1. Ian McKenzie – Owington Farm, Billingham

2. Mark Wilkins – Grey Horse, Penshaw
3. Lee Coates – Durham Ox, Northallerton
4. Neil Simpson – Redtooth Tavern, Online
5. Keith Johnson – Durham Ox, Northallerton
6. Dean Taylor – New Crown, South Shields
7. Matthew Fisher – Durham Ox, Northallerton
8. Keith Fletcher – Grey Horse, Penshaw

Our North East contingent played out their regional final at the Grosvenor Casino in Newcastle with a trip to Las Vegas being the days top prize, along with a share of £500 and many UK National Final seats.

As at every regional final we award the best represented venue with a crystal glass trophy. On this occasion we had a clear winner and with 3 players making the final it was the Durham Ox who took home the award. Congratulations to Matthew Fisher, Keith Johnson & Lee Coates.

Final Table Seating

227,000 Keith Fletcher – Grey Horse, Penshaw
106,000 Keith Johnson – Durham Ox, Northallerton
102,000 Ian McKenzie – Owington Farm, Billingham
82,000 Neil Simpson – Redtooth Tavern, Online
78,000 Steve Henderson – Telstar, Billingham
78,000 Lee Coates – Durham Ox, Northallerton
55,000 Dean Taylor – New Crown, South Shields
31,000 Ian Walker – South Beach Public House, Blyth
30,000 Mark Wilkins – Grey Horse, Penshaw
18,500 Matthew Fisher – Durham Ox, Northallerton

Keith Fletcher led our 10 player final as play got underway. However, the chip lead didn’t last long as Keith was eliminated in 8th place just after Ian Walker (10th) and Steve Henderson (9th). Matthew Fisher was eliminated in 7th place with Dean Taylor in 6th place, Keith Johnson 5th, Neil Simpson 4th & Lee Coates 3rd. The Vegas trip was contested between Mark Wilkins and Ian McKenzie with both hoping to secure that trip of a lifetime. Both players eventually got their remaining chips in on an interesting 8s-6h-4s flop with Mark holding 7s-6s to Ian’s 8-5. The turn and river ran off Qd-10d to give Ian the check mark and crown him the new North East regional champion.