TRISH MARKS BECOMES FIRST 2-TIME WINNER AT BAYOU POKER CLASSIC

New Orleans, LA (December 20, 2009) -- Winning one poker tournament is tough enough.  But winning back-to-back championships during consecutive years is even more of a rarity.  Trish Marks, from Covington, LA, just won the 2009 Bayou Ladies Poker Championship, held at Harrah's New Orleans. 

She collected $4,772 in first-place prize money, plus a gold and diamond pendant, which is traditionally presented each year to the lady champion.  Marks also received a custom-designed trophy, donated by the High Heels Poker Tour, an organization which promotes women in poker.

With her victory, Marks became the first player ever to win two Bayou Poker Challenge events.  This is the fourth year of the Bayou poker series, which is played each December in New Orleans.  Last year, she topped a field of 113 players.  This year, Marks was the last woman sitting among a starting field size of 41 players.

The runner up in this year's ladies championship was Daphne Taylor, from Richmond, TX.  Last year, she became the first woman in the six-year history of the World Series of Poker Circuit at Harrah's New Orleans to win an open event.