U.K. woman wins PartyPoker.com World Open II

Pippa Flanders, a U.K. mother of two, conquered a field of more than 70 players from the U.K., the United States, and Europe to be crowned the champion of the PartyPoker.com World Open II at The Poker Den in London. She took home $200,000 for her win.

Flanders, who began playing poker professionally in 2002, was one of only two women to enter the PartyPoker.com World Open II. She beat the odds to come out on top as well as beating pro players such as Tony Guoga, Roland De Wolfe, Marc Goodwin, Tony Bloom, Kenna James, Harry Demetriou, and last year's winner Lee Nelson.

"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," Flanders said. "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."

Though Flanders was considered a "fish" going into the World Open, she does have prior tournament experience. Her largest cash up until the World Open was $26,079 at the 2004 European Poker Championships, and she most recently finished fifth at the Women's Poker Tour in July in east London.

"This has been an absolutely amazing finish to a great PartyPoker.com World Open," said a PartyPoker.com spokesman. "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."

The PartyPoker.com World Open II will be televised over 16 weeks later this year on Channel 5 in the U.K.

courtesy of Sarah Polson

News Added: 21 September, 2006

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