Stuart Ward is the APAT European Champion

Stuart Ward is the APAT European Champion

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Stuart Ward has been crowned the European Amateur poker champion after winning the APAT European Championships in Luton. Ward outlasted a field of 195 players from 12 countries to win the title and with it a first prize of £3,500 and a seat in a GUKPT Main Event.

Ward, from Middlesbrough, went into the final table second in chips behind Wellingborough’s Derrick Andrews. Both players maintained their momentum, eliminating a procession of players, to set up the heads up finale. The key hand saw Andrews bet out on an 8-7-3 board. Ward re-raised and Andrews pushed all in. After going into the tank, Ward finally made a great call holding 9-7 for second pair. Andrews revealed A-5 for a stone cold bluff. The turn and river were blanks leaving the Northampton man crippled. Ward sealed the win on the following hand.


The 12-country team event was won by Poland. The two-day series saw teams compete in a series of 80 sit ‘n’ go and heads up tournaments with points awarded according to finishing positions. England led the way after the early stages but like the football team ran into trouble at the business end of proceedings. The Poles were tied with France at the end but sealed the win after winning a best of three play-off.


APAT next heads to Manchester for the UK Team Championship in January.



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