Local News & Contacts

Contact Your Local Franchisee / Agent:

Name: Richard Edge
Tel: 0784 6033032
Email: rich@thenutspokerleague.com

Local News (Cheshire & Staffordshire)

Click on the link to go to the relevant section

TNPL Regional tournament photos, reports and Hall of Fame

Important Dates & Breaking News

Spring 2012 High Rollers- Sunday 20th May - 2.15 pm Start

Venue: Genting Casino in Stoke

£1,000 in prizes guaranteed with 3 qualification seats to the National Final:

3 X £150 Genting Seats, 3 x £100 Genting seats and £250 Cash (Top 3)

£5 Buy In (Dealer Dealt), Free Sunday Lunch from 1 to 2 pm (Reg. from 1 to 2pm)

Qualification Criteria: Individual League Winners or finished above the line in the Overall Regional League Table.

Starting Chip Stack = 5,000 + Regional League Points

QUALIFIERS AND STARTING CHIPS (LAST COLUMN)

1	Charles 'Sidney snot Esq' Williams	710578	17190	5000	22190
2	Dominic 'Domino' Naylor	712869	14992	5000	19992
3	Lesley 'Mrs S' Sutherland	680301	14144	5000	19144
4	Carol-Anne '"Black Widow"' Boulton	73348861	13596	5000	18596
5	Sandra Chatterley	687486	12414	5000	17414
6	James 'The Donkfish' Hughes	236818	12250	5000	17250
7	Andy 'Drewd' Thomas	236862	11740	5000	16740
8	Mark 'I Raise' Buckley	708798	9888	5000	14888
9	Brian Thomas	73348221	9738	5000	14738
10	Ian 'delta50' Bills	668690	9652	5000	14652
11	Paul Chatterley	687487	9268	5000	14268
12	Andy 'big andy' Cliffe	668686	8760	5000	13760
13	Steve 'wonder' Macintosh	694133	8552	5000	13552
14	Sam Robinson	724793	8490	5000	13490
15	Jeff 'All in' Metcalf	239343	8456	5000	13456
16	Leon Forrester	73348944	8080	5000	13080
17	Kevin 'Shoulda Woulda Coulda' Thomas	73348220	7872	5000	12872
18	Anthony 'BIG A' Robinson	724798	7668	5000	12668
19	Darren Probst	687845	7588	5000	12588
20	Manuel Brito	708835	7464	5000	12464
21	Steve Hilditch	348694	7262	5000	12262
22	ken hayes	718210	7236	5000	12236
23	Colin 'Lambrini Kid' Sutton	1001085	7186	5000	12186
24	terry fahy	718192	7114	5000	12114
25	Debbie 'LADY LUCK' Russell	710598	6918	5000	11918
26	Chris 'Mr Chips' Johnson	73348806	6472	5000	11472
27	Steve '0898Holly' Holly	708843	6448	5000	11448
28	Danny 'BIG D' Howman	724799	6426	5000	11426
29	Phil 'D' Duffey	354445	6374	5000	11374
30	Jamie Dalzell	713361	6176	5000	11176
31	Roger Dutton	674746	5996	5000	10996
32	Anita 'Neet' Thomas	236843	5908	5000	10908
33	Lesley Smith	348280	5780	5000	10780
34	Rich 'The Sly Dog' Edge	236824	5644	5000	10644
35	Adrian Thake	348195	5552	5000	10552
36	Dave 'Any Two Dru' Owen	703298	5542	5000	10542
37	julian mosquara	718197	5504	5000	10504
38	dave mcneill	720306	5458	5000	10458
39	Adrian 'THE DREAM CRUSHER' Russell	710597	5456	5000	10456
40	James Dean	73348935	5410	5000	10410
41	Kevin Boulton	73347994	5388	5000	10388
42	Vic Cadman	694960	5374	5000	10374
43	Steve 'the ice man' ashworth	721588	5286	5000	10286
44	James Tebb	239350	5262	5000	10262
45	Jez 'SAINTSY' St Lawrence	692112	5172	5000	10172
46	Steve 'Stig ''Mr. Jack''' Johnson	716773	5060	5000	10060
47	Julian Humphreys	667768	4956	5000	9956
48	Lee King	732613	4928	5000	9928
49	Chris 'The Pack Donkey' Platt	721884	4884	5000	9884
50	Christine Holman	693089	4852	5000	9852
51	Alan 'Radical Band' Radband	1001087	4830	5000	9830
55	Graeme Watkin	718326	4642	5000	9642
56	Chris Hynes	703299	4568	5000	9568
58	Debbie 'Double D' Miller	697319	4350	5000	9350
67	David 'Mooresy' Moores	715303	4076	5000	9076
70	karl 'notso' perfect	714101	4064	5000	9064
72	Kevin 'Bada Bing' Gardner	230573	4028	5000	9028
93	Jamie 'trackie top' Mcvitie	723978	3526	5000	8526
100	kirk Garbutt	718191	3440	5000	8440
110	mark 'novice pro' burton	713682	3120	5000	8120
175	Gareth Pemberton	668692	2230	5000	7230
243	Glen 'Rusty' Russell	691748	1214	5000	6214

			TOTAL CHIPS		736914

			AVERAGE CHIPS		11885.71

BLINDS (WITH ANTES)

Level	Duration	Small Blind	Big Blind	Antes

1	20	25	50	0
1	20	50	100	0
1	20	75	150	0
1	20	100	200	0
Break	10
2	20	150	300	0
2	20	200	400	0
2	20	300	600	0
2	20	400	800	0
Break	15	Chip Race/Chip Up 25’s
3	25	500	1000	100
3	25	600	1200	100
3	25	800	1600	200
3	25	1000	2000	200
Break	15
4	25	1200	2400	200
4	25	1500	3000	300
4	25	2000	4000	400
4	25	2500	5000	500
Break	15	Chip Race/Chip Up 100’s
5	25	3000	6000	500
5	25	4000	8000	500
5	25	5000	10000	1000
5	25	6000	12000	1000
Break	15
6	25	8000	16000	1500
6	25	10000	20000	2000
6	25	12500	25000	2500
6	25	15000	30000	3000

For further details on the TNPL National Finals, please click link: -

http://www.thenutspokerleague.com/go/national-finals

Play On Genting Poker Website: Download and register here: -

http://www.gentingpoker.com/registration?adv=TNPLREdge

The Poker Team

Coming soon, The Poker Team website, the number one place for the best poker events found at Genting Casino’s, Genting Online in association with your Nuts Poker League.

More Details to Follow Shortly

The Nuts Poker League Phone App

Download for Iphone and Android for league tables and venue information straight to your mobile phone or Tablet!

For full details, follow the link below:

http://tnplmobile.com/

Your Regional Tournament Qualification?

Not just the Regional Final, but 3 superb events all with added value !!

Regional Final

Finish in the top 25 % of any Venue League or the top 10 % of the Regional League to qualify!

- £2,000 CASH guaranteed with a £150 Genting Seat to the winner

- 10 Seats through to the National Finals

The Higher Rollers Event

Qualify by winning your Venue League

Finish above the line (Top 10%) in the Regional League

Starting Chip Stack = 5,000 + Regional League Points

£1,000 in prizes guaranteed

£5 Buy In (Dealer Dealt), Free Sunday Lunch from 1 to 2 pm

The Top 3 Event

Finish in the top 3 in any pub league or in the overall league to qualify!

