Model and actress Abi Titmuss is swapping posing for poker next month in an unexpected career move. No longer content with simply raising the pulse of the average UK male or treading the boards, Abi is set to raise the stakes in Europe's biggest annual poker event for women - the Ladbrokespoker.com European Ladies Championship (ELC) on 3rd and 4th of May 2008.

Titmuss is hoping to encourage the UK public to turn their attention to her stack, as she pits her wits against 49 of Europe's top female poker players during the ELC. By entering the professional poker ranks, Abi hopes to raise the profile of women playing the game and encourage female poker players to take up the challenge and register for the ELC qualifiers at Ladbrokes Poker with a chance to compete alongside Abi at the ELC main event.

Excited about taking part in the tournament, Abi Titmuss said: "I've been playing quite a bit of poker over the past few months and enjoy being a woman playing in what is predominately seen as a man's game. The fact that women-only tournaments like the Ladbrokes European Ladies Championship have been so successful proves that times are changing. I'm delighted to be involved but I think the prize money is safe!"

The Ladbrokespoker.com ELC is now in its third year and will see 50 of Europe's top female poker players compete over a two day period in a multi-table tournament for the title of 'European Champion' and a guaranteed first prize of $30,000 plus a Las Vegas trip of a lifetime. Qualifiers will be taking place throughout April and players need to log on to Ladbrokes Poker to take part.

Samantha Alleyne, PR Manager for Ladbrokespoker.com comments, "Women's involvement in poker has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. The ELC is a great tournament to encourage female poker players to get more involved and it also acts as a platform for more women to compete in bigger tournaments. With a great mix of players taking part in this year's tournament, including Abi Titmuss, a nineteen year old who won £1,000,000 in a mixed tournament, an astrophysicist, housewives and an array of business women, it promises to be an unmissable event!"

To register and for more information log on to Ladbrokes Online Poker