Event Four: Swansea

MORE SATISFACTION AS JAGGER WINS AGAIN!

 

Kim Jagger made history at the Swansea leg of the 2009 Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour by becoming the first back-to-back winner in the three years since the series began.

 

The 42-year-old accountant from Stoke-on-Trent followed up her Sheffield victory in June by beating a high-quality field of 52 players to collect the first prize of £2,010 at Aspers Casino in the South Wales city.

 

There was also good news for Helen Firth who, as a result of Kim having already qualified for this year’s Grand Final, booked her own place thanks to finishing runner-up in Swansea.

 

An enthusiastic supporter of the tour, Kim joins two-time overall champion Lynne Beaumont and Sue Adams in owning two BLPT winner’s trophies but is the only one to have claimed them in consecutive events, her pocket nines prevailing at the climax of the heads-up with Helen.

 

“I’m ecstatic but a little amazed to have won two events in a row,” said Kim, who has never missed a leg of the Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour.

 

“I’ve changed my mental approach this year and I’m just focusing on playing my own game now rather than worrying about how to qualify and it’s really paying off.”

 

Helen was also delighted to have sealed her place in November’s final in which 10 ladies will have the chance to win the prize of a £20,000 poker sponsorship package for 2010 provided by Betfred.

 

“It’s really exciting to have qualified for the Grand Final,” said Helen, 35, who runs a pub with her husband Shaun in the village of Beal, near Knottingley.

 

“I was aware when it came down to three of us left that there was a place in the final available if Kim reached the heads-up and I’m already starting to get a bit nervous about the prospect.”

 

The winners of the four remaining legs of this year’s tour will also contest the final, as will the player who tops the leaderboard for the most consistent non-winner and also the victor of an online satellite tournament.

 

Along with Kim and Helen, Emily Curzon (Sidcup) and Mel Lofthouse (Rotherham) have already qualified for the final by virtue of their wins in Leeds and Scarborough respectively.

 

Final table finishing order and prizemoney for leg four of the 2009 Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour at Aspers Casino, Swansea:

 

1 Kim Jagger £2,010

2 Helen Firth £1,340 + a place in the Grand Final (Kim Jagger had already qualified)

3 Viv Barber £1,000

4 Carey Hollick £670

5 Rachel Dale £470

6 Alison James £400

7 Lynne Beaumont £340

8 Ruth Townsend £200

9 Caroline Manson £150

10 Teresa Kitson £120

 

The fifth leg of the 2009 Betfred Ladies’ Poker Tour takes place at Casino 36 in Stockport on Saturday, August 8.