A multi region event competing against the top performing players at Genting Casino (Stoke). £2,000 in added prizes and makes this a must play event.

Regional Events Schedule and Itinerary

Further Events To Be Confirmed

Genting Casino seat winners Information and Itinerary

Certain TNPL events have Genting Casino seats awarded to the league winners. These seats are awarded by The Poker Team. Any venue interested in having a seat awarded to them needs to contact the Poker Team directly by email to rich@thepokerteam.co.uk for further information. Terms and conditions apply.

Watch out for news on the new website coming soon!!!

PLUS THE FOLLOWING REGIONAL EVENTS:

OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION- £100 SEAT

REGIONAL FINAL- £100 SEAT

HIGH ROLLERS- 3 x £150 SEATS + 3 x £100 SEATS

TOP 3- £150 SEAT FOR THE WINNER + 9 X £100 SEATS

All players who win seats at the applicable venues for the Spring 2012season will be entered into the Sunday 3rd June or Sunday 1st July Stoke £100 event with £2,000 added. Please contact rich@thenutspokerleague.com to confirm your preferred event.

Terms and conditions apply.

It should be noted that all seat winners are required to pay a registration fee of 10 % of the seat value. All seat winners will be issued with a voucher for a specific tournament, which will be required on the day to claim the seat.

Spring 2012 Genting Casino Seat Winners:

TNPL Events Reminders and News

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE

FACEBOOK GROUP - JOIN NOW !!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=767147221&v=box_3&ref=profile#!/group.php?gid=117670724923411

- Daily reminders of TNPL events in the area

TNPL REGIONAL QUALIFIERS - SPRING 2012

TNPL Regional Events Photos, Reports and Hall of Fame

All regional tournament photos will now be available to all using the links below:

Regional Final Photos - Spring 2012

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151007408857222.543205.767147221&type=3&l=3a0fdbb334

Top 3 Photos - Spring 2012

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150970802438975.527993.604503974&type=1&l=1866ae3146

Top 3 Photos - Winter 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150577640586087.384538.528321086&type=3&l=90755c5296

Regional Final Photos - Winter 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.337157322996275.81765.100001060307127&type=1&l=fa62e1c3f3

High Rollers Photos - Winter 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.337154946329846.81764.100001060307127&type=1&l=d6b121cd88

Regional Final Photos - Autumn 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150517854992222.477060.767147221&type=1&l=58af1a8a3b

Top 3 Photos - Autumn 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150508868012222.474918.767147221&type=1&l=16f038ff61

High Rollers - Autumn 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150507314232222.474543.767147221&type=1&l=79a2d77fe7

Top 3 Tournament - Summer 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150447527327222.461780.767147221&l=0a25f14361&type=1

High Rollers Photos - Summer 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150403440777222.450022.767147221&l=e4b297ef18&type=1

Regional Final Photos - Summer 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150382778502222.443308.767147221&l=a59ff3c100&type=1

Regional Final Photos - Spring 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150272434842222.396210.767147221&l=0a674e30f5

Top 3 Tournament Photos - Spring 2011

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150283719412222.412869.767147221&l=5fc09fddf3

TNPL Regional Events Reports (Hall of Fame)

OVERALL LEAGUE WINNER- SPRING 2012

Charles 'Sidney snot Esq' Williams

710578

296

17190

Congratulations to Charles Williams on winning this seasons Overall League with a clear 2,000 points on second place Domonic Naylor and third place Lesley Sutherland. Charles wins yet another £100 Genting Seat for the Stoke £100 (£2,000 added) at the event of his choice.

REGIONAL FINAL - SPRING 2012

Ninety dedicated poker souls braved a Sunday monsoon of biblical proportions in order to attend the Cheshire and Staffs Winter Regionals, held at Stoke’s impressive Genting Casino. With ten National Finals seats up for grabs, in addition to a two thousand pound prize fund and, for the winner, entry to the forthcoming Anniversary Cup (a £250 seat for a comp with a wallet-busting six grand thrown into the mix) this equated to a 9-1 chance for every starter – very good odds for a tournament of this scale and importance.

As always with such events the atmosphere throughout was friendly with plenty of laughter interspersed between the raises and outright bluffs, particularly in this instance due to most players knowing each other well from various venues around the region. “Typical. I should have known you’d have it” was one plaintive cry overheard whilst at the table containing an early short stack it was noticeable how fellow competitors were openly willing him back into contention.

Stu Tompkin blasted his way into an early overall chip lead with a succession of Ace-Queens that became a running joke on his table. Being a seasoned tournament player this marked him down as one to watch as Stu realised the value in changing gears throughout the day and entrusting the generous blind structure that allows for patience – I’ve never seen a winner yet who successfully negotiates their way through such a large field by playing flat-out aggressive from the get-go. When the well of good hands temporarily dried up Stu sat back, switched tack and concentrated on making positional moves.

Anita Thomas from the Piano Bar in Congleton meanwhile made an early bid for hand of the day (a feat that brings in an additional twenty quid) with a full array of tens that sent the table into an excited fervour. Amazingly this would be later trumped on two separate occasions.

Another experiencing good fortune was Philip Armitt who modesty put his commanding chip stack down to “a kindly dealer”. Philip ultimately succumbed one off the bubble but put on a fantastic display of poker throughout.

With 25 left and the tension building Mark Buckley made a purposefully dramatic all-in shove from the small blind. Mark had been busy for a while bluffing, bullying and stealing and knew this would arouse suspicion from his friend Peter Thomason immediately to his right. Peter looked down and saw K-Q and duly called a touch light only to recoil at the sight of aces. Four hearts on the board however gave Peter a flush with Mark cursing the cruel vagaries of this exasperating and enthralling game we so love.

On the same table Emma Russell had taken it upon herself to be ‘captain’ and there are few more entertaining sights in poker. Ramping up her play to aggressive mode, with persistent reraises, the liberal appliance of lippy, and jocular, admonishing banter it would be worth the entrance fee alone if such a fee was required.

With just 20 players remaining however a collective caution understandably descended as a prolonged bubble battle commenced and each table went into a sustained period of lockdown. The short stacks greedily sought re-enforcements should they reach the last ten whilst the chip leaders stubbornly protected their advantage. The stasis was twice broken by quad queens for Lucas Serwin then incredibly quad kings for Philip Armitt who was again the beneficiary of a kindly dealer until a series of suck-outs ended his challenge. Stu Tompkin was next to fall in 12th place which left the dreaded bubble to loom over proceedings.

This was complicated due the fact that Jamie Price had already qualified for the Nationals and Emma announcing that she couldn’t attend due to work commitments. So it was that Adrian Thake finally took the unenviable honour in 11^th, accepting his fate with admirable good grace.

