Here come the girls

The fairer sex take to the spotlight with PartyPoker.com’s announcement of the Women’s World Open III.

To be held at Three Mills Studios in London between Sunday, 24th May and Wednesday, 27th May, the popular Matchroom Sport-organised tournament sees 36 players from around the world battle it out for a $108,000 prize pool in the $3,000 buy-in event. The winner will take home a cool $50,000.

Leading the line up is PartyPoker.com Premier League III star and inaugural WSOP Europe winner Annette Obrestad who will have her work cut out in a field that also includes Academy Award-nominated actress and WSOP bracelet holder Jennifer Tilly, EPT Dortmund champion Sandra Naujoks, UK Women’s Poker Tour Champion Lynne Beaumont, Late Night Poker finalist Maria Demetriou, Jen Mason and Veronique Gordon.

Also taking part and back to defend her title is Women’s World Open II champion Soraya Homam from Germany, who will face stiff competition from fellow 2008 final table participants Stefanie Bergener, May Maceiras and Eliza Burnett.

Norwegian sensation Obrestad already has her eyes on the crown. She said: “I look forward to playing and commentating at the tournament. This will be my first ladies-only tourney that is televised so it will be interesting to see if that changes the way they play and how I’ll have to adjust. Hopefully, we’ll see some cat fights.”

Tilly is also looking forward to hitting the felt in London. She told us: “I really enjoyed playing this event the last time I was here. It was fun to match wits with some of the best female poker players in Britain.”

The tournament features six six-seater heats with one six-seat runner-up heat. The final table will feature seven players. Commentary will be led by Jesse May, who will be joined by Obrestad and Tilly.

The action will be broadcast on Five in the UK later this year and then internationally after that.