O’Donnell has an impressive string of results including second place in a $25k WSOP High Roller tournament last year for a $1,049,577 payday. Surprisingly, however, his victory at the Poker Room last night – after six hours of heads-up against Dooley – secured him his first ever live poker tournament trophy.
The finalists included 2022 Player of the Year Matt Davenport who was on his fourth consecutive Main Event final table and finished third for £29,280. Davenport was second in chips at the start of the final day but was eventually ousted by Dooley after three hours of three-handed play. Among Davenport’s myriad accomplishments this year was a second place finish at GUKPT Edinburgh for £26,180 in April, second place in the GUKPT Manchester High Roller in March for £28,510 and winning the 888poker UKPL for £17,770.
Start-of-day chip leader Joe Laming was fourth and Ravi Sheth, who took down the Midi Main earlier in the week, finished fifth. Cassandra Yong was vying to become the first ever female GUKPT champion until her dreams were ended by Ryan O’Sullivan. She finished eighth for £6,830.
There were 249 entries in the £1,250 Main Event creating a £257,940 prize pool. Among those who cashed were Philippe Souki, Yucel Eminoglu, Joe Hindry (who went on to win the GUKPT London Cup event) and Grosvenor sponsored pro Ludovic Geilich. Geilich – a two-time GUKPT champion – was chip leader with 46 players left on Day 2 but was eliminated in 29th place for a £2,270 cash.
Next up for GUKPT fans – Leg 7 in Leeds which kicks off on Thursday and runs from May 30 to June 9. Don’t miss the chance to win up to 100% of your MET-booked travel costs in credits! The £1k buy-in GUKPT Leeds Main Event is one of scores of tournaments this year which are eligible for MainEventTravel’s amazing #FinalTableFreeroll promotion – including seven tournaments at Grosvenor’s Goliath festival alone!
Side events at GUKPT London
Chris Da-silva (pictured below) took down the £250 GUKPT London Opener for £13,750 after a deal with John Harnett heads-up. The indefatigable Sinead Priestley was third. There were 386 entries creating a £81,520 prize pool.
Ravi Sheth won the £270-entry Midi Main for £27,390 after beating Bobby N heads-up. 33 players got a share of the £124,600 prize pool. Bobby N got his hands on a trophy just four days later, winning the £2k High Roller for a £28,643 earner.
In the £340 buy-in Mini Main, there were a stonking 471 entries with Robert Garfield topping the podium for a £27,770 pay-day. Also on the final table were 2023 Player of the Year Cal Morreale (8th for £3,460) and Philippe Souki (9th for £3,000). A total of 56 players were paid from the £130,070 prize pool.
Ayeha Hasan won the 106-entry PLO tourney for £5,100. Guy Bowles won the Seniors for £1,400 while Aleksandrs Golubevs won the PLO Bount for £2,810.
GUKPT stops in 2024
Following GUKPT London, it’s up to Leeds in just a few days’ time, followed by a second trip to Luton in September, Blackpool #2 in October and then the final leg of 2024 in Luton for the Grand Final. Grosvenor’s annual Goliath extravaganza runs from July 25 to August 4 at the Coventry Arena.
MainEventTravel’s #FinalTableFreeroll promotion
All this year’s GUKPTs – plus seven events at this year’s Goliath – are eligible for MainEventTravel’s amazing #FinalTableFreeroll promotion. All you have to do to enter is book your poker travel with MainEventTravel.com and then tag @MainEventTravel.com and #FinalTableFreeroll before the Main Event starts. If you reach the official final table, post a pic of yourself – including the tags – before the event begins and you’ll get a travel credit worth 10% of your MET-booked travel costs. Make it to heads-up and you’ll score a travel credit worth 50% of your travel costs and, if you win, you’ll receive a travel credit worth the full amount of your MET-booked travel.
National Poker League
Don’t forget Grosvenor’s exciting National Poker League Player of the Year contest. Over the course of the year, players can accrue points in 100 different events all over the country to win a £40k Player of the Year sponsorship package and a host of other prizes including GUKPT events and Goliath in July. At present, Cal Morreale looks set to win the leaderboard for the second year running. He won GUKPT Blackpool in March and has enjoyed point-accumulating results at all the other stops. Hot on his heels however – and now celebrating a fourth consecutive Main Event final table – is 2022 Player of the Year Matt Davenport.
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