Following photographs and handshakes all round the final table settled into a cagey opening pattern of bet and fold. Of the final ten four were female with Carol-Anne Boulton having made a miraculous comeback from a solitary chip earlier in the day, Leslie Sutherland shrewdly choosing her moments to attack the blinds, Emma comfortably biding her time and Anita Thomas having fully capitalised on her early fortune with some outstanding tournament play. Sadly she was first to exit in gory circumstances that involved her pocket queens being runner-runnered for a straight. Anthony Robinson was next to leave soon-after followed by John Moore and Leslie. These four players will be back to ably represent their region at the National Finals on May 26^th.

With the blinds now an imposing 15000/30000 it necessitated action from the smaller stacks and David Wright was fortunate to see his 4-2 shove overcome a superior call to give him a much-needed double-up. Matthew Platt was not so lucky alas as his enforced all-on through the blinds resulted in him departing in sixth place. Ninety quid and a sterling performance will hopefully prove to be a significant consolation however to the man from Crewe.

(Pete Thomasson)

Jamie Price then bettered Peter Thomason in a scuffle of the blinds that ended with both hitting the flop. By this late stage that was enough to reduce the personnel further which left the table four-handed with each remaining player roughly even in chips. From here-on in skill became less of a determining factor; now it was the time for kismet with the remaining few desperately hoping to spy an ace or any pocket pair as the cards slid towards them.

Now was also the time for one of the most incredible ten minutes of poker you will ever witness. A huge pot clash between Carol-Anne and Emma resulted in the latter being all but out. A series of ‘blind’ shoves however brought a succession of suck-outs and rivered flushes that soon propelled her back into contention.

Both ladies had now rose from the dead - from a chip, a chair and a handbag - and Carol-Anne’s earlier resurrection was rewarded further when she woke in the big blind with queens to a small blind shove from David. Facing an hour-long bus journey home David would surely smile the whole way with £140 in his back pocket.

(

(David Wright)

Jamie Price – the victim to all but one of Emma’s hope-and-prays – now found himself contemplating a tempting draw on the flop. A set for Emma held up and onlookers now looked forward to a good-natured but hard-fought heads-up duel between the sisters of Lazurus. Each player agreed upon a split in the prize money that equated to nearly six hundred pounds apiece so it was the Anniversary Cup seat and the size of trophy now at stake.

(Jamie Price)

In keeping with the topsy-turvy nature of their day both found themselves depleted of most of their stacks before clawing their way back in an engaging battle of wits with Carol-Anne eventually winning out.

(Emma Russell (left) andCarol-Anne Boulton)

“I only started playing in November” she said, visibly stunned as she held aloft the glass trophy. In which case woe betide the rest of the National Finalists on May 26^th. Another few weeks of playing and she will be an all-conquering pro at this rate.

Written by,

Stephen Tudor

Final Table Result:

Carol-Anne Bolton - £575 / NATIONAL FINAL / £150 GENTING SEAT
Emma Russell - £575 / NATIONAL FINAL
Jamie Price - £250 / NATIONAL FINAL
David Wright - £170 / NATIONAL FINAL
Peter Thomasson - £120 / NATIONAL FINAL
Matthew Platt - £90 / NATIONAL FINAL
Lesley Sutherland - £70 / NATIONAL FINAL
John Moore - £60 / NATIONAL FINAL
Anthony Robinson - £50 / NATIONAL FINAL
Anita Thomas - £40 / NATIONAL FINAL
Adrain Thake - NATIONAL FINAL
Stu Tompkin - NATIONAL FINAL

TOP 3 FINAL - SPRING 2012

In the excellent 1998 film Rounders Matt Damon’s character is narrating over a scene where the pros head down to Atlantic City to make some easy ‘roll’ from the tourists. Explaining why these seasoned grifters avoid direct conflict in hands and concentrate instead on fleecing the weekenders he says “It’s like the nature channel….you don’t see Piranhas eating themselves do you?”

Yet at the Genting Casino in Stoke on April 22^nd I witnessed precisely that as the Spring Top 3 event got underway with 157 predatory poker players, who had travelled there from far and wide, all intending to take down the £850 first prize.

Granted it is feasible for a luckbox to finish first, second or third in their respective leagues but it’s an unlikely feat and the mere fact that these players had negotiated a season of bad beats and reluctant laydowns to secure an invitation to this prestigious event largely ensured that here was the elite of Flints and Denbighshire, Lancs, Merseyside, Shropshire, Cheshire and the West Midlands. They had spent three months feasting upon the fish. Now they must turn on themselves.

Certainly the overheard table talk confirmed that these were knowledgeable aficionados of the game who knew their ‘implied odds’ from their ‘loose calls’ but that is not to suggest that the atmosphere at this tournament – that ran from 1pm until a young lad shook his final hand at midnight close to tears at his fantastic achievement – was anything other than friendly and full of banter throughout.

One particular hand involved a short-stack shoving with a king. Called by A-Q he must have thought his day was over when two ladies appeared on the flop. A miraculous runner-runner prompted incredulous gales of laughter from the entire table and what was noticeable was that even the poor guy mucking his lost hand joined in gladly. It was that kind of day. It always is with the Top 3 tournament as enjoyment invariably rivers greed or ambition.

Understandably however – with a total of £2500 in prize money, ten National Final seats, nine £100 seats to a future Genting Casino tournament and, for the winner, a £150 seat to the forthcoming Anniversary Cup (that has a wallet-bulging six grand added to the pot) - the mood tends to tighten up as the tables dwindle away to a remaining select few and such rewards are no longer a vague aspiration but a distinct possibility.

Of course there is also the bubble to fear, to avoid being the last man or woman to depart from your table with nothing but a bad luck story and a few pats on the back from those thinking ‘There but for the grace of God’. This unenviable fate befell Dave Pinder whose eleventh place finish at least garnered on this occasion thirty quid that was paid out up to sixteenth position. It was scant consolation though for a consummate day of poker.

At least Dave could take some solace in knowing – as did the rest of the room who now concentrated their attentions upon the final ten – that the ultimate winner of this event was already decided. From 6pm onwards and with the field still forty strong the poker gods had decreed that Stephen Whittall from Wolverhampton was fated to lift aloft the glass trophy. A succession of players fell beneath his sword with one particular hand involving Jacks gathering in a pot topping 300,000. Though there was no small amount of skill to his continual harvesting of chips it has to be noted there were also numerous suck-outs with inferior kickers that left several victims heading for the roulette tables muttering into their beer.

By the time the photographs were concluded and the final table got underway Stephen’s stack could have been used to ballast Eamonn Holmes and he was smoothly in fifth gear as regards to using it to his advantage. Every other hand was a pre-flop raise followed each time by a continuation bet and though his competitors knew precisely what he was up to this brought an interesting dilemma. Do they call light knowing they were probably ahead? But what if he actually had it this time? With so much at stake – and glory, medals and fortunes within touching distance – the other nine players erred on the side of caution and allowed him to captain proceedings preferring instead of target other one whenever possible.

Mark Scholey from Blackburn had negotiated a much trickier path to the final ten than most, having to expertly nurture a short stack for a considerable spell until a deserved slice of fortune in the form of a rivered set propelled him into contention, raised in late position with A-K and Shropshire lad Adam Bailey repopped it with pocket tens. From nowhere we suddenly had our first out-and-out race with Mark hitting both his premium fare and doubling up. I noticed sweat on Adam’s brow as he conceded graciously. This truly mattered now and the jokes and good-natured poker patter from earlier in the day seemed a distant memory.

