Ladbrokes Poker Million is back on your screens!!
Next up:
Tune in to Sky Sports 2 at 10:00pm on Tuesday 6th of November for the next heat, which features none other than Dave “The Devilfish” Ulliott, Juha Helppi and Ladbrokes European Ladies Championship winner Jackie Meecham.
What we’ve seen so far:
First up was the Preliminary Celebrity Heat, with the winner gaining a place in the Poker Million first round proper!
Glamour girl Danielle Lloyd pitted her wits against poker industry veterans Norman “spineynorman” Pace and Des “ahmacauley” Wilson, whilst Lock Stock actor Dexter Fletcher and pop star Brian McFadden also took their seats.
Rounding off the sextet was ex-England scrum half, Matt Dawson, who put up a better show than his old teammates can currently muster, but he and the others could do nothing as Brian McFadden romped to victory and a full place in Poker Million VI.
Heat One:
This Poker Million heat was a real cracker. It had a real quality line-up, with top names such as Harry Demetriou, Hendon Mobster Ross Boatman and EPT Director John Duthie. Peter Roche will be in attendance, along with top Scandinavians Age “spetsern” Spets and Ladbrokes’ Danish Poker ambassador Morten “pokergirl1″ Erlandsen.
After some absorbing action, previous Poker Million champion John Duthie lost out in the heads-up to Harry Demetriou, who had played excellent poker throughout.
Heat Two:
Phill Laak. Howard “the professor” Lederer. Patrick Antonious. Alan Smurfitt. Peter Davidson. Neil Collins. It was a great line-up, and an excellent advert for Poker Million, with a series of superb laydowns and bluffs.
In the end, Howard Lederer was able to use his Big Game experience to defeat the gallant Alan Smurfitt heads-up, as the American’s pocket nines saw off the Irishman’s K-Q suited in the final hand.
Heat Three:
Rising young star Roland De Wolfe lined up against UK scene stalwarts Ian Frazer, Mel Judah and Hendon mobster Barney Boatman. Mikael Johansson provided the Scandinavian presence, whilst Jennifer Tilly was the latest in a long line of top Americans to compete in Europe’s premier poker tournament, and proved beyond doubt that poker and corsets go hand-in-hand!
After early exits for Judah, Boatman and Frazer, short-stacks de Wolfe and Tilly battled it out for the right to meet huge chip leader Johansson in the heads-up. Tilly was the one to win through, after Mikael’s A-5 caught a bullet on the flop against Roland’s 9-9, but the glamourous American’s luck wasn’t in as Johansson successfully used his huge chip lead to the maximum advantage and progressed to the semi-finals.
Heat Four:
Motormouthed superstar Tony G entered the fray alongside top names Liz Lieu, Kirill Gerasimov and recent EPT London final tablist Ian “CRAPPER” Cox. Neil Walker and Australian Tino Lechic rounded off what looked to be a very competitive heat.
However, the massively in-form Ian Cox controlled the table from the off, with a number of well-timed bluffs and aggressive raises, as he eased past the strong-looking field and into the semi finals.
Heat Five:
This heat saw a distinctly Irish flavour, as Kevin O’Connell, Liam Flood and Laddies sponsored professional Roy “the Boy” Brindley all taking their seats. Former Late Night Poker Heat winner Robin Keston was in attendance, along with Simon Taylor and popular Team Ladbrokes player Thomas “Tottowicz” Tyszkiewicz.
It wasn’t to be for the Ladbrokes players, however, as Liam Flood’s languid style proved decisive in a long and challenging heat.
Heat Six:
World-Heads up Champion and Ladbrokes sponsored professional Jeff Kimber slipped out of this heat first. WSOP 2007 final tablist Jon “Skalie” Kalmar swiftly follwed, as did the short-stacked John Fletcher and Danish Monaco EPT Finalist Soren Kongsgaard, who’s A-Ko was muffed by eventual runner-up Thomas Wahlroos
Wahlroos fell at the last to English pro Julian Gardner, who progressed from the heats for the second time running; the Mancunian following up his two cashes at this year’s WSOP with this excellent result.
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