
The World Poker Tour National Series was created as a way to expand the WPT brand name into national and regional markets. On Wednesday, a 23-year-old Russian beauty became the first woman to win one of the tournaments.
The famed Aviation Club de Paris hosted the very long-named World Poker Tour National Series Euro Finals of Poker Diamond Championship and Natalia Nikitina cashed in on the grand prize.
Natalia entered the 5,000 euros buy-in event without ever making a major cash in her career, but she still fought her way to the final table with a middle sized stack of chips. Endurance was essential, since it took four and a half hours for the first of eight players to be eliminated.
In the end, Natalia took home 243,830 euros ($300,500) and secured a seat at the main Euro Finals event.
“That was a long and hard contest,” Natalia said after her win. “Three hours before the end I was actually finding it hard to stay awake and keep concentrating on my game but I am delighted to win. I am going to celebrate by buying a BMW 6 Series.”