Mark Jennings soon after forgot about the communal strategy of staying clear of Stephen’s fateful flight-path and pitted his K-10 against the latter’s 10-8. An 8 inevitably spiked and Mark departed fifty quid to the good.

Wrexham’s Graham Butler meanwhile – who had determinedly eked barely a big blind onto the marquee table – succumbed minutes later by running into Kevin Jones’ A-K, finishing a very respectable ninth.

With just eight remaining Lady Luck – or whoever the deity of such fortunes is that the other 156 players had seemingly annoyed that day – became restless and wished to hurry the inevitable to its conclusion.

First Stephen sent two to the rails in the same hand by calling both all-ins from James Tebb and Adam Bailey with his A-K and hitting two pair. Then incredibly in the very next hand he sent another duo packing, this time made all the more remarkable by the fact that Luke Fair and Dave Behan had significant stacks of their own.

Dave, who plays at the Salopian Star in Markey Drayton (“That sounds classy”…”It’s really not”) made a legitimate shove with A-10. The blinds were now a mind-boggling 8000/16000 and with 1500 antes there were 33,000 to be accrued pre-flop so he really had no other option. So it was extremely unfortunate for him to encounter an instant call from his friend Luke who had the sudden rigidity of a man holding his best hand of the day. What neither could possible factor in was Stephen waking up with aces in big blind. The best hand held up and after a whirlwind trice of demolition we were suddenly down to four with Stephen reaching the million mark in chips.

Following a prolonged four-way battle Kevin Jones from Buckley was next to go. Brandishing his two hundred pounds winnings he drily commented “Not bad considering I didn’t have a hand for the first five hours!” Indeed it was an exhibition of patient and sensible tournament play throughout from Kevin.

Despite his wanton destruction of the field Stephen’s chip advantage was not as commanding as you might imagine at this point, mainly due to the resilient and astute positional play of Mark Scholey and Luke Hobson who had raised, pinched and squeezed at opportune moments.

When silence descended upon a hand involving these two it became clear that both held decent fare and this was going to be the deciding bout to determine who would face Stephen and his arch accomplice fate. Mark raised tentatively. Luke reraised. Mark considered every option before committing his chips and promptly slumped into his seat at the sight of pocket kings. He dejectedly turned over his 8s and knew the game was up. He had made repeated mentions throughout that, although the money was obviously desirable, what he really wanted was the trophy. Cruelly this was denied Mark at the last.

So from the multitude of hopefuls we finally reached the final two; an intriguing heads-up between two contrasting characters. The unassuming Luke from Liverpool - thoughtful of every decision - against Stephen’s on-the-wing aggression. The latter won out. How could he not? The script was written before he even arrived.

The likable player from Wolves turned to his girlfriend and asked if they could call their first child Jack King before the emotion and realisation of his achievement hit home. “This is one of my first ever tournaments. I’ve never won anything before and the feeling is euphoric”.

Lady Luck smiled down benignly and moved on elsewhere to her next unknowing recipient.

Full result - Top 10 all won a National seat & (2nd-10th £100 Casino seat)

1st Stephen Whittall - West Midlands £850 + £150 casino seat
2nd Luke Hobson - Merseyside £460
3rd Mark Scholey - Lancashire £340
4th Kev Jones - Flintshire £200
5th Luke Fair - Shropshire £160
6th Dave Behan - Shropshire £120
7th Adam Bailey - Shropshire ££90
8th James Tebb - Cheshire £80
9th Graham Butler - Wrexham £60
10th Mark Jennings - Shropshire £50
11th -16th £30 each

OVERALL LEAGUE WINNER - WINTER 2011

(Lesley Sutherland)

Lesley 'Mrs S' Sutherland

680301

307

14722

Congratulations to Lesley Sutherland who comprehensively won this seasons Overall League over 3,500 points clear of runner up James Hughes. Jeff Metcalf and Ian Bills also managed to break the 10,000 points mark finishing 3rd and 4th.

TOP 3 FINAL - WINTER 2011

The queue to sign in for the top 3 event held on Sunday at the impressive Genting Casino in Stoke snaked all the way back to the roulette wheels. While some confidently held their first pint of the day others cradled an orange juice nursing weekend hangovers. All were eagerly looking forward to one of the biggest events in the Nuts poker calendar. What was particularly striking were the differing strategies devised beforehand by players hoping to negotiate their way through a 140-strong motley crew of sharks, donks, grinders and luckboxes to potentially reach the rich rewards of the final table. With £2400 in cash prizes available to the last fifteen, ten National Final seats to be attained, plus nine £100 buy-ins for a future event (an additional £150 seat was reserved for the winner) it was certainly worth forming a game-plan before a card was even shuffled and dealt.

These varied in ambition and intent depending largely on each individual’s experience. The veterans of the long, drawn-out challenge ahead knew the importance of building up a chip stack early doors. Stu Tompkin, who has encountered every fate bestowed from the fickle poker gods, was adamant it was boom or bust for him - either an early charge or an early bath – while first-timer Chris Reece (who would later come back from a single chip and two enforced all-ins to make a fabulous run to fifth) was more circumspect, declaring he was hardly going to play a hand through the initial levels. Meanwhile a guy called Guy stated that he just wanted to confuse people.

For those not familiar with the Top 3 tournament it can be equated in football terms to the Champion’s League. As the name suggests the highest three finishers in a number of leagues are invited to participate and though it may not (yet) be continental it comprises of the elite from a broad sweep of areas including Shropshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire and Staffordshire and Denbighshire and Flintshire. Just like Wayne Rooney’s blank confusion as a foreign opponent tells him to fornicate elsewhere in another language there were similar breakdowns in communication here as local dialects clashed. The ultimate winner Kirsty Wright informed me she was ‘landing’ after her amazing win. I assume that’s a good thing? I also heard at least one ‘Yet wha’ duck?’ throughout the day.

It was easy to spot the outright champions of each league by the cool manner they tossed in chips - an arrogant flick of the wrist like a Bourbon monarch dismissing a court minion – but regardless of trophies or bragging rights each player began the day with the same 8000 chips. A generous blind structure ensured there were margins for error and plenty of opportunities to make a few moves which the more aggressive players such as Richard ‘the Rottweiler’ Lewis didn’t pass up accumulating intimidating stacks before some had even unravelled their MP3 earphones.

The initial buzz of excitement soon settled into a gentle click-clack thrum of chips being passed around, friendly banter, and the occasional player standing, shaking their head and bemoaning a sick exit. Full-houses were trumped by superior boats, gut-shots successfully chased to the river, and of course that perennial favourite “I didn’t put him on the nuts”. How about this one that befell Mike Stephenson with just forty-three runners remaining - Mike raised with pocket tens pre-flop and was called by John Gill on big blind with K-10 suited. A flop of K-10-rag meant both pushed their towers in confident of a double-up with John then crestfallen to see a dreaded set. A two-outer king on the turn however left Mike heading back to the roulette tables where hours earlier he’d queued with such pre-tournament optimism. Lady Luck sometimes has a cruel streak that makes Cruella De Ville look like Lorraine Kelly.

