Sports Stars Challenge

Kara Scott is the winner of thePartyPoker.com Sports Stars Challenge III! The 32-year-old television presenter from Brighton, UK, won £20,000 and triumphed at a final table that included darts sensation Wayne Mardle, snooker legend Steve Davis, former England cricket seamer Gladstone Small, Wakefield rugby league hooker Brad Drew and Manchester United football legend Norman Whiteside.

“This is just simply fantastic,” said Kara, who like recent Premier League winner Andy Black was overwhelmed with emotion when the moment sunk in.

“I did fancy my chances at the final table but knew there would be some tough opponents. Steve Davis had to be the favourite at the start and I’m just so happy that I came out on top in my skirmishes with him. I’ve played with him a number of times before and he’s always won. Early in the heat I was sure he was pushing me around so I knew I had to get more aggressive and it worked!”

Kara is originally from Northern Alberta, Canada but came to the UK in 1999 and is a poker and kickboxing television presenter. “I’m going to use the money as a bankroll,” she said, “but I will also buy a few pairs of shoes!”

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “Kara’s reputation on the poker scene continues to rise and rise, she’s on a bit of a roll. Last year, she made the final table of the Women’s World Open and impressed there with her aggressive game. It’s obvious that this win means a lot to her and she deserves it.”

Eddie Hearn, Head of Online Gaming at Matchroom Sport said: “This year a presenter won, last year it was a snooker world champion and the year before it was a former rugby union international. It was a fantastic event but these footballers need to up their game!”

The Matchroom Sport organized event took place at 3 Mills Studio, London and featured sports stars, both past and present. The 36 player tournament format included tables for footballers, cricketers, presenters, snooker players, rugby stars and darts players.

Each player sat down with £1,000, with the heat winner getting £6,000.The winner of each heat took their place at the final table, where six players battled it out. The overall winner received £20,000 with second getting £10,000 and third receiving £5,000.

First up was the presenters’ heat, which was won by Kara Scott. She eventually beat Polish presenter and boxing champion Agnieszka Rylik in an epic heads-up which featured more hands than the rest of the heat. First out was Soccer AM’s Andy Goldstein, followed by Rod Harrington, Alan McInally and then Chris Kamara. The darts heat was full of drama – a highlight seeing Peter “One Dart” Manley crushing Phil “The Power” Taylor with quad kings.

The eventual victor was Wayne “Hawaii 501” Mardle, who booked his final table spot at the expense of Holland’s Michael Van Gerwen in dramatic fashion. Mardle had jack two off suit and Van Gerwen ace seven. The flop came four, five, six, with no flush possibilities. The turn was an ace meaning the only card that could take Mardle through was a three. The three came on the river and “Hawaii 501” erupted. Surprisingly, Taylor went out first, followed by Colin Lloyd, Alan Warriner-Little and then Peter Manley.

Snooker’s heat was fiercely competitive and the heads-up was a repeat of the famous 1985 World Snooker Championship final with Steve Davis locking horns with Dennis Taylor. Revenge was sweet for ‘Romford Slim,’ who cashed in the Main Event at the 2006 World Series of Poker and he booked his spot at the final table. First out was last year’s overall champion Ken Doherty, followed by Willie Thorne, Barry Hawkins and then Mark Williams.

The cricket table saw Ed Giddins go in as the firm favourite to win. There was speculation that Mark Ramprakash might waltz it but he was first out, followed by Ali Brown, favourite Ed Giddins and then Min Patel. In the heads-up Steve Marsh lost to former England seamer Gladstone Small, whose poker was as fast as his bowling in his heyday. Wakefield Wildcats hooker Brad Drew triumphed in the rugby heat with Robbie Paul finishing second, Tom Voyce third, Matt Dawson fourth, Jamie Peacock fifth and 2006 champion Austin Healey out first in sixth. Drew made the final table last year, finishing fourth.

The line-up of footballers featured seasoned poker players Ray Parlour and Tony Cascarino, as well as Norman Whiteside, Steve Sedgley, John Aldridge and Lee Sharpe. Whiteside eventually triumphed after picking up pocket nines and picking up trips on the flop. The pair of twos on the board gave him a full house and Parlour’s six nine off suit was dead in the water. First out was Lee Sharpe, followed by John Aldridge, Steve Sedgley and then the much fancied Tony Cascarino.

Coverage of the event will be aired in the UK later this year on Sky Sports and distributed internationally. ‘The voice of poker’ Jesse May will commentate alongside Steve Davis. Nick Wealthall joined Jesse for the final.

Final results:
1st Kara Scott (Presenter), £20,000
2nd Norman Whiteside (Football), £10,000
3rd Gladstone Small (Cricket), £5,000
4th Steve Davis (Snooker)
5th Brad Drew (Rugby League)
6th Wayne Mardle (Darts)