The popular Loose Cannon Club hosted the first of two London Finals, this weekend was the turn of our East London Regional Final.

A 9 player final table meant that one unlucky player would miss out on a cash prize while the top six would receive a cash prize and a National Final invite. Chris Beauchamp from the Earl Beatty in Surrey was the unlucky 9th place finisher and that left the cash winners to play for our National Final places.

As it turned out, our two chip leaders at the beginning of the final table would end up in the heads-up match, both Jamie Barker from the Nags Head in Welling and Paul Schacht from the White Hart in Chelmsford looking to win the £500 cash prize. The match looked all but over when Jamie doubled up leaving Paul with only 10,000 in chips. But Paul was on for a comeback of all comebacks as he got two double ups in consecutive hands, but the third double up was asking a little too much as Paul’s T5 couldn’t find any help on a 4A4 Q 6 board to outdraw Jamie’s J7. Congratulations Jamie.

National Final Qualifiers & Cash Prize Winners
1st Jamie Barker – Nags Head, Welling
2nd Paul Schacht – White Hart, Chelmsford
3rd Graham Lear – Treacle Mine, Grays
4th Larry Biggs – Crown & Crooked Billet, Woodford Green
5th Christine Bellili – Riley’s, Folkstone
6th Kurt Offer – Victoria, Cheshunt

Other Cash Prize Winners
7th Malcolm Redman – Shirley Inn, Croydon
8th Michael Harding – Eagle & Hind, Chelmsford

Here is Paul Gedman who can certainly be described as the best dressed poker player this weekend. Paul fell just short of the final table by hitting the rail in 19th place during his East London Regional Final. Unlucky Paul, better luck next time!

A stunning day was enjoyed by all at the Leo’s Casino in Liverpool. 130 players took their seat to find our first North West champion of 2010.

Play got underway on time at 2pm and Tom Crook from the Queens Hotel in Lytham was the first elimination of only a few during the first hour. Further eliminations were swift thereafter as we had a final table after only 5 hours of play.

The final table was set once Joe McGowan from the Priory in Liverland was eliminated in 11th place, leaving the final 10 players to play for eight cash prizes and six National Final places. Craig McKenzie started as the big chip leader with 210,000 in chips, but it was only enough for a 3rd place finish. Craig at least received £100 and a National Final place in Nottingham.

Craig’s elimination left Charlie Williams from the Merlin Hotel in Crewe and Francis Egan from the Mulberry Tree in Warrington, who came back from only 10,000 in chips as the final table began, to play for £500 and a Redtooth glass trophy. Charlie started with the bigger stack of the two, largely thanks to being dealt AA twice and KK once during the final table. Francis was given some hope during heads-up as his AA held up against Charlie’s 1010. Shortly after though, there was a new North West Two champion crowned when Charlie’s A8 suited kept it’s advantage over Francis’ Q10 as the final board ran out 757 2 3. This was Charlie’s first ever Regional Final and afterwards said he was only interested in playing for the win, just like he will be at Nottingham later this month. Well played everyone.

National Final Qualifiers & Cash Prize Winners
1st Charlie Williams – Merlin Hotel, Crewe
2nd Francis Egan – Mulberry Tree, Warrington
3rd Craig McKenzie – Hillfoot, Liverpool
4th Neil Clowes – Old Wirral 100, Great Sutton
5th Samantha Sinclair – Sandhills, Lytham
6th Folkert Lace – Priory, Liverland

Other Cash Prize Winners
7th Paul Harman – Air Balloon, Blackpool
8th Dean Blake – Salt Cellar, Middlewich

142 players entered Duffs Full House for the South England Regional Final.

James Purkiss from the Famous Old Pines in Bournemouth was the first player out in 142nd, with their other two qualifiers fairing much better coming home in 16th place and 30th place respectively. The team from Plough On The Green in Newbury had a day to remember as two of their three qualifiers made the final table, these being Rob Allen and Emily Hayes.

As the final table began, Michael Brant from the Locomotive in Little Hampton had a huge chip lead with 374,000 in chips, a staggering 236,000 more than his closest rival. Michael’s chips dwindled slightly as the rest of the runners tried to up their game and close thegap. However, after a lengthy final table, Michael found himself in a heads-up match against Plough On The Green’s Rob Allen. The match ended when Rob went all-in with K6 only to receive a quick call from Michael, holding A7. The tension built as the flop turn and river were dealt, but there was no help for Rob as Michael’s A7 secured the win when a 3J8 10 and 7 hit the felt. Michael becomes our new South England champion and takes home £500, a Redtooth glass trophy and a place in our annual National Final.

National Final Qualifiers & Cash Prize Winners
1st Michael Brant – Locomotive, Little Hampton
2nd Rob Allen – Plough On The Green, Newbury
3rd Robert Higgins – Cuckoo Pint, Fareham (Already Qualified)
4th Paul Bennett – Hop & Kilderkin, Bournemouth
5th Steve Johnson – Old Farmhouse, Southampton
6th Jimbo Stewart – York Hotel, Bexhill On Sea
7th Emily Hughes – Plough On The Green, Newbury

Other Cash Prize Winners
8th David Stimson – Old House At home, Havant

This was the scene during the first break at the Leo’s Casino in Liverpool. Eliminations were sparse during the first hour, but that soon changed once everyone was fed and watered.

Angela Barratt qualified for her first ever regional final as pub winner from the Tynewydd Inn in Barry.

On line qualifier Daniel Mitchell certainly had the best seat in the house at the Gala Casino in Bristol. Daniel is seated between Lucy Cheaterman from the Bell Hotel on Swindon and Lucy Milburn from the County Arms in Truro. I just hope he can concentrate!!

Most people know how difficult it is to win a pub league in Redtooth Poker. That makes the achievement of Martin Britton all the more exceptional as he won the leagues in the Cert Rawlin Inn and the Irish Tymes, both on Caerphilly.
Congratulations Martin!!

A massive 18% of the field at the South West and South Wales regional final at the Gala Casino at Bristol were female players. 15 pubs that were represented on the day had won their pub leagues.

A healthy turnout at the Gala Casino in Edinburgh ensured a fantastic day of poker was enjoyed by everyone.

An 8 player final table meant that the whole table would receive a cash prize, they shared a nice total of £1000, with £500 going to the eventual winner.

As the final table got underway, there was a tie for the chip lead with Colin Reid from the Queens Retreat in Edinburgh and Richard Inglis from the Torphichen Arms in Mid Calder both starting on 43,000 in chips. Unfortunately neither could make the heads-up match as they came in 3rd and 4th place respectively. Their exit to the rail would mean that Iain Clark and Liam Mullen would be the last men standing to battle for our South Scotland Regional Final title.

The final hand of the night saw Liam Mullen catch a lucky break as his A4 off suit came from behind to beat Iain Clark’s pocket 8’s on a 6J4 A J board. Liam takes away the £500 and a nice Redtooth glass trophy, but Iain did take some comfort in his 2nd place finish, taking home a £200 cash prize and a National Final qualifying place. Well done Liam.

National Final Qualifiers & Cash Prize Winners
1st Liam Mullen – Barrachnie Inn, Glasgow
2nd Iain Clark – Craig Dhu, Paisley

Other Cash Prize Winners
3rd Colin Reid – Queens Retreat, Edinburgh
4th Richard Inglis – Torphicen Arms, Mid Calder
5th Alistair Galloway – Whistlebinkies, Sterling
6th Paul Doyle – Craig Dhu, Paisley
7th Lawrie Higgins – Torphicen Arms, Mid Calder
8th Derek Waugh – Queens Retreat, Edinburgh