An entertaining sideshow throughout was the battle to secure the hand of the day which brought with it a twenty quid pay-out. This became as fiercely competed as the main event with that man again John Gill rivering quad 7s which was soon topped by Brian Humphrey’s quartet of jacks. Mark Buckley from Warrington ultimately snagged the money with an unbeatable quad aces which, crucially, also brought a much-needed double-up against a queen-high flush.

Afternoon gradually encroached into evening and to illustrate the hours that had passed Kate Perrin reached the hundredth page of the zombie novel she was reading in between folds and raises. Admitting to a fascination with the fictional undead she need only have peered above her book to witness the real incarnations as focus became fatigued, mistakes were made, and shoves became desperate as the blinds inexorably rose. The field thinned to three tables all of whom balanced a realistic hope for going all the way with a sickening fear of the bubble.

That unenviable fate was reserved for Alan Wood though it’s also worth pointing out the misfortune of Nathan Griffiths who exited shortly before when he shipped in K-J in the blinds and was called extremely loosely. A runner-runner couple of rag cards brought a collective groan of sympathy from all around. ‘There but for the grace of God’ was thought by all.

Fifteenth place down all departed with cash but naturally all eyes were on securing a final table finish – the February Ten to evoke the WSOP – and once the formalities of photographs and best wishes were concluded the headline act was underway.

As often happens once the nerves and caution surrounding the bubble gives way to the relief and sense of achievement at reaching the final table the general play noticeably freed up and consequently two players exited in quick succession.

Paul Jones from Leigh made a positional shove with Q-10 suited and was unlucky to encounter the big slick while Richard Zoleman from Llay succumbed during the very next hand. We will see them both again – and every other player hereafter mentioned – at the National Finals in May.

Chris Harding swiftly followed when his A-8 ran head-first into another big slick which once more belonged to Kirsty Wright who was evidently waging a one-woman war in her pursuit of the big prize.

Kirsty, who had played excellent poker all day – I’d personally witnessed her correctly lay down a huge hand hours earlier – could now barely see above her imposing edifice of chips and she good-naturedly batted away jokes from all around that the others were now battling for second place.

To that aim John Power shoved his K-10 in early position hoping to accrue the monumental blinds and antes now available pre-flop only to have Gary Guille also commit his chips behind him. All those present could tell from Gary’s serious demeanour that not only did he have a monster but was dreading the possibility of experiencing a suck-out. In the event his kings held up sending an ever-gracious JP to the rails and putting Gary firmly in the reckoning.

Next came a more tentative affair as Paul Breedon opened with K-J and, after a long consideration, Kirsty sent all her troops into battle. Paul did the maths, realised he was priced in to call and reluctantly did so, nodding his head in resignation to the inevitable ace that was revealed. The better hand held up and now Kirsty’s stack was worrying the support structure of the table. You’ve heard that old myth about the Great Wall of China being the only mad-made object visible from space? Well, on Sunday there was another.

Chris Reece was now isolated as the short stack and being big blind soon forced the issue. For a newbie who was all-but-out halfway through this marathon of concentration and nerve a fifth place finish was nothing short of a tremendous achievement.

A final table is a very separate beast from the rest of the tournament and develops a distinct, individual personality. This depends entirely on the participants and in no small part due to the involvement of Mike Hayes and Jullian Mosquara this particular FT was friendly, vibrant and high-spirited throughout. Both players knew each other from their league venues and the banter was relentless. Jullian had navigated his way through the field playing steady, sensible poker; always thoughtful before any action taken. Mike meanwhile, when asked halfway through how he had amassed so many chips, had replied self-deprecatingly that he’d done so through “luck and bluffing”.

Even amongst such bonhomie however with just four players left the game hit its first lull as the money ladder rose in the hundreds and caginess setting in. Gary – who had seen his stack depleted through a period of card-dead junk at the worst possible time – was finally forced to make a stab at the blinds and Jullian only needed to see an ace to call. We were now three-handed.

The change in dynamic from four to three seemed to reignite the ambition and within a matter of hands it was all over. First Jullian found his Q-J dominated by Kirsty’s K-J and what was anticipated to be a titanic heads-up struggle was swiftly decided by Mike’s small blind raise being squashed by the all-in hammer move Kirsty had now perfected. With a severe chip disadvantage Mike had little other option but to commit himself to suited rags that failed to connect with the board.

Kudos to all the final ten but, for her unrelenting aggression, Kirsty was a very worthy winner and she proudly posed with her bounty of prizes, looking a touch stunned by her feat. “All done with a stinking hangover,” her friend declared with a broad grin but the last words should go to our new champ. “I thought he was going to come back during heads-up. I feel landing.” I assume that’s a good thing.

Written by Stephen Tudor

FINAL 15

The Top 11 all won a National Final seat (as 1 of the Top 10 had already won a place):

1st Kirsty Wright £740 + £150 casino seat

2nd Mike Hayes - Cheshire £410 + £100 casino Seat

3rd Julian Mosquara - Cheshire £310 + £100 Casino Seat

4th Gary Guille - Flintshire £240 + £100 casino Seat

5th Chris Reece - Flintshire £180 + £100 casino Seat

6th Paul Breedon - Shropshire £140 + £100 casino Seat

7th John Power - Flintshire £110 + £100 casino Seat

8th Chris Harding - Merseyside £80 + £100 Casino Seat

9th Richard Zolman - Wrexham £50 + £100 casino Seat

10th Paul Jones - Lancashire £40 + £100 Casino Seat

11th Mike Parcesepe - Wrexham £20

12th Alan Wood - Lancashire £20

13th Dave Newell - Wrexham £20

14th John Tattersall - Lancashire £20

15th Jeff Metcalf - Cheshire £20

REGIONAL FINAL - WINTER 2011

This seasons regional final started with 108 runners competing for £2,000 in prizes with 10 seats through to the national finals in May. Sunday lunches all eaten, play got under way just after 2.15 pm for a full days poker.

The afternoon saw a steady flow of participants falling keeping the event moving. The antes kicked in at 600/1200 blinds meaning players had to start making a move to stop them been blinded out. Final table bubble, just missing out on a national final place with Paul Chatterley and Rita Birdsey narrowingly missing out but with a consolation of a £40 cash prize.

FINAL TABLE CHIP COUNT:

SEAT 1 - BRIAN THOMAS (91,000)

SEAT 2 - STEPHEN HAYWOOD (61,000)

SEAT 3 - JAMES STEINEGGER (37,400)

SEAT 4 - WARWICK BRINDLEY (58,800)

SEAT 5 - DAVID OWEN (193,500)

SEAT 6 - JAMIE PRICE (66,600)

SEAT 7 - DAVID LYDON (139,900)

SEAT 8 - JOHN BAZLEY (46,600)

SEAT 9 - JASON FOX (119,700)

SEAT 10 - JAMES SIMPSON (39,500)

(James Simpson)

The short stacks on the table were first to go with James Steinegger, James Simpson and and Warwick Brindley falling. Jamie Price and Brian Thomas were the only players who started the table with a less substantial chip stack, witj Jamie to survive an all in and bring himself back into contention. Jason Fox only managed 7th place after starting in 3rd in chips. The Crewe contingent of Brian Thomas, Stephen Haywood and John Bazleythen went in succesion but all receiving three figure cash prizes.

