Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006

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Manchester player wins inaugural APAT U.K. Amateur Poker Championship

By Sarah Polson

Max Ward, from Manchester, England, outlasted a sold-out crowd to win the first-ever Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT) U.K. Amateur Poker Championships Monday.

The tournament was filled to capacity as 210 players showed up at the Aspers Casino in Newcastle to pay the £75 buy-in for the competition and begin play Dec. 2. By the end of the first day, all but 24 players were eliminated.

Max Ward started Day 2 fourth in the chip count, and despite fluctuating up and down in the count, made it to the final table of 10 players that also included:

• Leon Rossiter from Liverpool
• Tom Hunter from Birkenhead
• David Groom from Sarborough
• Ben Passantino from Worcester
• Steve Lacey from Gosport
• Ray Norton from Wallsend
• Adam Spratt from Cambridge
• Steve Talbot from Blackburn
• Vicky Glynn from Edinburgh

Heads-up came down to Ward versus Lacey who had a two-to-one chip advantage. After an hour of trading the chip lead back and forth, the tournament finally came down to Ward's A-3 against Lacey's A-T.

Ward paired his three on the flop and nothing came along to help Lacey on the turn or the river. For his win, Ward earned £3,750 and a seat in the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event.

The final table results were as follows:

1. Max Ward
2. Steve Lacy
3. Tom Hunter
4. Ray Norton
5. Adam Spratt
6. Steve Talbot
7. Leon Rossiter
8. David Groom
9. Ben Passantino
10. Vicky Glynn

The APAT live tournaments, which are sponsored by PokerStars.com, will continue with the Welsh Amateur Poker Championship Feb. 2-3. The location of the tournament hasn't been determined yet, and seats will be available at www.apat.com.

Related Articles:

APAT Announces U.K. Amateur Poker Championships
Daniel Phillips Wins APAT English Amateur Poker Championships
New Amateur Poker Association and Tour Launched

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