WPTN Newcastle
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Bluff Europe's guide to the North East stop.
WPT National Newcastle starts on Thursday 30 April with a bumper field expected at the city's Aspers Casino for the £200 buy-in event. It will feature the accumulator format offering players the chances to buy in on three opening flights to build up a big stack. Check out the full schedule here.
Last year's WPT National Newcastle was won by Darren Mapley who pocketed £17,500. Here's how he did it and what you can look forward to if you're heading to the Toon this weekend.
Darren Mapley loves partypoker WPT National events. Of his six live cashes, three have come on the tour. They include an 18th-place finish in London last year, a final table in this February's event in the capital, and the coup de grace - victory at Aspers Newcastle in May 2014.
After eliminating final table bubble boy Kelvin Weeks in 10th, Mapley entered the final table with more than twice as many chips as his nearest challenger, and a combination of big hands and dominant play saw him convert this into a victory.
The key hand came with five players left, when chip-leader Mapley and second-placed Andrew Hetherington got the money in on a 4d Kd Kc 2s 3s board. Hetherington showed king-jack suited but it was no good as Mapley rolled over pocket fours for a flopped full-house, slow-played to perfection.
Mapley's first-place prize of £17,500 is hopefully the first of many for the recreational player, who travels the country for poker tournaments whenever he can.
"It's absolutely amazing - the incredible run of cards I had to get there is beyond anybody's dreams," Mapley told the partypoker blog after his victory."
Find out why Newcastle is such a popular destination for weekends away, with our tips about one of England's most vibrant cities
Pani's Café It might look unassuming from the outside, but this family establishment is one of the North East's hidden treasures. It celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and remains as authentically Sardinian as the day it was founded.
With wines from the Italian island, such as Vermentino and Cannonau, you can step out of the casino and feel like you're just off the Italian coast. And if you're lucky you might be able to spot a local celebrity - Newcastle United footballer Jonas Gutierrez is known to count Pani's among his favourite spots in the city.
The Bridge TavernA stone's throw from the iconic Tyne Bridge, this pub and microbrewery is the perfect combination of Newcastle new and old. In fact, its original building was torn down to make way for the construction of the bridge itself, making it a real part of the city's history.
Enjoy your pint while watching keg after keg of craft beer being brewed before your eyes, with fresh batches created each day. It's the perfect place to blow off some steam after a bad beat, or to relax for a few drinks after playing your Day 1 flight.
The Prodigy at O2 Academy NewcastleOne of the biggest names in UK dance music, The Prodigy's influence can be felt everywhere, and you can relive some of those heady 90s days, while also seeing if material from their new album The Day is My Enemy reaches their high standards.
Keith, Liam et al have kindly scheduled their gig for May 4th, the day after the partypoker WPT Aspers Accumulator final table - perfect for those post-victory celebrations, and you won't have to worry about the hangover.