(3rd place, Jamie Price)

Down to 3 players remaining, Jamie was left short stacked compared to the two davids. With the Blinds up to 10,000/20,000 he only managed to last a few hands to be knocked out in 3rd place winning £250. Heads up saw David Lydon and David Owens reasonably equal in chips to fight it out for which trophy and which Genting seat they would win. It was a brief heads up, lasting a few hands, with David Lydon winning his first ever Regional title.

(Runner up, Dave Owen (left) and winner, Dave Lydon (right)

Congraulations to all the winners, and thanks to all the players and the casino staff for another great fun day out of poker winning over £2,500 in prizes.

(Champion, Dave Lydon)

FINAL TABLE RESULT (AND CASH WINNERS):

DAVID LYDON (711461) - £600 / £150 GENTING SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
DAVID OWEN (703298) - £400 / £100 GENTING SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
JAMIE PRICE (236824) - £250 / NATIONAL FINALS
JOHN BAZLEY (712866) - £180 / NATIONAL FINALS
STEPHEN HAYWOOD (710579) - £130 / NATIONAL FINALS
BRIAN THOMAS (73348221) - £100 / NATIONAL FINALS
JASON FOX (694163) - £80 / NATIONAL FINALS
WARWICK BRINDLEY (73348272) - £70 / NATIONAL FINALS
JAMES SIMPSON (702887) - £60 / NATIONAL FINALS
JAMES STEINEGGER (721868) - £50 / NATIONAL FINALS
PAUL CHATTERLEY (687847) - £40
RITA BIRDSEY (716875) - £40

HIGH ROLLERS - WINTER 2011

This seasons High Rollers had a record £1,000 in prizes with the first 6 places all winning casino seats. After eating theit Sunday dinners, play got under way at an exclusive dealer dealt event.There was 2 places at the National Finals up for grabs with £250 in cash to be paid out to the top 5 places. The new deepstack strucure used for the first time saw a long game lasting over 7 hours.

(Winner (left) Steve Johnson and runner up Steve Hilditch)

Congraulations to Steve Johnson from Crewe taking down the notoriusly difficult High Rollers title beating Steve Hilditch who was runner up. Charles Williams finishing third did win a Genting Stoke £150 seat but bubbled for a national seat much to his dissapointment. Kevin Boulton, Kevin Thomas and James Hughes all won £100 Genting seats with Andy Cliffe the unfortunate player to finish 7th missing out on a prize.

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

STEVE JOHNSON (716773) - £120 / GENTING £150 SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
STEVE HILDITCH (348694) - £60 / GENTING STOKE £150 SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
CHARLES WILLIAMS (710578) - £40 / GENTING £150 SEAT
KEVIN BOULTON (73347994) - £20 - GENTING £100 SEAT
KEVIN THOMAS (73348220) - £10 / GENTING £100 SEAT
JAMES HUGHES (236818) - GENTING £100 SEAT
ANDY CLIFFE (668686)
CHRIS JOHNSON (73348006)
MICK BLACKWELL(721890)
PAUL SQUIRES (711701)

OVERALL LEAGUE WINNER - AUTUMN 2011

(Alan Wild and Nadia Reiter)

Nadia 'Paperback' Reiter

720334

296

18634

Congratulations to Nadia Reiter from Crewe on comfortably winning the Cheshire Regional League. Alan Wild was runner up nearly 2,000 points behind with Adrian Russell a close third with a most impressive average. Nadia has won a £100 Circus Seat and will be competing in the December event.

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE REGIONAL FINAL RESULTS - AUTUMN 2011

They came from all over Cheshire and Staffordshire to the Circus Casino in Stoke for the Autumn 2011 Regional Finals. One hundred and fifteen hopefuls to be precise; some nursing hangovers, others bright and chipper, while the first-timers understandably looked a little lost, overawed by the sheer scale of the venue and the unfamiliar challenge ahead.

Each player shared that strange mixture of pre-tournament bluster and bravado and the downbeat pessimism brought about from too many previous bad-beats and bust-outs. This was best illustrated by the exact same conversation I had three times in the space of five minutes as the players walked away from the registration desk.

‘Are you feeling confident?’

‘Yes’

‘Did you enter the side-pot?’

‘No’

The five pound side-pot was optional and would later be shared out by the last remaining five who entered into it, a not inconsiderable sum of £250 but by that stage there were much bigger rewards on offer. Ten national final seats were up for grabs, a total cash prize fund of a wallet-bulging £2325 (with the top fifteen getting paid and £825 going to the eventual winner), a £150 and £100 seat for a future Circus Casino tournament for the final two coupled with medals and trophies for all participants on the final table.

This was my first experience of the Cheshire and Staffs Regionals and I was genuinely bowled over by the amicable, good-natured spirit in which it was played, but even amongst the banter and best wishes everyone was aware of the pot of gold that lay at the end of a rainbow flop. Two pair for them, a set for you. Two pair for you, top pair and an ultimately busted flush draw for them. An accumulation of such hands could mean not only returning for the Nationals but you could be opening your Christmas presents this year glowing from a healthy winter tan.

There was also £20 awarded to the hand of the day, which was shared by Jim Cessford and Martin Flaherty who both hit quad aces early on. As is often the case in poker it’s not just the quality of your holding but whether your opponent has something slightly worse which they cannot escape from. Jim garnered a few chips for his monster hand whereas Martin doubled-through against a full-house. He would go on to finish ninth overall.

The field gradually dwindled. Players who I last saw struggling with barely ten big blinds were soon moving tables requiring racks for their intimidating haul of chips. They attempted to look nonchalant as they unloaded their new-found bounty but their smiles gave it away – they’d just been on one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

With just eighteen players left and nerves beginning to fray the defining hand of the tournament played out. Jim Hopkins – at this stage medium stacked and playing cautiously – over-bet pre-flop with the bullets. Perhaps he was content with the blinds and antes which had now escalated to a very desirable amount. Perhaps he wanted to price out any K-J stock that always seems to bust aces. Either way he found action from the big blind who promptly flopped a straight and flush draw. Both players got their chips in and the aces held. It was a gargantuan pot that immediately propelled Jim to tournament favourite. Or in the words of one of his friends, ‘If you don’t win this now you’re not very good’. Well, words to that effect. The city of chips in front of him threatened to upend the table and even when 150,000 was momentarily taken from him to chip up his remaining haul still outnumbered the rest.

With thirteen left and the bubble approaching the blinds were 2500-5000 and shoves became commonplace. Any ace suddenly became all-in currency and regularly came a cropper to any premium fare awaiting down-table. David Owen finished where nobody ever wants to, bubbling when his open-ended straight draw came to nothing.

This meant we had our final table. The October Ten.

The short-stacks got busy and also got lucky; David Herd’s position shove with 4-3 heralded a set on the flop to double him up and bring him back into contention.

(David Herd (right))

Andy Cliffe wasn’t so fortunate when his A-9 ran into pocket kings and he became our first casualty followed soon after by Martin Flaherty. David Herd, after suffering a couple of hits, then came unstuck when his blind-steal was taken on by both small and big. Chip leader Jim Hopkins then began showing a few successful bluffs and this risky strategy soon paid off handsomely when his Q-Q was distrusted by Ray Birdsey who called light.

