us to the Maxim Casino in Reading. With a great atmosphere in the card room the first hand was dealt at approximately 15:40. With 59 runners and the £1000 added by Betfred the players were competing for a total prize pool of £6900 with a first prize of £2070, a seat in the grand final and a shot at the £20,000 sponsorship package.

 

The table draw was as follows:

 

Table 1

1.Angela Evis
2.Judith Edwards
3.Carey Hollick
4.Val Gray
5.Cara Moore
6.Mel Lofthouse
7.Caren Gordon
8.Kimberley Polszanski
9.Chris Evans
10.Sarah Dornford-May

Table 2

1.Patricia Dhiri
2.Hayley Daffern
3.Kelly Jackson
4.Kim Jagger
5.Somkhaun Harwood
6.Rachel Conquest
7.Daisy Timson
8.Susan Thornton
9.Frances Creed
10.Mel Short

Table 3

1.Jo-Ann Clark
2.Monica Martinsen
3.Mary Demosthenous
4.Gina Short
5.Francine Brandler
6.Elisabeth Thatcher
7.Lorraine Bogue
8.Vicki McKay
9.Caroline Walch
10.Tina Abery

Table 4

1.Sharon Woolridge
2.Tracy Hawkes
3.Victoria Yates
4.Gaye Jones
5.Tracy Gibson
6.Elizabeth Costa
7.Kay Harvey
8.Stacey Hamilton
9.Robyn O'Neil
10.Jackie Lewis

Table 5

1.Kerry Porter
2.Dee Mavor
3.Hazel Birchnell
4.Susan Hayward
5.Lucy Hadfield
6.Melanie Bowden
7.Wendy Richardson
8.Catherine Johnston
9.Pam Hadfield
10.Leslie Flaherty

Table 6

1.Ann Knight
2.Rosey Bensley
3.Lucy Fennell
4.Fiona Formby
5.Linda Blundell
6.Claire MacGregor
7.Rebecca Neilson
8.Mary Demetriou
9.Dawn Allen
10.

 

Judith Edwards was unlucky to be eliminated so early on. After seeing her Aces busted by 9 9 (a 4 card flush!) she then looked down and happily saw A K. She moved all in and was called by A Q and 9 9.

The board came 4 3 10 7 5. The 9's stand up again- Quote: 'Stuffed by 9's again!'

Shortly after this action we lost Chris Evans who found Q Q on the BB. She made a large raise and was called by Mel Losthouse with A K. An Ace came on the flop, Chris put the rest of her chips in and with no Queen to save her, Mel's A K stood up leaving her with a healthy chip stack.

 

At the first break we were down to 53 players with the blinds at 150/300 and the average chip stack was 6700. The chip counts at this stage were as follows:

 

1.Angela Evis 5.3k
2.Susan Hayward 5.5k
3.Carey Hollick 8.2k
4.Val Gray 6.2k
5.Cara Moore 6.3k
6.Mel Lofthouse 11.6k
7.Caren Gordon 7k
8.Kimberley Polszanski 4.8k
9.
10.Sarah Dornford-May 10.1k

 

Table 2

1.Patricia Dhiri 9.2k
2.Hayley Daffern 2.4k
3.Kelly Jackson 6.3k
4.Kim Jagger 6.4k
5.
6.Rachel Conquest 10k
7.Daisy Timson 4.3k
8.Susan Thornton 12.1k
9.Frances Creed 2.4k
10.Mel Short 1.4k

 

Table 3

1.Jo-Ann Clark 8.4k
2.
3.Mary Demosthenous 6.8k
4.Gina Short 1.9k
5.Somkhaun Harwood 7.7k
6.Elisabeth Thatcher 3.5k
7.Lorraine Bogue 7k
8.Vicki McKay 13.9k
9.Caroline Walch 15.1k
10.Tina Abery 3.3k

 

