Jackie Polansky Advertisement

Jackie Polansky outdueled Nella Lawson for the December World Series of Poker qualifying tournament title Saturday, at the Pahrump Nugget.

The battle between Jackie and Nella was the first time two women had contended for the victory in the free roll series contested the second Saturday of each month.

Polansky earned 10 points and $1,000 for her victory in the Texas no-limit hold'em tournament. Lawson received five points and $500. Lawson, one of the monthly winners, now has 15 points and is tied with Rupert Hodnett for third place.

Rollie Batayola is first with 24 points; Buzz Busbee ($300, three points) was third and is second overall with 16 points.

Saturday, Brian McCaffery ($200, two points) was fourth, with World Series of Poker veteran Russ Eleogram ($100, one point) completing the top five.

Out of 31 players who have recorded at least one point in the first 10 free roll tournaments, four are women. Patti Franzen and Jean Selzer have one point each.

A 30-player line-up will compete in February for five $2,000 seats for the 2008 World Series of Poker, to be played May 30-July 17 in the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.

Players qualify for a free roll by completing 40 or more hours of live play in a calendar month. The final qualifying free roll is Jan. 12, with Dec. 31 the cutoff date.

Standings

The unofficial Nugget Free-Roll No-Limit Texas hold-em poker tournament points standings, through December:

1. Rollie Batayola, 24 points;

2. Buzz Busbee, 16;

3, Nella Lawson, 15;

3. Rupert Hodnett, 15;

5. Jim Robertson, 14;

6. Andy Lytle, 13;

6. Bob Black, 13;

6. Buzz Busbee, 13;

9. Tom Duke, 11;

10. Jackie Polansky, 10;

10. Troy Tillett, 10;

10. Terry Farrington, 10;

10. Bill Bayne, 10;

14. Blackie Harms, 9;

15. Barry Moffett, 7;

16. Rob Reddick, 5;

16. Doug Gregory, 5;

16. Walter Mellon, 5;

19. Dave Von Alst, 4;

20. Jim Vickers, 3;

20. Rene Soto, 3;

20. Jason Earnest, 3;

20. Ray Guin, 3;

24. Brian McCaffery, 2;

24. Ron Kaltenbach, 2;

24. Gary Horvitz, 2;

24. Andy Franzen, 2;

28. Russ Eleogram, 1;

28. Patti Franzen, 1;

28. Jean Selzer, 1;

28. Joe Beaupre, 1.

The top 30 players will qualify for the finals, to be contested in the Nugget in February 2008. There are currently 31 players with at least one point.