First Finalist of Great British Poker Tour
Announced
EDINBURGH, 28th February 2007 -
TODAY Scottish poker player Eddie
Gaines celebrates winning the
Edinburgh festival of the Great British
Poker Tour in association with Gala
casinos, earning him nearly £25,000 and
a seat at the Grand Final where
the ‘Great British Poker Champion' will
be crowned.
Father of two Eddie, from Dundee, beat
129 other players over the two day
Main Event, in a series of gruelling high
pressure hands at the Gala Maybury
Casino in Edinburgh (24th -
25thFebruary).
His prize includes
£24,500 winnings and a package to the
£2,500 Grand Final Main Event to be
played in October 2007.
The Edinburgh festival was attended by
a host of pro players including Dave ‘El
Blondie' Colclough, ‘Hendon Mobbers'
Ross and Barny Boatman, and Joe
Beevers, WPT Paris winner Surinder
Sunar, Neil Channing, Arshad Hussain
(European Rankings winner 2006) and
Iwan Jones. However all pros were
knocked out before the final table.
The televised final table featured a mix
of players, with Birmingham based
amateur player Irinia Leipini starting with
chip lead.
Seat 1 = Gerry O'Farrell 130,700
Seat 2 = Tony Croalla 151,900
Seat 3 = Steve Jelenik 113,800
Seat 4 = Stan Essen 175,000
Seat 5 = Andrew Feenan 146,200
Seat 6 = Scott Morrison 105,600
Seat 7 = Eddie Gaines 226,600
Seat 8 = Irinia Leipini 249,700
Eddie said of his win 'I'm over the
moon - the Great British Poker Tour is
the best chance UK players have to
show off their skills at home. There is a
lot of UK poker talent to face, but I'm
hoping I can bring the overall title home
to Scotland'
He continued 'I felt was comfortable
playing, even on the final table. I had a
strategy that fitted the style of game
being played and fortunately it all came
together at the right time.'
The next stop for the GBPT is Teesside
4th - 8th April. Interested players can
qualify by playing on
www.galapoker.co.uk (Gala Casinos'
online poker website), or at selected
Gala Casinos throughout Great Britain.
GBPT 2007Competition dates
21-25 Feb Gala Maybury
Casino, Edinburgh
4-8 April Gala Casino,
Teesside
9-13 May Gala Casino,
Nottingham
13-17 June Gala Casino,
Bournemouth
15-19 August
Gala Casino, Leeds
29 Oct - 4 Nov
Grand Final (Venue to be
announced)
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