Tunica, MS – Anyone who doubts the growing popularity of poker along women would be advised to look at the sign-up numbers from this year's Ladies Poker Championship held in Tunica, Mississippi.  A record turnout of 465 players turned out at the Grand Tunica Casino-Resort for the special ladies-only poker tournament.  The ladies event is a popular component of each and every World Series of Poker Circuit, ensuring that female poker players have an opportunity to play amongst themselves, on their own terms.

Appropriately, this year's WSOP Circuit series in Tunica has been operated by four top female tournament officials.  This is the first time in poker history that this has happened.  The hard-working and outgoing Karen Kaegin serves as Grand Tunica's Poker Room Manager.  Sue Phillips is the very capable Dealer Coordinator.  Dixie Lindsey is the Payout Coordinator.  And, for the first time in World Series of Poker history, a woman has been chosen as the Tournament Director.  After years spent working in poker tournaments around the country, Janice Sexton was promoted to the position of Tournament Director for this, and future WSOP Circuit events.
 
January 14th turned out to be a memorable day for the ladies as one of the most exciting final tables of this year's series took place on the second floor of the Tunica Grand.  It took 12 hours to play down to the winner, Erin Elwood from Knoxville, Tennessee.  She started as one of the lowest stacks at the final table but managed to outlast all of her opponents en route to a $27,060 payday.

The final table began at 10 pm after ten long hours of play.  Sally White started off with a significant chip lead.  But she was unable to hold onto those chips until the very end.  The seating positions and starting chip counts began as follows:

Seat 1:  Cindy Burks           38,000
Seat 2:  Sally White          167,000 
Seat 3:  Kelley Reynolds    91,000
Seat 4:  Noui Phrathep       76,000
Seat 5:  Alani Delrios          47,000
Seat 6:  Ruth Chodniewicz 55,000 
Seat 7:  Kimberly Kirby       51,000
Seat 8:  Erin Elwood           48,000
Seat 9:  Donna Cobb        118,500

Ninth place went to Cindy Burks.  She is a nearby resident of Southaven, Mississippi who has played in local poker tournaments.  Ms. Burks' prize money amounted to $1,804.

Kimberly Kirby finished in eighth place.  The poker sales representative from Illinois cashed for $2,706.

Seventh place went to Donna Cobb.  The Hot Springs, Arkansas pharmacist lost to a straight on her last hand and collected $3,608 for her final table appearance.

Ruth Chodniewicz went out next.  She started with the best hand when all of her chips went into the pot, A-10 versus Q-7.  But a queen on the flop ruined Ms. Chodniewicz's chances of doubling up.  The songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee was left singing the blues, although she did manage $4,511 for sixth place.

Noui Phrathep was one of the crowd favorites.  But she busted out when she made a pair of tens, losing on her final hand to a (higher) pair of jacks.  The poker player from Clearwater, Florida earned $5,413 for fifth place.

Kelly Reynolds went out next.  Her fate was sealed when she started off with pocket 5s but ran into Erin Elwood's A-Q, which spiked a queen on the river – good for a higher pair.  Mr. Reynolds, who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, received $6,315 in prize money for fourth place.

Third place went to Sally C. White, an insurance agent from Nashville, Tennessee.  She outlasted all but the final two players in this tournament and received $7,217.  Her K-9 failed to top Erin Elwood's pocket queens on her final hand, thus locking up a third place finish.

It didn't take long for Erin Elwood to settle the outcome once and for all.  Holding onto a sizable chip lead, she called an all-in raise with A-K and saw her opponent Alani Delrios holding J-9.  The flop gave Ms. Delrios several outs – 10-8-3 making either a pair or a straight possible.  But two blanks on the turn and river disappointed Ms. Delrios in her attempt to stake a late comeback and made Ms. Elwood into the newest ladies poker champion.

The runner up in this event was Alani Delrios, from Boone, North Carolina.  She earned $14,524 for a valiant effort.

The 2007 Ladies Poker Champion from this year's Tunica series is Erin Elwood, a 22-year-old college student.  Ms. Elwood is currently studying psychology at the University of Tennessee.  This was her first poker tournament win.  First prize paid $27,060 and a gold pendant presented to the ladies champion as a token of a well-deserved victory.
    
by Nolan Dalla

Note:  All content in this report may be re-printed by media.

__________________________________

For official news and latest updates from the World Series of Poker and Circuits, please visit:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com

For official photographs from the World Series of Poker, please contact Eric Harkins (Image Masters PDI) at:  [email protected]
Or visit:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com/photos.aspx

For additions news and information from the 2006-2007 WSOP and Circuits, please contact:  [email protected]

_________________________________


Tournament Director – Janis Sexton

Grand Tunica Poker Room Manager – Karen Kaegin