Jennifer Tilly jumped
up from the table after winning the WPT Ladies Night III
poker tournament Monday night at the Bicycle Casino in
California, saying that her win was good enough proof
that her victory in the World Series Ladies tournament
back in July was "no fluke."
The exciting feat for a
player who just starting playing poker a year ago, is
amazing enough in itself. The Academy Award nominated
actress is the first female to
hold both of these prominent titles in women's poker.
The victory also earned her a seat in the $25,000 buy-in WPT
Championship to be held next April at Bellagio in Las
Vegas. Not to forget the fundraiser part of the event,
she also got a
specially-created pink poker set with the WPT logo and
Breast Cancer ribbon. The WPT and the Bicycle Casino
will donate $10,000 to Breast Cancer Research in honor
of Tilly and the other fine competitors at the final table.
Anyone can play anyone
can win and Tilly is proof. Already well into a
successful career as a Hollywood actress, she began her
attraction to poker playing by first playing in the WPT
Hollywood Home Game series. She then played in the WPT
Invitational event which annually pits celebrities
versus professionals. At the event she met Phil Laak, a top
poker player who won the event. A few months later they began dating, and she took up
the game more seriously under his guidance.
At the award ceremony,
Mike Sexton, host and commentator on the WPt which airs
on the Travel Channel, nominated Phil Laak for Coach of the Year.
Causing great laughter.
Tilly said the best
piece of advice she ever received from Laak was to play
her own game.
A few of the other
female players looking for the win were the defending Ladies Night Champion Isabelle Mercier, Marsha Waggoner, Aidiliy Elviro
and more.
