Denmark's Pia Jeppesen Wins 2015 Genting Poker Series Stoke

Backgammon and poker pro Pia Jeppesen has just won the 2015 Genting Poker Series Main Event Stoke, after besting a field of 283 players over three days on her way to lifting the trophy, as well as its £30,660 ($47,374) first place prize. Following the biggest score of her professional career, the Danish player now boosts her lifetime earnings to $142,401.
The £400 buy-in main event was held at the Genting Club Stoke and attracted a whole slew of professional pros to the venue. Amongst the notable pros subsequently seeing a return on their investments was 2015 WSOP bracelet winner Alex Lindop in 19th (£1,140), and Craig Dawson in 18th, as well as professional footballers Anthony Garnder in 17th.
Simon Deadman, who finished runner-up at the 2015 WSOP $5,000 NL Six Handed event for $391,446, then eliminated Endit Geci in 11th, and Richard Wong in 10th to usher in the final table, before doing likewise to Athir Ali in 8th (£2,160). However, Deadman’s luck finally ran out after getting it all-in holding A-K to Rob Boon’s As-Ks. The board then ran out 8s-7s-7-7-9s to send him to the rail in 5th place for £6,140.
Next, Pia Jeppesen (A-7) took care of Cengiz Karasu (A-4) in 4th (£7,950), and with Gary Payne (K-K) sending Rob Boon (J-J) to the rail in 3rd (£13,630), heads-up was set with Payne holding a 5.56m chip lead over Jeppesen on a 1.54m stack.
A few hands later, however, Pia Jeppesen with pocket queens doubled-up against her opponent’s A-4, and just after midnight Payne was reduced to less than 1 big blind when he called Jeppesen’s push on a 2-8-9-7 board.
“I only have bottom pair, but I think you’re at it,” commented Payne.
Unfortunately for him, Pia Jeppesen had pocket eights for a set, and the very next hand Gary Payne finished the runner-up for a £20,450 payday, while Jeppesen became only the second female player to win a Genting Poker Series Main Event.
Final Table Results:
1 Pia Jeppesen £30,660
2 Gary Payne £20,450
3 Rob Boon £13,630
4 Cengiz Karasu £7,950
5 Simon Deadman £6,140
6 Steve Andreou £4,990
7 Chris Johnson £3,870
8 Leo McClean £3,010
9 Athir Ali £2,160