Poker Face 2
Pam Brunson, Doyle's Daughter in Final of WPT Ladies' Night V
31st,where she will face five of poker's finest female pros during WPT Ladies' Night V.
Brunson will join defending champion Joanne "JJ" Liu, "first lady of poker" Linda Johnson, cash game queen Mimi Tran, top pro Kristy Gazes, and poker journalist and pro Melissa Hayden for the chance to win a $25,000 seat into the premiere tournament on the poker circuit--the WPT World Championship. WPT Ladies' Night V is part of the WPT Legends of Poker circuit at the Bicycle Casino, where Brunson's father won his World Poker Tour title during Season III.
Brunson earned her seat in Ladies' Night and a $34,435 cash prize by beating a field of 125 celebrities, pros, and local ladies last weekend during the WPT Ladies' Night V tournament at the Bicycle Casino. Each year, the ladies-only event brings together top female pros, celebrities, and local players who "Go All In for the Cure" to play for cash, a seat at the WPT Ladies' Night Final Table, and to benefit partner Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the leader in the global breast cancer movement.
This year, WPT partnered with the Ladies Poker Association (LPA) for the first-time, making the event an official LPA stop and raising the buy-in to $1,000. With the Bicycle Casino donating to Komen for the Cure 15 percent of each buy in, combined with auction prizes donated by LPA and cash donations made by patrons and players, the event raised awareness and more than $21,000 to benefit breast cancer research. Additionally, CharityBuzz.com is hosting an online auction through August 23rd to further benefit the cause. WPT and Hands-On Mobile will also each donate $5,000 to Komen for the Cure.
"Breast cancer is a horrible disease that affects so many people, which is why we are honored to do our part to help find the cure for breast cancer," said Robyn Moder, Executive Vice President, WPT Studios. "Ladies' Night raises funds for a great cause while promoting awareness and strength among the poker and general community alike."
Amid her excitement and phone calls to her famous poker family, Brunson, who lost her mother and grandmother to breast cancer and has a close friend battling the disease, offered up advice -- "One thing my friend always says and I'd like to pass on is, 'get your mammograms' It's SO important."
To support the event and the ladies, Bicycle Casino hosted an appreciation party before the tournament where the players ate Yummy Cupcakes, sipped complimentary cocktails from Pinky Vodka, and played the new WPT® Texas Hold 'Em 2 by Hands-On Mobile while getting free pedicures. Players also received gift bags filled with products from Republic of Tea and pink Save the Ta-Ta's t-shirts.
To watch the taping of WPT Ladies' Night V on August 31st, fans should arrive at the Bicycle Casino by 3:00 p.m. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. The Bicycle Casino is located at 7301 Eastern Avenue, Bell Gardens, CA.
The Ladies' Night final table will air on GSN in 2008. For more information about the event, visit www.worldpokertour.com.