Nancy Todd Tyner wins inaugural WPT Ladies Championship

LOS ANGELES, California -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- World Poker Tour® (WPT) wrapped the inaugural season of its WPT Ladies™ league and tournament circuit Friday night, crowning its first WPT Ladies Championship winner, political consultant Nancy Todd Tyner. Tyner fought her way through a field of 150 amateur and professional players—including a heads up battle with pro Vanessa Selbst—to win $68,640, a WPT championship bracelet designed by Tiffany & Co., and her first WPT title.

In her post-win interview with WPT Live Updates, Tyner said, "I'm very proud to have been able to hold my own at the table, but I'm used to being a fighter. I've been a fighter all my life. A fight does not bother me!"

Tyner, a WPT Boot Camp graduate, began playing poker only 18 months ago. But Tyner is no stranger to winning in the world of gaming. A political consultant specializing in gaming issues since 1992, Tyner piloted the campaign to legalize casinos in Mississippi in 1990, which eventually led the states of Indiana, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and New York to follow suit. Tyner has been a political consultant to more than l96 campaigns in 42 states and six countries, with a winning record of 98 percent. Her articles and commentary have appeared nationally in newspapers and professional publications, including a monthly column in Casino Journal.

"My win was terrific, it was hard fought, and I was definitely the underdog," said Tyner, who went into the final table in third place. "It reminded me of most of my campaigns where I was down long before I started, like David versus Goliath."

Robyn Moder, Executive Vice President, WPT Studios, said, "We could not think of a better way to end our season or a better person to show the strength and importance of women in poker. Nancy encompasses the heart and soul of the ladies tour and what it's all about—providing the opportunity for women everywhere to make their mark in the sport of poker. Her win will open many more doors for broader growth and celebration of women who play."

The WPT Ladies tour, which was launched in January to support and perpetuate the growth of women in poker, also featured stops at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J., Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, Bay 101 in San Jose, Calif. and Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. The season concluded with the WPT Ladies Championship at Bellagio April 13 and 14, which drew a field of 150 players including JJ Lieu, Kathy Liebert, Evelyn Ng, Jennifer Tilly, Cindy Violette, Erica Schoenberg, Karina Jett, Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher, Van Nguyen, Lily "Mrs. Grinder" Mizrachi and Maureen Feduniak. The six remaining players returned to Bellagio April 25 to film the WPT Ladies Championship final table, which is scheduled to air August 18 at 9pm ET/PT on GSN.

The WPT Ladies tour and Championship benefited WPT Ladies official charity sponsor, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Through the key partnership with Komen for the Cure, WPT Ladies raised awareness and funding for breast cancer research to end a disease that affects one in every eight women. In addition to an online charity auction at www.charityfolks.com/wptladies and on-site donations, 15 percent of each $1,500 buy-in was donated to help end breast cancer forever. The Season I WPT Ladies tour raised more than $51,000 for the cause, with total donations from the three-year partnership reaching nearly $200,000 to benefit Komen for the Cure.