Batley Frontier Club, formerly the famous Batley Variety Club, was again host to the West Yorkshire final where an outstanding performance from Darren Watson of the Red Lion, Wakefield led him to be the champion, with him taking home the £500 cash prize and gaining that all important place in the National Final.

National Final Qualifiers
Darren Watson (1st)
Brett Shufflebottom (2nd)
Damien Asquith (3rd)
Mark Dransfield (4th)
Michael O’Rouke (5th)
Nick Strutt (6th)
Kevin Atkinson (7th)
Mark Broadbent (8th)
David Robertson (9th)
Richard Proctor (10th)

Kick off was slightly delayed at Notts County Football Ground due to the Nottingham Marathon being held on the same day. However this didn’t dampen anyones spirits as the poker marathon began to become the East Midlands Champion. Karl Mason of the Nurseryman, Nottingham became the champ although Shaun Williams of the Cherry Tree, Melton Mowbray was hottly on his heels in the final 10 yards.

National Final Qualifers
Karl Mason (1st)
Shaun Williams (2nd)
Dean Langham (3rd)
Greg Knight (4th)
Francine Lynton (5th)
Craig Cooper (6th)
Garry Barker (7th)
Lee Papworth (8th)

Dominic Jones of the Cross Keys, Cardiff didn’t have far to travel to become the South West & South Wales Champion with this seasons final taking place at the Wharf Pub in Cardiff, the first time it has been held in Wales.

National Final Qualifiers
Dominic Jones (1st)
Max Burt (2nd)
Jacqueline Gunton (3rd)
Trystan Smith (4th)
Lee Smith (5th)
Ally Al-Mutti (6th)

Congratulations go to Trevor Bevan of the Lock Stock and Barrell, Southampton who walked away with this seasons title of Regional Champion along with the trophy and £500. The Broadwater, Worthing, were well represented at the final held at the Farmhouse Pub in Portsmouth with two of their players finishing 2nd and 3rd.

National Final Qualifiers
Trevor Bevan (1st)
Michael Ball (2nd)
Phil Fyfe (3rd)
Neil Chapman (4th)

Wolverhampton Civic Hall was full of players as 164 registered to play in the tournament. Eventually the winner was Iain McDougall from the Fox & Dogs and he took first place, the coveted crystal trophy and a cash prize of £500.

National Final Qualifiers

Iain McDougall (1st)
Alan Wain (2nd)
Floss (3rd)
Dav Braitch (4th)
Will Hicks (5th)
Mark hester (6th)
Lewis Drinkwater (7th)
Martin Neill (8th)
Oystein Bardness (9th)
Gavin Carter (10th)

The battle was on in Rochdale for the North West Regional Title – First place went to David Rhodes from Shippams. He won the £500 as well as a place at the National Final and the crystal trophy.

National Final Qualifiers

David Rhodes (1st)
Paul Thomas (2nd)
Shayne Mooney (3rd)
Keith Leigh (4th)
Mark Tennant (5th)
Darren Harding (6th)
Jamie Hurst (7th)
Graham Cooke (8th)

Another fierce competition was held in Northampton where Steve Smith from the Eagle & Hind won the crystal trophy, first place and the £500 cash prize.

National Final Qualifiers

Steve Smith (1st)
John James (2nd)
Susan Smith (3rd)
Malcolm Dewsbury (4th)
Mark Welby (5th)
Ruth Pollard (6th)

Sheffield United Football Ground was the venue once again for 160 players to battle it out for the title and one of the eight cash prizes as well as the coveted places at the National Final. It was Shaun Olley from the Priory who took the title and £500 cash along with the crystal trophy.

National Final Qualifiers

Shaun Olley (1st)
Kevin Faulkner (2nd)
Scott Davidson (3rd)
Jason Taylor (4th)
Adam Fleetwood (5th)
Roxanne Maud (6th)
Ryan Fairweather (7th)
Damien Cleary (8th)

A great day was had by all at the Circus Casino – 53 players took part in the final and enjoyed the great hospitality!
The final table was tense and in the end the winner was Leigh Coupland from the Black Lion who took the game and the £500 cash with a flush.

National Final Qualifiers

Leigh Coupland (1st)
Stan Taylor (2nd)
Vince Mitchel (3rd)
Andrew Moore (4th)

Other prize winners on the day
Kenneth Holman (5th)
Stuart Weston (6th)
Daley Tebbie (7th)
Chris Barber (8th)

The heat was on in London with 186 players competing for the title and hoping to qualify for the National Final.
Ben Smith from the Bar Malden was the winner (with pocket Aces) and took the top cash prize of £500 at a packed Loose Cannon club.

National Final Qualifiers

Ben Smith (1st)
Oliver Oakenfold (2nd)
Doug Sharp (3rd)
Paul Barrett (4th)
Veikko Beswick (5th)
Owen Fitzgerald (6th)
Rohit Gupta (7th)
John Marden (8th)
Ben Smallbone (9th)
Adam Smith (10th)
Mike Kenny (11th)
Melanie Petty (12th)