PARTYPOKER.COM WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN III STARTS SUNDAY

Press Release - Gibraltar -- 21st May 2009 -- The http://www.partypoker.com/ Women’s World Open III gets underway in London this weekend and runs from Sunday 24 May to Wednesday 27 May 2009. The popular Matchroom Sport organized tournament sees 36 players from around the world battle it out for a $108,000 prize pool in the $3,000 buy-in event. The winner takes home a cool $50,000.

Leading the line-up is PartyPoker.com Premier League III star and inaugural WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad, who will have her work cut out in a field that also includes Academy Award nominated actress and WSOP bracelet holder Jennifer Tilly, EPT Dortmund champion Sandra Naujoks, UK Women’s Poker Tour Champion Lynne Beaumont, Late Night Poker finalist Maria Demetriou, Jen Mason and Veronique Gordon. Recent additions to the line-up include European Ladies champion Liv Boeree, Sweden’s Cecilia Nordenstram, Japan’s Kim Wooka, France’s Lise ‘The Pink Lady’ Vigezzi, Ireland’s Colette Murphy and Polish boxing champion Agnieska Rylik.

Also taking part, and back to defend her title, is Women’s World Open II champion Soraya Homam from Germany, who is joined by fellow 2008 final table participants Stefanie Bergener, Spain’s May Maceiras and Eliza Burnett. 46-year-old German poker professional Homam, a veteran on the circuit from Frankfurt, danced a jig with delight after she beat fellow German Bergener in an epic heads-up match to scoop $50,000 and the title. After a number of swings that saw the balance of power switch a number times, Homam’s AK suited held-up all-in against Bergener’s A6 off-suit. The UK’s Beverley Pace won the inaugural Women’s World Open I title.

A PartyPoker.com spokesman said: “There are certainly some interesting heats lined-up. The opening heat features Annette and Germany’s Christine Klecz while the second in the afternoon features both Jennifer Tilly and Jen Mason. Heat five on Wednesday looks to be one of the toughest on paper, however, as it features May Maceiras, who seriously impressed last year with her hyper-aggressive game, as well as Maria Demetriou and Sandra Naujoks.”

“There are four specially invited players from PartyPoker.com’s VIP club, the Palladium Lounge, who have serious form online and they have a fantastic opportunity to show what they are made of in front of the cameras in a live environment.”

Eddie Hearn, Director of Matchroom Sport said: "The line-up for this year’s event is simply breathtaking. We have WSOP, WSOPE and EPT champs battling it out for what has become the biggest event in women’s poker.”

The tournament features six six-seater heats with one six seat runner-up heat. The final table will feature seven players. Commentary will be led by Jesse May, who will be joined by Annette Obrestad. The action will be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then distributed internationally. A limited number of qualifiers took place with Equal Chance, International Club and the Eglinton Casino in Galway all running satellites.
PARTYPOKER.COM WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN II – London 3rd – 6th October 2008

1st – SORAYA HOMAM (GER) $50,000
2nd – STEFANIE BERGENER (GER) $22,000
3rd – MAY MACEIRAS (ESP) $14,000
4th – ELIZA BURNETT (UK) $10,000
5th – MICHELLE ORPE (UK) $7,000
6th – KYLA KALMAR (UK) $5,000

PARTYPOKER WOMEN’S WORLD OPEN I – London - 7th -10th August 2007

1st BEVERLEY PACE (UK) $50,000
2nd JEN MASON (UK) $22,000
3rd MARIA DEMETRIOU (UK) $14,000
4th BRONWYN CAMPBELL (CAN) $10,000
5th JACKIE VASWANI (UK) $7,000
6th KARA SCOTT (UK) $5,000

* World Series of Poker”® and “WSOP”®, WSOPE”® are registered trade marks of Harrah’s License Company LLC. No license, affiliation, sponsorship, or endorsement is claimed, or should be inferred from the use of these trademarks here. PartyGaming is not licensed by or otherwise affiliated with Harrah’s License Company LLC or the World Series of Poker®, in any way.

For more information contact Warren Lush warrenl@partygaming.com +34656236600

News Added: 21 May, 2009

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