The Loose Cannon Club in London hosted yet another East London Regional Final. 168 players would attempt National Final qualification and stake their claim for a share of £1,000.

As the tournament got under-way, the non existent prize for the best dressed on the day went to Shaun Nash and John Beech from the Goose in Croydon for coming dressed as The Stig. Unfortunately for the duo, neither could reach top gear as they both fell comfortably short of the finish line this time around.

The team event was a well fought out contest. Some of the pubs still in the running as we were nearing a conclusion were the Nags Head in Welling, the Kings Arms in Harwich and the Canvey Island Conservative Club in.. (you guessed it!) Canvey Island. The trio of Jamie Cowell, Darren Vickery and Mark Adey were too powerful on the day as they took down East London’s first team event for the Canvey Island Conservative Club.

Our exuberant final table of nine was set with a familiar face on board. Chris Hood from the Windsor in London was sat at his second consecutive final table in the East London region. Last Season’s National Final qualification for Chris would now mean that 8th place would be on their way to Nottingham. This honour would eventually be embraced by Michael Dunn from the Red Lion in Billericay. The heads-up duel came down to a battle between Chris Hood and Andy Keeley from the CK Bar in Canvey Island. The final hand was unavoidable for both players as Andy’s A7 was up against Chris’s KT. Chris probably thought it was his day as a flop of 2KJ hit the felt, but a turned A put Andy back in the lead, who would of been equally relieved to see a brick 2 fall on the river. Congratulations to Andy Keeley from the CK Bar and we will see you and everyone else in Nottingham!

Cash Prize Winners
1st Andy Keeley – CK Bar, Canvey Island
2nd Chris Hood – Windsor, London (Already Qualified)
3rd Bessim – Beech Tree, Orpington
4th Alex Lambrou – Royston Arms, South Chingford
5th Stuart Galbraith – Daylight Inn, Orpington
6th Larry McGarrigle – White Horse, Southend
7th James Thornton – William Camden, Bexley Heath
8th Michael Dunn – Red Lion, Billericay

National Final Qualifiers
Andy Keeley
Bessim
Alex Lambrou
Stuart Galbraith
Larry McGarrigle
James Thornton
Michael Dunn

Team Winners
Canvey Island Conservative Club, Canvey Island