A record 165 runners took part in the South Wales and South West regional final at the Village Hotel in Cardiff. The eventual winner, Dave ‘The Doctor’ Livingstone from the Hatherley in Cheltenham started the final table as chip leader with 120,000 and held off a spirited challenge from Lee Arkell from the Birchgrove in Cardiff. At the end of a long heads-up battle, Dave went all in with a pair of nines and Lee called him with A3.Dave hit trip nines on the turn and it was enough to claim the title.

Jade Chadwick from the Wolf’s Castle in Cardiff was the highest placed lady in third place. The top eight players all qualified for the national final in March next year.

Final Positions:

• 1^st: Dave Livingstone, Hatherley, Cheltenham
• 2^nd: Lee Arkell, Birchgrove, Cardiff
• 3^rd: Jade Chadwick, Wolf’s Castle, Cardiff
• 4^th: John Coombe, County Arms, Truro
• 5^th: Mike Davies, Village Inn, Cardiff
• 6^th: Aaron Trotman, Ship, Paignton
• 7^th: Rhiannon Davies, Darran, Risca
• 8^th: Derek Brock, Old Plough, Kingswood