Table 4

1.Sharon Woolridge 5.4k
2.Tracy Hawkes 5.1k
3.Victoria Yates 6k
4.Gaye Jones 2.5k
5.
6.Elizabeth Costa 8.3k
7.Kay Harvey 8.1k
8.Stacey Hamilton 9.2k
9.Robyn O'Neil 9.6k
10.Jackie Lewis 6k

 

Table 5

1.Kerry Porter 2.7k
2.Dee Mavor 17.2k
3.Hazel Birchnell 9.9k
4.
5.
6.Melanie Bowden 7.3k
7.Wendy Richardson 8k
8.Catherine Johnston 3.2k
9.Pam Hadfield 5k
10.Leslie Flaherty 1.7k

 

Table 6

1.Ann Knight 3.7k
2.Rosey Bensley 11.3k
3.Lucy Fennell 1.3k
4.Fiona Formby 7.5k
5.Linda Blundell 7.4k
6.Claire MacGregor 6.5k
7.Rebecca Neilson 8k
8.Mary Demetriou 6.5k
9.Dawn Allen 2.1k
10.

 

Shortly after the break we lost Lesley Flaherty. Lesley had 10 10 and pushed all in, short stacked and was called by Hazel Birchnell with A K.

Hazel hit an Ace on the flop so takes the pot and sends Lesley home!

 

As we approached the second break we lost Mary Demosthenous!

 

Dee Mavor raises 1.6k under the gun and everyone folds around to Mary who is on the button and instantly pushes all in with 4.9k. Dee thinks about it and says 'I keep folding my Ace rag to you so I'm calling' and turns over A 5 o/s. Mary smiles and turns over 10d 10h.

The board was blank for both ladies but there were two diamonds, the turn came Ad putting Dee ahead but giving Mary the flush draw. River came blank for Mary giving Dee the pot.

 

At the second break 33 Players remain with the average chips at 12,500 and the blinds 400/800. The chip count was as follows:

 

Table 1

1.Angela Evis 8k
2.Susan Hayward 4.3k
3.Carey Hollick 9.3k
4.Val Gray 5.4k
5.Claire MacGregor 13.1k
6.Mel Lofthouse 26.7k
7.
8.Wendy Richardson 6.9k
9.
10.Sarah Dornford-May 8.1k

 

Table 2

1.Patricia Dhiri 12.6k
2.Hazel Birchnell 17k
3.Kay Harvey 5.1k
4.Kim Jagger 17.2k
5.
6.Rachel Conquest 6k
7.Daisy Timson 19.1k
8.Susan Thornton 3.4k
9.
10.Dawn Allen 4.5k

 

Table 3

1.
2.Ann Knight 7.9k
3.
4.Gina Short 300
5.Somkhaun Harwood 4.1k
6.Dee Mavor 24.9k
7.Melanie Bowden 11.2k
8.Vicki McKay 29.2k
9.Caroline Walch 17.4k
10.Rosey Bensley 8.8k

 

Table 4

1.Sharon Woolridge 5k
2.Tracy Hawkes 12.1k
3.Victoria Yates 6.9k
4.Melanie Bowden 16k
5.Pam Hadfield 9k
6.Elizabeth Costa 7k
7.
8.Stacey Hamilton 10.3k
9.Robyn O'Neil 9.6k
10.Jackie Lewis 2.5k

 

Shortly after the break we lost Val Gray who travelled all the way from Scotland to compete in the event.

When short stacked, Val pushed all her chips in pre flop, holding 4 4 and was called by A 9. The 9 came on the flop and there was no 4 to save Val!

By 20:30 we were down to 26 players with average stack at 15,900 and the blinds at 500/1000. Below are some pictures of the action:

 

 

 

 

As we approached the bubble the play got extremely tight. At approximately 21:45 we lost Maria Demetriou. She was taken out by Dee Mavor. Maria went all in pre flop with A 3 and was immediately called by Dee Mavor with A 8.

Flop 2 10 9

Turn Q

River 6

We lost Maria on her BLPT debut and Dee marched on.

