The East Midlands regional final proved to be a great day. 189 runners made the worthwhile trip to the Village Hotel & Leisure Club in Nottingham and tried to become the East Midlands Champion.

Everyone took their well earned seat and with nearly a million chips in play we knew it was going to be something special. National Poker Manager, Scott Marsh, got everyone under starters orders and said those famous words “Shuffle Up & Deal”. After five and a half hours of play it was down to the final table. Phil Hudson of the Goose, Nottingham started the final tables with nearly a quarter of million chips with Ron Smith of the Wheel, Oadby and Gaz Williams of the Half Moon, Nottingham hot on his heels. An hour passed and eventually it was heads up between Gaz Williams and Denise Jones of the Limekiln, Nottingham. Denise went for an all in bluff and tried to steal Gaz’s big blind for Gaz to call Denise instantly. Denise was holding Jc 4c against Gaz’s Ad 10c. The flop came Kc Qh 9 giving both players lots of opportunities, The turn card came 6d which wasn’t any help to either player and then the decisive river card came 7h, also no good to either player and Gaz was crowned East Midlands Champion.

National Final Qualifiers and Cash Prize Winners
Gaz Williams – Half Moon, Nottingham – 1st
Denise Jones – Limekiln, Nottingham – 2nd
Phil Hudson – Goose, Gamston – 3rd
Martin Billy Bremner – Half Moon, Nottingham – 4th
Ron Smith – Wheel Inn, Oadby – 5th
Paul Redmond – Davy Lamp, Ilkeston – 6th
Alan Plackett – Bulls Head, Ilkeston – 7th
Josh Denman – Travellers Rest, Sutton In Ashfield – 8th

Other National Final Qualifiers
David Learad – Commercial Inn, Nottingham – 10th
(9th place, James Hudson has previously qualified for the National Final)