Plymouth scientist wins national poker tournament in Las Vegas
A SCIENTIST from Widewell is on top of the world after winning a national poker tournament in Las Vegas.
Mariata Jutson has returned from the USA after winning the national Poker in the Pub competition at the Wynn Hotel in Vegas.
The scientist at the Marine Biological Association said she is just getting over the shock of winning the contest against four other British poker players who had also made it to the final table.
Overall, the 45-year-old beat about 15,000 people to earn a place in the final — and she won her last hand with two-pairs, Aces and Jacks.
She said: "I am getting over the shock now. I do believe I have done it now — I couldn't just after the final!
"It was fantastic. Vegas is such an amazing place, it was like a dream — and to win the tournament was brilliant.
"It actually wasn't the most exciting game — there were no royal flushes or fullhouses — but it was great to win."
Ms Jutson said she was the only female and the only non-northerner at the final, but she played a good game.
Her prize was $400, a trophy and the holiday in Vegas itself.
Mariata said she first got the poker bug when she saw her uncle in Wales playing the game on a computer.
She learned to play and then joined the live Poker in the Pub games at Derriford Health and Leisure club on the hospital site. She said: "It is great for socialising and meeting new people, as well as becoming a good poker player."
She qualified for the regional tournament at the Grosvenor Casino in Plymouth's city centre, then the national finals in Liverpool — and eventually triumphed in Vegas.
She said she believes she is the first woman to have won the competition.
She said: "Everyone has got it in for me at the Derriford club now. They all want to beat the champ!"
3 Comments
by SMN, Plymouth
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 7:03PM
“Well done Pebble for putting 'Poker player' right. He (I assume) obviously doesn't understand the concept of PitP, otherwise he wouldn't have put those comments here. Good luck at poker.”
by Pebble, Estover
Monday, July 19 2010, 3:29PM
“Don't be so cynical you muppet! It's a national league played in pubs and clubs that's FREE to enter. Qualifiers from the leagues get a place in a regional final and can win a place in a national final. The final table from the national gets played in Vegas, so the winners of the national get a free holiday and play for spending money. It¿s a sociable way to spend one night a week, with the chance of winning big like Mari ¿ it¿s not for professionals or bracelet winners so don¿t expect big money AND a free holiday!
Congrats Mari!”
by Poker player, Plymouth
Saturday, July 17 2010, 11:18AM
“Her prize $400......yeah right and the rest,that equates to about £300 for a national tournament . $400 prize money for a country the size of the US which tree do you think we all fell from. Steve Wynn would pay out a hell of a lot more than that for a NATIONAL competition otherwise he'd be the joker of Vegas”