Ladies Event results

The Ladies Event at the World Series of Poker, won last year by Hollywood actress and girlfriend of Phil Laak Jennifer Tilly, has drawn to a close at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas.

Event #16 was a hotly anticipated tournament played as No-Limit Hold’em with a $1,000 buy-in, and it drew 1,128 hopeful players, all gunning for a piece of the $1,026,480 prize money.

The tourney attracted many celebrities from the world of entertainment including Ricki Lake, Mena Suvari, Shannon Elizabeth, Kelly Hu and Anne Heche among others.

The eventual winner was Mary Jones Meyer from Henderson, Nevada, who immediately credited her husband Bob with firstly teaching her the game, and then supporting her throughout the ardous hours of play.

“I definitely owe this tournament to my husband and his training. He taught me many things about poker and we play together all the time. It was definitely a team win.”

Mary collected $236,094 for the win, the all important gold bracelet and WSOP sponsor Corum Watches also contributed a stunning diamond-studded ladies wristwatch, exclusively-designed for this special championship event.

Bob Meyer was equally chuffed at the result: “We play together in a home game all the time.When I play against her from now on, I have to remember that I’m playing against a world champion – and when she raises me I’ll have to fold my hand.”

Tilly was unable to make the final table, along with the rest of the celebs, although Mimi Roger finished in the money, taking a creditable 33rd place and $5,132 in prize money.

The final table was comprised of women of all ages and backgrounds. Ages ranged from 24 to 50. Players were from Nevada, Texas, New York, Michigan, Oklahoma, California, Illinois, and Austria. Two of the players admitted to being expectant mothers.

After blitzing through 18 players in the initial hours of Day Two, play at the final table started-off cautiously, as each player wanted to maximize her stay in the big game.

Then, Elle Ahlgren, a fashion designer from Las Vegas, went out in ninth place and received $23,096

Next, Laurie Scott went out with pocket threes against ace-seven after an ace hit the board. Scott, a data analyst from Austin, earned $25,662 for eighth place.

Devi Ortega, a Bronx, NY-born professional pool player now living in Oklahoma, could not catch a break when she moved all-in with pocket tens, which was broken by two hearts which completed a flush. Ortega pocketed $30,794 for seventh place.

Julie Allen, who is finishing up a Masters Degree in education, has been playing poker for two years. She went all-in on her final hand with king-queen suited, but the royal couple could not conceive. A set of eights put Allen out in sixth place, which paid $35,927.

Sue Luckenbaugh wasn’t very lucky. The horse trainer from Saratoga, New York was eliminated holding two-pair versus a full-house. Luckenbaugh managed to win her way into the event by paying only $26, and then won a satellite tournament. Fifth place paid $41,059.

Reka Hallgato went out next when her pocket fours were cracked by a straight. Hallgato, originally from Budapest, Hungary and now residing in Hollywood, California – received $51,324.

Shawnee was up to a 3 to 1 chip lead when play was three handed. But, each time Barton seemed to have the edge in a big hand, disaster would strike. Barton did win one big hand which eliminated the next player.

Beatrice Stranzinger was getting low on chips and tried to make a move with a weak ace, Barton called her opponent’s all-in with queen-jack and then caught a queen. That put the Austrian poker player out in third place, which paid $71,340.

As the clock showed 1am Barton started off with king-nine versus Mary Jones Meyer’s ace-ten. After the flop came 9-7-2, May Jones Meyer made a bluff bet of 200, and Barton raised all-in for 700,000 more with top pair (nines).

Incredibly, Mary Jones Meyer called the huge raise and then spiked an ace on the river, winning nearly all of her opponents chips..

A few hands later the Ladies World Poker Championship ended when Barton started off with the best hand once again (holding ace-four) and raised with her last 170,000 in chips before the flop.

Mary Jones Meyer had more than enough chips in her huge stack with which to make the call, even holding the less than stellar queen-six. Four blanks were dealt. They say you need luck to win tournaments and Meyer’s good fortune continued as a six showed on the river and the title was hers.

Event #15
$1,000 Ladies World Championship No-Limit Hold’em
Final table results:

1. Mary Jones Meyer $236,094
2. Shawnee Barton $123,178
3. Beatrice Stranzinger $71,340
4. Reka Hallgato $51,324
5. Sue Luckenbaugh $41,059
6. Julie Allen $35,927
7. Devi Ortega $30,794
8. Laurie Scott $25,662
9. Ellie Ahlgren $23,096