The GUKPT Grand Final has wrapped up at the Poker Room in London’s iconic Grosvenor Victoria Casino with PLO cash game player Dan Bedson scooping the top prize of £105,000.
Bedson says he rarely plays tournaments but came down to London “just to give it a spin”. He triumphed after a four-way ICM deal with his ace-ten beating Gary Miller’s pocket 8s heads-up when he hit another ten on the turn. Bedson’s huge prize was more than five times his total live tournament cashes to date; Miller – who has already cashed four times on the tour this year – took £95,000 for second place while former GUKPT Manchester champion Alli Mallu finished third for £83,300. Iwan Jones was fourth for £70,000.
Grosvenor has already announced the dates for next year’s GUKPT – ten stops in all, plus the new Grosvenor UK Poker Open event in February and Goliath in July. There’s a lot going on (!) but luckily you can start planning now with MainEventTravel.com.
There were 328 entries in this year’s Grand Final creating a £590,400 prize pool. A total of 31 players got paid with a min cash worth £4,190.
Bedson said: “I don’t normally play many tournaments but I thought I’d come down and give it a spin. It was a good final table and I knew Gary and a couple of the other guys from playing PLO so it was a lot of fun. We were watching the football and having a laugh. It was nice and relaxed.”
In other results, Matt Sih won the GUKPT Grand Final PLO High Roller, beating a 100-entry field to snag £26,800 and the title. The total prize pool was £390,000.
The Grand Final followed the equally gripping GUKPT Main Event final last week when Grosvenor Ambassador Jamie Nixon won his first GUKPT title for a career-best live cash of £93,970. Nixon also won himself a seat into next February’s new £1 million guaranteed Grosvenor UK Poker Open event after topping the Day 1a chip counts in the GUKPT Grand Final. Artan Dedusha was the Day 1b chip leader and also won himself a UK Open seat as did Day 1c chip leader Francis Obadun.
A host of big names made the money in the Grand Final including two-time WSOP bracelet winner Barny Boatman, WSOP finalist Jack Oliver, GUKPT Coventry champion Joe Hindry, Day 1b chip leader and GUKPT London 2021 winner Artan Dedusha, Grosvenor Ambassador Euan McNicholas, GUKPT Blackpool High Roller champion Robbie Bull, GUKPT Manchester winner Alli Mallu and GUKPT regulars Mitch Hynam and Andrew Seden.
The GUKPT ran from December 1 to 18 and featured more than 20 different tournaments including the new £500 GUKPT Cup, the GUKPT London Main Event, a Mystery Bounty event and the Grand Final tournament itself.
Grosvenor has already announced the dates for next year’s GUKPT, the tour’s 16th season. Following Leg 1 in London, it will be GUKPT Manchester in February, then Blackpool in March, Edinburgh in May, then Luton, London #2, a second trip to Luton, Leg 8 in Leeds, Blackpool #2 and then back to London for the Grand Final. Not to mention the new Grosvenor UK Poker Open event starting February 19 in Coventry, Goliath in July and at least 16 different 25/25 Series events. That’s a lot going on – but luckily you can start your planning now with MainEventTravel.com!
Photo credit: Grosvenor Poker