Gary Coulter wins PPUKT Coventry

Gary Coulter took down the third leg of the PokerPlayer UK Tour in Coventry on the weekend winning £1,510 and a £1,070 GUKPT seat. Not bad for two days work. The Olympics meant the third leg attracted a slightly lower field than normal, but the standard of play was still top notch.

Andrea La Monica, a 23-year old Italian playing in only his second live tournament, entered the final table as chip leader. And with a lot of shorter stacks nobody was in the mood to hang around, with two players busting in the first 15 minutes. Next to go was Edward Killworth who finished in fifth spot in last year’s grand final. In just his second PPUKT event he made the final table once more but was very unlucky to lose with Queens against Jacks to finish in seventh spot here.

Six-handed it was Gary Coulter who dominated play, but as they entered the final four La Monica instigated a four way split which the other three readily agreed to. Coulter took the biggest share, the rest played on for the huge added value of the GUKPT main event seat. Play sped up considerably post-deal and quickly it was heads-up between the Italian and Coulter.

The final hand was a classic, with betting on all streets before Coulter put La Monica all-in on a baord of Js-As-9d-3h-Qs. ‘I just don’t think you have it,’ La Monica, before calling with 10-8 off suit for the rivered straight. Coulter showed Ks-3s for the nut flush and took the title.

1st – Gary Coulter, £1,510

2nd – Andrea La Monica, £1,190

3rd – James O’Flynn, £1,190

4th – Colin ‘Raynard’ Fox £1,190

5th – Steven Ball, £460

6th – Lee Matthew Bayliss, £350

7th – Edward Killworth, £290

8th – Peter Ryder, £290

9th – Christopher Barnard, £120 Goliath seat