Manchester 235 casino played host to our North West One Regional Final. Six players would leave with a National Final invite, eight would leave with a cash prize, but only one would leave with $500, a crystal glass trophy, a National Final invite and the title of North West One Regional Champion!

The tournament was under-way on time and it took a mere 2 hands before we lost our first player. Darren Owen from the Duke of Wellington in Rossendale was the unlucky player. Shortly after, Helen Bazley from Riley’s in Manchester found a poker players holy grail, a royal flush! Unfortunately for Helen this wasn’t a sign of things to come as the final table was just a step too far.

As the final table was set, the team tournament was done and dusted with the Plough Hotel from Preston becoming the first North West One Team Champion! Kevin Bayes’ eventual fourth place finish was the clincher.

The 10 player final table consisted of an already qualified national finalist in the form of Rick Makin, our 2nd placed finisher in the 2010 National Final, can he go one better in 2011? Rick’s qualification meant that 7th place would now make the National Final, so John Harkin from the Beaumont Arms in Bolton would profit from this as he exited in 7th place. The heads-up match came down to Dave Jones from Riley’s in Accrington and Mike Taylor from the Boundary Stone in Mosley Common. Dave would be the eventual winner as his KT held up against Mike’s Q8 on a 73J T 8 board. Congratulations Dave Jones and good luck in Nottingham.

Cash Prize Winners
1st Dave Jones – Riley’s, Accrington
2nd Mike Taylor – Boundary Stone, Mosley Common
3rd Rick Makin – George VI, Atherton (Already Qualified)
4th Kevin Bayes – Plough Hotel, Preston
5th Stuart Maddison – Dalton Arms, Chadderton
6th Adam Pearson – Ainsworth Arms, Bury
7th John Harkin – Beaumont Arms, Bolton
8th Peter Gilbert – Parkside Hotel, Manchester

National Final Qualifiers
Dave Jones
Mike Taylor
Kevin Bayes
Stuart Maddison
Adam Pearson
John Harkin

Team Winners
Plough Hotel, Preston