(Ray Birdsey)

This left six and though the standard of play was exceptional – there was intelligence and thought behind every decision made – no-one was hanging around either.

(Takehiko Kano)

Kakehiko Kaiuo busted sixth and was almost immediately followed by Tony ‘Poker’ Unsworth. Both applied themselves superbly throughout and will be welcome returnees at the Nationals. Earlier Tony confided that he’d been repeatedly paid off for his monster hands because nobody believed him.

(Tony Unsworth)

Unfortunately for him the premiums dried up and were dealt elsewhere when they were needed the most and it was Janet Haycock who looked down to discover K-K with just four players left. They held against John Bazley’s A-J and we all anticipated a drawn-out three-way battle of wits. Instead we went from a trio of tournament-weary players to Jim Hopkins lifting the trophy in a blink of an eye. He raised with 6-5 suited and Steve Hillditch shoved with K-Q. Unfortunately Jim was priced in to make a light call and duly spiked a 6 on the flop. With huge riches within touching distance it was a sick exit but Steve took it in typically good grace.

(John Bazley)

(Steve Hilditch)

Heads-up was a one-handed affair – Janet not messing about with her K-Q and getting an immediate call from Jim with A-J. The stronger hand prevailed to give us our champion. He held aloft the trophy bashful and modest, no doubt thinking back to the bullets that fired him to glory.

(Jim Hopkins and Janet Haycock)

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

JIM HOPKINS - £825 / £150 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
JANET HAYCOCK - £419 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
STEVE HILDITCH - £279 / NATIONAL FINALS
JOHN BAZLEY - £186 / NATIONAL FINALS
TONY UNSWORTH - £140 / NATIONAL FINALS
TAKEHIKO KANO - £105 / NATIONAL FINALS
RAY BIRDSEY - £81 / NATIONAL FINALS
DAVID HERD - £70 / NATIONAL FINALS
MARTIN FLAHERTY - £58 / NATIONAL FINALS
ANDY CLIFFE - £47 / NATIONAL FINALS
SANDRA CHATTERLEY - £23
DAVID OWEN - £23
DAVE McNEILL - £23
GAVIN WOOD - £23
CALLUM GIBSON - £23

Many thanks to Stephen Tudor for writing a report on the day. Along with Tony Moores, both players will be writing for The Poker Team website soon to be available to all TNPL players!!

TOP 3 - AUTUMN 2011

This seasons Top 3 tournament had both a record prize fund and a record number of runners. There was 116 people playing for £3,160 prize fund and 10 seats through to the national finals. For the first time, the Merseyside players were also present adding to the 4 other TNPL regions players. The standard of poker was good, with a good blind structure which allowed players to effectively play.

Congratulations go to the winner Rob Priest from Shropshire on beating our very own Sam Tyldersley taking home £800 in prizes. All the final table qualified through to the national finals in November (Saturday 12th).

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

ROB PRIEST (SHROPSHIRE) - £650 / £150 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
SAM TYLDERSLEY (FLINTSHIRE) - £430 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
ADRIAN THAKE (CHESHIRE) - £280 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
PAUL CHATERLEY (CHESHIRE) - £220 / £100 cIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
BILL TARREL (SHROPSHIRE) - £160 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
GRAHAM SMITH (FLINTSHIRE) - £130 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
DAN MORGAN (CHESHIRE) - £100 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
DAVE MANNING (CHESHIRE) - £70 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
PHIL LONG (WREXHAM) - £50 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS
JON MAYBURY (SHROPSHIRE) - £30 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINALS

(Winner Rob Priest, and runner up Sam Tyldersley)

(Adrian Thake - 3rd place)

(Paul Chatterley - 4th place)

(Dan Morgan - 7th place)

(Dave Manning - 8th place)

HIGH ROLLERS - AUTUMN 2011

This seasons High Rollers was the first time held at the Circus Casino in Stoke. This event is a dealer dealt event and includes a Sunday lunch for all players before play. This seasons prizes included a £150 Circus Seat for the winner, two £100 seats for second and third, £150 in cash and 2 places through to the National Finals.

Starting with a record 32 players, all starting on different chips stacks based on each players total points scored. After 4 hours of play, they ventually got down to final table where blinds were large and some good hands were requird to see them through.

Congratulations to Nick Kite who was this seasons High Rollers Champion with Adrian Russell finishing runner up. John Locke finished third claiming the final £100 Circus casino seat and a national final place as Nick is on holiday for the National Finals.

(Adrian Rusell (left), Nick Kite (centre) and Jonathon Locke)

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

NICK KITE (CONGLETON) - £60 / £150 CIRCUS SEAT
ADRIAN RUSSELL (CREWE) - £60 / £100 SEAT / NATIONAL FINAL
JONATHON LOCKE (CONGLETON) - £20 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINAL
STEVE JOHNSON (CREWE) - £10
JIM CESSFORD (CONGLETON)
LESLEY SUTHERLAND (CREWE)
BRIAN THOMAS (CREWE)
NEIL WILLIAMS (CREWE)

Look forward to seeing everyone their next season with a slightly different qualifcation system and now £1,000 in fixed prizes!

TOP 3 TOURNAMENT RESULTS - SUMMER 2011

Final table

(Final table)

This seasons Top 3 consisted of 93 runners competing for £1,430 in cash with £750 worth of Circus Casino seats up for grabs. Starting at the new time of 1 pm (which it will now always be) with a 10 pm finish, Richard Zolman from Wrexham was champion with Jason Athay (also from Wrexham) runner up. Congratulations to the Top 8 finishers in qualifying through to the National Finals in November, with top 7 players also winning paid entry into the Circus Casino Stoke's monthly and quartery tournaments. Two of the past three Stoke £100 monthly tournaments have been won by players sent through the Nuts Poker League!

Top 3 Champions - Summer 2011

(Winner Richard Zolman and runner-up Jason Athay)

Final table result:

1^st- Richard Zolman (Wrexham) £530

2nd - Jason Athay (Wrexham) £290

3rd - Jill Evans (Fox & Hounds Cheswardine) £180

4th - Paul Clegg (General Elliot, Warrington) £120

5th - Dave Behan (Salopian Star) £90

6th - Glynn Humphreys (West End, Stoke) £60

7^th- Rory Need (Willaston Social Club £50

8^th- Keith Parry (Wrexham) £40

9^th- Adam Dale (Church House, Congleton) £40

10^th- Dave McNeil Ark (Winsford) £30

Next seasons Top 3 tournament on Sunday 23rd October will have a record £2,050 added (£1,000 cash/£1,050 in casino seats (10) with 10 seats through to the National Finals. An esitmated prize fund of £3,500+ is expected which makes this tournament like having 2 regional finals every season!

(Paul Clegg)

Rory Need

(Rory Need)

Adam Dale

(Adam Dale)

CHESHIRE OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION - SUMMER 2011

James 'The Donkfish' Hughes

236818

385

15798

Congratulations to James Hughes for winning his second Cheshire Overall League. Previous seasons champions Charles Williams and Adrian Russell finished second and third nearly 3,000 poins behind James.

