Helena Brett is the new lady champion of Britain’s card rooms after securing the win and a £20,000 sponsorship

package for next year, when winning the Grand Final of the Betrfred Ladies Poker Tour at The Western Club in London .The 31-year-old from Staffordshire beat Raine Hilson in a heads up battle in only her first full year competing in the series.

Of the10 players to contest the Grand Final, Helena had qualified in July after winning the Northampton leg of the tour, the third of the seven live heats. After the finalists had been whittled down to three, Helena, Raine and Karen Walton then played for two-and-a-quarter hours before Karen was eliminated in third position. Helena was the short stack when heads up play began but she soon doubled up thanks to trip queens. Two pair (fives and sixes) put Helena in the driving seat again when Raine had a busted flush draw and in the next hand it was all over. Raine went all in with 10-3 versus K-10 and when the board provided no help for either player, Helena was crowned the champion.

Helena is looking forward to playing in some of the leading poker events in Britain and Europe being a Betfred-sponsored poker player for 2011 with £20,000 at her disposal. Betfred boss Fred Done hailed Helena as a worthy winner and a player who will be an excellent representative of Betfred during 2011.

Remember "It’s Not Just a Game, It’s a Lifestyle"