By XAVIER SMERDON
THE first ever Victorian Ladies Poker champion will be crowned in Tarneit later this month with the competition being launched in Wyndham.
About 100 women are expected to put their poker faces to the test as they attempt to take out the top prize.
Hotel 520 in Tarneit will host the Ladies Poker Champs, which is being organised by Full House Group.
General Manager of Membership at Full House Group, Sarah Franklyn, said with women making up more than 20 per cent of the poker market it was important to honour the support shown by the ladies and this competition was the perfect way to do just that.
“This is the first time ever that we will crown a Victorian Ladies Champ,” Ms Franklyn said.
“We’ve run it in New South Wales before but this is the first time it will be run in Victoria.”
General Manager of Hotel 520, Julie Shelton, said poker was extremely popular in Wyndham and especially the Tarneit area.
“This area runs five very strong games of poker each week with about 90 players at each game,” Ms Shelton said.
It is traditional for major poker tournaments to award a bracelet to the winner so the organisers of the Victorian Ladies Pokers Champs will be presented with a silver Tiffany’s bracelet as part of $1000 in cash and prizes.
Olympians Alisa Camplin and Lauryn Mark will also be guests at the event which Ms Franklyn said was celebrating champion women and women in sport.
Part of the profits from the event will go to Finnan’s Gift, a charity that works with children with congenital heart defects.
The event will be held on Sunday 21 April. For more information visit www.888pl.com.au