Irina Nikolaidi Wins 2015 Partypoker WPT National London

Irina Nikolaidi has become the first female player ever to win a partypoker WPT National UK main event, after topping a 667-strong field in London to claim the title, as well as its £25,130 ($39,170) first place prize. Following her impressive victory, the first of her career, Irina commented:
“I have butterflies and I’m so happy. It’s a great feeling.”
The £600 buy-in Accumulator event was held at Aspers Casino Newcastle, and featured a £100,000 guaranteed prize pool. Amongst the notable pros subsequently entering the competition was WSOP and WPT title winner James Dempsey, 2008 Bellagio Cup IV winner Tony Dunst, 2009 WSOPE Main Event finalist James Akenhead, and 2006 Bellagio Cup II champion Chaz Chattha.
There was to be no big name pros left by the time the final table of nine had been reached, although it did include Bobby Brummitt who previously  made another WPT National London Main Event final table in 2014. When just five players remained, Irina Nikolaidi (A-Q) dispatched her victim Pierre Canali (7-7) to the rail in 5th (£6,300), before being dealt pocket eights and doing likewise to Jason Lam (A-Q) in 4th (£8,400).
Next, Irina Nikolaidi (Q-Q) and Bobbie Brummitt (4-4) went all-in on a 3-3-2 flop, and with a Q appearing on the turn, Brummitt was eliminated in 3rd (£11,770), leaving Nikolaidi and Simon Green to battle it out for the title.
As the heads-up phase of the competition commenced, Nikolaidi held a 8.3m to 4.6m chip lead over Green, but after a tough final battle the deciding hand was played with both Green (8-2) and Nikolaidi (9-2) going all-in on a 9-8-2 flop holding two pair each. The A then 3 on turn on river failed to change things, and so Simon Green had to settle for a runner-up finish worth £17,400, while Irina Nikolaidi made WPT National UK history.
Final Table Results:
1 Irina Nikolaidi £25,130
2 Simon Green £17,400
3 Bobbie Brummitt £11,770
4 Jason Lam £8,400
5 Pierre Canali £6,300
6 Julien Rouxel £5,040
7 Vinnie Anderson £4,200
8 Mats Rosen £3,360
9 Chris Kumar £2,520