High roller claims big

WINNINGHAND: Jens Poker directors Martin Pink and Dale Fox with Little Blue Classic winner Col Birt.

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JENS Hotel hosted a No Limit Holdem Poker tournament over the June long weekend, with 59 keen players vying for the chance to win the Little Blue Classic.

With a buy in of only $110, the total prize pool reached $7100, for a first-place payout over $2300.

The eventual winner was Milang’s Col Birt, who is fast becoming a formidable opponent.

Birt came off a win in the Super Highroller tournament in Victor Harbor last month where he won a cool $16,000.

He found himself heads up with local player Ben Mackay, who has only recently begun playing live poker and recorded his best result in his short but promising career.

The experience of Birt and the willingness to use his table talk was too much for Mackay who eventually took home $1400 for his efforts.

Jens Poker co-director Dale Fox said he was impressed with the number of players who attended after postponement of the much-anticipated Johnnie Walker Classic due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria where the majority of players were from.

The tournament was also attended by Gigi Fab, a well-known Australian poker player and promoter.

Fab was impressed with the tournament structure and venue and said it was a credit to Jens Poker to be able to draw such a large number of players in a relatively small town.

She has promoted large poker tournaments and series in Queensland and NSW and recently interviewed Shane Warne who is also an avid poker player.

Fox said there is another tournament planned for November 6, with a Highroller on the Friday night and a main event on the Saturday.

Poker is held each Wednesday at Jens Hotel and is open to anyone willing to try their luck.