As the Overall League winner, James has also won £100 Circus Casino seat for their monthly tournament with £2,000 added!

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE HIGH ROLLERS - SUMMER 2011

This seasons High Rollers started with 23 players competing for £400 worth of prizes with 2 seats through to the National Finals. Congratulations to Richard Edge who won a closely contested heads up against Julie Strowbridge to become this seasons champion, also winning a £150 Circus Casino seat for their November tournament. Both players also won National Final seats for November.

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

RICHARD EDGE (236824) - £80 / £150 CASINO SEAT / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
JULIE STROWBRIDGE (702457) - £40 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
PETER JONES (695237 )- £20
JIM CESSFORD (348271) - £10
JAMES HUGHES (236818)
BRIAN THOMAS (73348721)
STEVE HILDITCH (348694)
STEVE HOLLEY (708843)

(Champion - Richard Edge and runner-up Julie Strowbridge)

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE REGIONAL FINAL - SUMMER 2011

COVER

This seasons regional final had 194 qualifiers. With a record 136 players turning up on the days tarted the day playing for over £2,500. The top 10 players qualified through to the National Finals in November. With the biggest Regional Final prize fund to date, plus a £100 Circus seat up for grabs, made this the highest rewarding regional final to play in. With the top 15 places paying cash prizes, only the final table would make it through to the nationals in Stoke.

FINAL TABLE

FINAL TABLE RESULT:

PAUL BRAY (686670) - £540 / £100 CIRCUS SEAT / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
MARK BUCKLEY (708798) - £540 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
DANIEL HOPWOOD (696488) - £290 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
SANDRA CHATTERLEY (687486) - £220 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
STU BODY (721860) - £175 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
JAMES FARRELL (694978) - £135 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
JOHN BROADHURST (712868) - £100 / NATIONAL FINAL SEAT
JAMES MOORE (703295) - £70 / NATIONAL SEAT
LUKE TOSELAND (689687) - £50 / NATIONAL SEAT
STEPHEN HAYWOOD (710579) - £30 / NATIONAL SEAT

WINNER - PAUL BRAY

(Champion - Paul Bray)

Congratulations to Paul Bray, previously a runner up in a Regional Final in winning this seasons event. Mark Buckley, a previous winner of a regional final, finished second. Both players split the mian pot and a share of the side pot toalling to £280. As the winner, Paul also has won a £100 Circus Casino seat for their monthly tournament with £2,000 added!

(Mark Buckley (left) - runner up)

Hand of the day was won by Nick Kite who hit his first live Royal Flush - no one was beating that!

TOP 3 TOURNAMENT RESULTS - SPRING 2011

final table

This seasons Top 3 tournament was available to top 3 finishers in any league within the Cheshire, Denbighshire ad Flintshire, Shropshire and Wrexham areas. The day started with 94 players competing for a cash prize fund of £940 together with over £700 of Circus Casino seats

winner

(Champion - Jason Athay from Wrexham)

Final table result:

1) Jason Athay (731141) – Wrexham (£350 + £200 seat)

2) John Minton (706278) – Shropshire (£190 + £100 seat)

3) *Jamie Williams (709928) – Wrexham (£120 + £100 seat)

4) Mark Nicholls (719881) – Shropshire (£80 + £100 seat)

5) Neil Parry (704768) – Cheshire (£60 + £100 seat)

6) Gareth Evans (731084) – Wrexham (£40 + £100 seat)

7) *Tom Taylor (701826) – Shropshire (£30)

8) *Charlie Mitchell (697317) – Cheshire (£30)

9) Kevin Butler (695627) – Wrexham (£20)

10) Dylan Owen (42012) – Wrexham (£20)

*Already in National Finals. Top 11 qualified for the nationals!

CHESHIRE SPRING 2011 OVERALL LEAGUE CHAMPION

Adrian 'BIN THE ACE"S' Russell

710597

456

19146

Congratulations to Adrian Russell from Crewe on becoming this seasons Overall League champion. Finishing over 2,000 points clear of second place, and last seasojns champion, Charles Williams. Lee Mellor finished 3rd a further 4,000 points behind second place.

Read further on how their mega starting staks in the High Rollers tournament helped them out below?

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE REGIONAL FINAL RESULTS - SPRING 2011

Initial

This seasons regional final had a record 186 qualifiers. 123 players started the day playing for £2,115 with an additional side pot of £280. The top 10 players qualified through to the National Finals in May. After 6 1/2 plays, the final table was reached with National Final places secure, the state of play was as follows:

SEAT 1 - JOHN DEVEY (45,800)

SEAT 2 - CHARLIE MITCHELL (78,100)

SEAT 3 - JONATHAN LOCKE (54,300)

SEAT 4 - STEVE ASHBROOKE (283,700)

SEAT 5 - JASON FOX (125,300)

SEAT 6 - ELLEN COLLY (81,400)

SEAT 7 (NEIL WILLIAMS) (45,600)

SEAT 8 - JOHN BROADHURST (64,800)

SEAT 9 - SIMON ATKINSON (99,900)

SEAT 10 - DANIEL HILL (97,200)

Final Table

The final table saw the fortunes of players change dramatically with many of the short stacks making gains changing the dynamic of table. Despite starting with one of the smaller stacks, John Broadhurst ploughed on to finally beat Simon Atkinson and claim first place, winning with £785 on the main pot.

FINAL TABLE RESULT -

1) John Broadhurst (712868) - £785 (plus £100 Circus Casino seat)

2) Simon Atkinson (701522) - £380

3) Steve Ashbrook (703297) - £270 (+£90)

4) Jason Fox (694163) - £170 (+£90)

5) Jonathon Locke (676105) - £130

6) Daniel Hill (710915) - £80

7) Ellen Colly (718281) - £60

8) Charlie Mitchell (697317) - £60 (+£50)

9) John Devey (710157) - £40 (+£30)

10) Neil Williams (708860) – already qualified for nationals! - £40

11) Alex Morini (4218) - £20 (+£20 and a national final seat)

Winner

(Champion - John Broadhurst)

Runner up

(Runner up - Simon Atkinson)

CHESHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE HIGH ROLLERS - SPRING 2011

Final Table

This seasons High Rollers tournament saw a record 31 players playing for £400 worth of prizes. Points obtained from the Overall League determined starting stacks for this event, with pub champions also qualifying with 7,000 chips.

FINAL TABLE RESULT -

1) JEZ ST LAWRENCE (692112)

2) DEBBIE RUSSELL (710598)

3) RORY NEED (707638)

4) LEE MELLOR (711616)

5) JAMES HUGHES (236818)

7) PAUL BROWN (710582)

8) LESLEY SUTHERLAND (680301)

Congratulatiojns to Jez St Lawrence from Elton in beating Debbie Russell from Crewe heads-up to become this seasons champion. As the winner, Jez will be playing in the Circus Casino Stoke's Anniversary Cup event with a definiate 300 players with 5 k added. As ruuner-up, Debbie will play in the casino's monthly £100 tournament with £2K added. Both players have also qualified through to the National Finals in May.

Champion - Jez St Lawrence

(Champion - Jez St Lawrence)

Winner and runnerup

(Winner and Runner up - Debbie Russell)

3rd place

(3rd place - Rory Need)