Maria Poker is part of the Unibet Group and started running ladies' only side events earlier this year at the Unibet Open in Budapest. This was their fifth event because they've had excellent results. I was thrilled to be able to attend this event.  It was a £110 buy-in and started with 5000 chips and 25 minute blinds. Being somewhat of a veteran of ladies' tournaments, I was looking forward to playing in this event.

There were 25 runners and all seemed to have a really good time. There were new players who had never played live before and also poker pros who were really good players. The atmosphere at the competition was one of fun and good-natured competition. The more experienced players were helping the newer players with their chips and antes and were patient with them. This is the biggest reason for ladies' only events, no intimidation and a good social gathering for us to learn how to play poker.

Even though the field was very international the top 5 winners were all English. It was supposed to pay to 4^th place but they did a deal and gave the bubble person a saver amount of £130. Maria gave a nice gift of chocolates to the 5^th place person as a bubble prize. First through 3^rd place received a nice bouquet of flowers. The top 5 players were:

 1^st – Sarah Berry - £950

2^nd – Sinem Melin - £710

3^rd – Tina Abery - £470

4^th – Sara Miles - £240

5^th – Dawn Cooke - £130

I spoke to Sarah Berry after her win and she was very excited because she hadn't won a tournament in quite awhile. She's been playing poker for about 4 years and her boyfriend is a pro poker player who was playing the main event while we were playing. She regularly plays at the International Club in London along with the players who were second and third. The winning hand went all in pre-flop, Sarah's pocket 10s against Sinem's AK suited. Sinem flopped a king but it was quickly followed by a 10 and the turn was a 10 as well so Sarah took it down with her quad 10's.

I also spoke to Gitte Stentebjorg from Denmark who made the final table and went out 10^th. It was her first live event and she enjoyed herself. Her boyfriend started playing online two years ago and she tried as well but stopped playing. Recently she has started playing again and wanted to play a ladies' event for her first live event. Her boyfriend also played the main event.

I believe that Maria Poker has got it right when they say: “At the Maria Live tournaments you won't see the grim faces of players hidden behind huge shades, keeping quiet and serious for most of their time at the table. The Maria Ladies love to laugh and have fun. They play poker how it should be played.” So, if you're interested in playing a Maria Live event in 2011 they have satellites to the events and give away a number of packages in their Daily Freerolls, buy-ins and weekly finals. Europe in 2011 is the place to play for all of you ladies out there.