MOTHER OF TWO TAKES WORLD OPEN HONOURS

(485) (20-September-2006)

International field of 70 top players battle for $200 000 grand prize in London

The new queen of the Party Poker.com World Open II championships was crowned at The Poker Den in London this week.

UK mother of two Pippa Flanders took down a starting field of 70 top players that included herself and one other women. Players travelled from around the world to compete and go after a cool $200 000 pay packet in the event, but in the end it was Flanders who truimphed and took home the cheque. It was a notable achievement for someone who only started playing poker in a professional sense in 2002.

Professionals like Tony Guoga, Roland De Wolfe, Marc Goodwin, Tony Bloom, Kenna James, Harry Demetriou, and last year's winner Lee Nelson comprised formidable competition.

"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."

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