blonde poker

The Explorer of the Seas, the second largest cruise ship in the world, sailed from the shores of New York on the 25th Jan with over 900 Ladbrokes guests. They were onboard to play in the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise III, a nine-day festival of poker, and enjoy the world-renowned hospitality of Ladbrokespoker.com. With over $1,100,000 in prize pool money there was everything to play for.

Poker proceedings kicked off with the $2,500 NLHE main event. Among the 242 players were a few familiar faces and names from the Laddies site and the poker circuit including Jon 'Skalie' Kalmar (5th in 2007 WSOP main event), Michael 'Beppe' Greco, Marc Goodwin, Jonas 'Nebuchad' Danielsson (the Ladbrokes King of Cash Games), Jeff 'Jaffacake' Kimber (World Heads up Champ), Roy 'The Boy' Brindley and Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott. Four days of tense tournament play ensued, interspersed with stops in decidedly warmer climes than the typical British Jan/Feb weather, on exotic islands such as Puerto Rico, St Thomas, the Dominican Republic and the lovely Labadee.

Edward Ihre, Managing Director of Ladbrokespoker.com commented: "We had Sit-N-Go's, tournaments and cash games a-plenty available pretty much any time of the day to suit every pocket. The excellent poker schedule coupled with alternative events such as the five-a-side football (which seems to have become a regular fixture on the cruise itinerary); a poker quiz run by Norman Pace, the Ladies $10,000 Freeroll and the Ladbrokes farewell party, gave everybody the chance to get involved in the fun. Feedback from everyone has been great and we're already looking forward to the next live event in Las Vegas in the summer"

The final table comprising four Swedes, one Dane and a Brit was played out in an auditorium packed with supporters; to add to the already electric atmosphere, the cards were called out by popular TV poker presenter Norman Pace (who earlier that week cashed in the $500 NLHE), Roy Brindley and Jon Kalmar to name but a few.

Five Brits made it to the top ten, but all but one crashed out just before the short handed final table leaving it to Michael Greco, to represent the UK. Having sat down on the table third in chips as proceedings began, he went out first (winning $24,980) after his A9 suited, ran into the AK held by the eventual winner and chip leader throughout the game, Claes Westerberg. Westerberg - from Sweden - has only been playing eighteen months but left the cruise $123,625 richer.  

Edward continued: "This is a rare opportunity for us to get to know our customer and is about more than just the poker - as the five-a-side football illustrated. It is so popular an event amongst our players that it was seriously oversubscribed. We even had to rope in a professional to referee the game and the British team was coached by the indomitable Barry Fry (ex Peterborough Manager)."

Watch this space for details of our next event.

$2,500 Main Event Results on Ladbrokes Poker Cruise III

1st  Claes Westerberg -- $123,625
2nd  Niclas Adolfsson -- $78,210
3rd  Henrik Lovander -- $56,560
4th  Thomas Mose -- $43,280
5th  John Lofstrom -- $33,300
6th  Michael Greco -- $24,980

Other tournaments on the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise III included the $300 NLHE, $300 Pot Limit Omaha, $500 NLHE, $1000 NLHE and the Ladies $10,000 freeroll.

 

$1000 NLH:

Jarl Bratelli (Gidski) -- $50,000
Darren Pearce (suntankid) -- $32,070
David Mitchell (mitchhh2) -- $22,260
Paul Jackson (actionjack) -- $16,180
Marius Arnebax (DuomaAce) -- $12,140
Jonathan Reynolds (1prophet) -- $9,100

$500 NLH:

Claus (jeteast) Nielsen -- $23,230
Wilson (cold_turkey) Chan -- $15,360
Phil (Nobby Barnes) Marsland -- $10,560
Daniel (Skabby tax) Olsson -- $7,680
James (brockbairn) White -- $3,760

$300 NLH:

Sean (TK_Above) O'Driscoll -- $18,980
Richard (hAAj) Ingvarsson -- $12,280
Simon (Riversimon) Hoffman -- $8,260
Sohan (sojoe) Basu -- $5,900
Tikka (Pelurile) Seppa -- $4,320
Marc (Arv) Harvey -- $3,540

$300 PLO:

Tuomo (Tuoppl_) Olrinuora -- $19,580
Karl (Bakesand) Mahrenholz -- $12,680
Steve (Spikey64)Rowson -- $7,800
Johan (Berga) Berg -- $5,200
Villw (Valgrind) Hehtinon -- $4,220
Johan (johant) Holmen -- $3,240

Ladies $10,000 Freeroll:

Michelle (Michelle1) Bennet -- $2,500 ELC package
Lenn Martyah -- $2,500 ELC package
Kate Barbrook -- $2,500 ELC package
Pauline Ring -- $2,5000 ELC package