Steve Holden wins the latest leg of the Coral British Masters Poker Tour
Online qualifier Steve Holden is the latest champion of the 2009 Coral.co.uk British Masters Poker Tour, after winning the £500 NLHE Main Event in Liverpool.
The professional player from Erdington in Birmingham won a package to the event in a $10 satellite on Coral.co.uk and went on to beat a field of 73 that included previous event winners and some well known tour regulars over two days at the Gala Leo Casino in Albert Dock.
Steve took a chip lead into the final table and never gave it up. He had over half the chips in play when the final three, which also included Mark James and Frank Kenny, did a deal. Steve took the title, £9,350 and the fifth seat in the season end play-off for the coveted £10,000 Coral.co.uk sponsorship in 2010 while Mark and Frank each won £8,000.
After his win Steve, who is a familiar face on the UK poker scene and a regular player in the online satellites, said he was “absolutely ecstatic”. He added: “I always try to satellite into events that I intend to play because with the credit crunch as it is, you have to look for value. I qualified for $10 into the $75 and managed to take home over £9k and more importantly a seat at the Champions’ final table where there is a £10,000 sponsorship package up for grabs.”
Turning pro in 2007, Steve first came to prominence by winning the Main Event of the Great British Poker Tour in Nottingham in May 2007. He won his seat after taking first place in the £200 side event the day before. Coral.co.uk’s head of poker, Mark O’Donnell, said: “We’re delighted that Steve’s through to the Champions’ final table as he plays all of our events and is really well known on the tour. There was a good turnout and Gala Casino Liverpool put on a fantastic event. It’s a great venue and always proves popular with our players with its views overlooking the Albert Dock.”
Steve is full of confidence going into the final. He said: “I’d like to do a British grand slam and be the first player to take down events on Great British Poker Tour, the Coral British Masters Poker Tour, the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour and the Dusk Till Dawn Deepstack. With two already under my belt I’m halfway there!”
