Poker Pace Triumphs. Poker Player

Beverley Pace scooped $50,000 to win the inaugural PartyPoker Women’s World Open in London

Bev, from Bromley, Kent, UK and wife of comedian and poker player Norman Pace, overcame UK form player Jen Mason in a heads-up battle in the televised tournament. After a number of swings Pace’s pocket sixes held-up all-in against Mason’s Ace Jack off suit.

“I’m very happy,” said Bev. “This is my first big win and I intend to give myself a bankroll to play more tournaments for bigger stakes in the near future. I was sixth in the Ladies European Championship in April and went to the WSOP and Aussie Millions this year but haven’t really cashed significantly.”

Jen Mason has been on a hot streak in recent months and many fancied her to scoop the title after it went heads-up. “I was pleased to beat Jen Mason,” said Bev. “I have huge respect for her and she has taught me a lot on the circuit. Perhaps she didn’t do herself any favours as I have picked up a lot about how she plays!”

Bev points to a re-raise against Mason where her opponent folded an Ace and pushing all-in against Jackie Vaswani with pocket eights after her opponent had hit a smaller pair on a low card flop as key turning points in the tournament. “I had respect for my opponents on the final table but I did think I was in with a good chance,” she said. Bev had come through a heat that featured Lucy Rokach, who is seventh in the women’s all-time money list.

Bev has been married to husband Norman for 30 years and the couple are well known and popular on the UK circuit. She has been a part-time poker player for four and a half years and spends a lot of her spare time chairing the Meningitis Research Foundation charity. “Norman says that I’m a better player than him but I think we are probably about the same standard,” she said.

“Women’s tournaments are good for getting more ladies into the game,” said Bev. “The standard is no different to a mixed sex game but they do encourage some to come forward who wouldn’t do otherwise.”

First out on the six seater final table was television presenter Kara Scott. Kara had won the celebrity and the opening pro heat on the first day of the tournament, steamrollering her rivals, but she fell in the early levels. Finishing in fifth was Jackie Vaswani, wife of the Hendon Mob’s Ram. Canadian Bronwyn Campbell was next to go, followed by the highly rated Maria Demetriou, who www.PartyBets.com regarded the favourite to win the final before a card was dealt.

The tournament was PartyPoker’s first ever all-female event and was produced by Matchroom Sport. 36 players from across the globe battled it out for a share a $108,000 prize-fund. The buy-in for the tournament was set at $3,000, with the eventual winner taking home a cool $50,000. Amongst the line up was US trio Liz Lieu, Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth. Jennifer Tilly finished third in her heat that was won by Jen Mason, while Shannon Elizabeth and Liz Lieu both busted early in their heats. Other participants included Katharine Hartree, Xuyen “Bad Girl” Pham, former PartyPoker World Open winner Pippa Flanders, European Ladies champion Jackie Meecham and Lucy Rokach. The show will be televised in the UK later in the year on Five. Commentary will be provided by Jesse May and Shannon Elizabeth.