 

After this we lost a succession of players in a short period leaving us with the following 13 players and chip stacks:

Table 1

1.Daisy Timson 18k
2.
3.Carey Hollick 14.9k
4.Victoria Yates 11.9k
5.Claire MacGregor 21.6k
6.
7.Melanie Bowden 58.5k
8.Wendy Richardson 14.7k
9.
10.Sarah Dornford-May 27.7k

Table 3

1.
2.
3.
4.Gina Short 38.4k
5.Patricia Dhiri 10.8k
6.Dee Mavor 50.4k
7.Kay Harvey 27.2k
8.
9.Caroline Walch 16k
10.Kim Jagger 41.8k   

 

After a long period of solid tight play we eventually lose Wendy Richard and Caroline Walsh to reach the final table. As a consolation prize both players were awarded a seat into a future Ladies Poker Tour event by Betfred.

 

The final table chip counts were as follows:

 

1.Carey Hollick 19.8k
2.Sarah Dornford-May 77.7k
3.Patricia Dhiri 21.6k
4.Kim Jagger 42.8k
5.Daisy Timson 22.4k
6.Gina Short 34.4k
7.Victoria Yates 23.3k
8.Kay Harvey 42.2k
9.Dee Mavor 43.6k
10.Melanie Bowden 75.1k

We lost two players early on the final table in one hand. Victoria Yates was first to act and went all in with 9 9. Trish Dhiri re-raised over the top with A Q suited and both were called by Kim Jagger with Q Q.

Flop 4 5 3

Turn J

River 8

Kim takes out Victoria and Trish and wins a 50k pot, making her chip leader.

Victoria takes home £120 for 10th place and Trisha goes home in 9th place with £155.
Half an hour later we lose Daisy Timson in 8th place who takes home £205.

Daisy raised all in with A 9 suited and was called by Kay Harvey with A K,

Flop 4 3 6

Turn Q

River 2

No help for Daisy so Kay takes the pot with her A K!

At approximately 01:10am Gina Short doubled up to become joint chip leader with Kim Jagger after raising all in pre flop with A 7 suited.

She was called by Dee Mavor with 5 5.

Flop 8 7 7

Turn K

River J

Trip 7's for Gina leaving Dee short stacked.

 

Shortly after this we lose Carey Hollick in 7th. Carey had 21k and went all in with K Q and was called by Kaye Harvey with A Q. Again nothing to help either- so Ace high takes it! Carey takes home £345. Soon after this we lost Dee Mavor. Short stacked Dee made her move with 6 6 and was called by Kay Harvey who turned over K J o/s.

Flop came K J 4

Turn 2

River came K

Giving Kay a full house of Kings and Jacks and Dee £415 for her 6th place finish!

Next to leave us was Sarah Dornford-May who moved all in with A 6 and Kim Jagger called with K K.

The board came 6 4 7 5 2.

The Kings stand up and Sarah Dornford-May leaves us in 5th place, taking home £485.

 

Melanie Bowden was next out in 4th place. She was holding 4 5, and low stacked, pushed all in and Gina Short called with 9 10.

Flop came 6 J 8

Turn 6

River Q

Gina hits her straight and takes the pot and Melanie goes home £690 richer!

We are now down to 3 players and the blinds are at 1500/3000.

 

At approximately 01:45 am we were heads up with Kim Jagger going out in third.

Kim on the BB was raised and Kim re-raised all in with her 6 6. Gina calls and shows Q J.

The board comes 3 4 8

Turn Q

River Q

Kim gets £1,035 for her third place finish.

 

Heads up didn’t last long and finally at 03:15 we had a winner of the Reading leg of the Ladies Poker Tour.

Gina Short made a remarkable come back after going down to just 300 chips earlier on in the tonight.

Kaye Harvey went all in, short stacked with A J and was called by Gina with Q 10.

Flop came A 10 10

Turn 4

River J

Gina wins with three of kind taking home £2070 and most importantly a seat in the grand final with a chance of winning a £20,000 sponsorship package.