Rank outsider wins

As one of only two women in the field of over 70 UK, American and European poker stars gathering for the PartyPoker.com World Open II, Pippa Flanders, a UK mother of two who began playing poker professionally in 2002, was considered a non-factor – a “fish” in the parlance of poker.

Flanders, from Preston in the UK stunned a whole host of top names to win the $200,000 first prize, including Tony G, Roland De Wolfe, Marc Goodwin, Tony Bloom, Kenna James, Harry Demetriou and last year’s champion Lee Nelson, to claim one of the biggest prizes ever collected by a European female player.

Pippa is married to Tim Flanders and the cople are both pros trying to make a living playing the European circuit. She considers Tim, whose total career earnings are approximately $240,000 to be the better player.

Over 70 top players who paid a $7,000 buy-in, plus a dozen online players–some who invested as little as $10 on PartyPoker.com online qualifiers—played down to the final six at The Poker Den in London.

Some familiar British celebrities also tried to gain a seat at the table, including England rugby union star Matt Dawson; EastEnders’ stars Billy Murray (Johnny Allen) and Michael Greco (Beppe di Marco); Norman Pace, actor/comedian and one half of the hit comedy team Hale and Pace; Steve Backley, three-time Olympic medalist in the javelin, and Zoe Anderson, actress, model and leading pin-up girl.

On the final hand of the tournament, Flanders picked up A-7 in the small blind and Jonny ‘Texas’ Hewston called the raise with K-9 of diamonds. The flop came 6-7-5 with two diamonds. Flanders moved all-In and was immediately called by Hewston. The turn came a queen, the river a 5 with neither diamonds, giving Pippa two pair, and more importantly the PartyPoker.com World Open crown.

“To have been one of only two women who entered amongst over 70 entrants and to have won it is simply unbelievable and wonderful. Go girls!" exuded Flanders, who is mother to Charlotte, 22 and Christopher, 25. "I had a fantastic time playing the game and it was such a wonderful ending that I had always hoped for, but never expected. I still can’t believe I beat all those top names to the title. It really is a dream come true."

A PartyPoker.com spokesman commented: “This has been an absolutely amazing finish to a great PartyPoker.com World Open. It’s really exciting that Pippa’s victory is the first great breakthrough for European women in poker, and demonstrates the rise of women champions around the world in open poker tournaments. We congratulate Pippa!”