After a thrilling weekend of poker at the famous Grosvenor Victoria casino in London, Mark Gray has been crowned the PokerPlayer UK Tour Grand Final champion, winning £5,894 and the added value prize of a £1,060 GUKPT seat. 155 runners bought in for £165 and, with 22 re-entries, a total prizepool of £26,550 was created.
24 players made it through to Day Two, with PokerPlayer magazine editor Ross Jarvis the overnight chip leader with 188,000 chips. 17 players made the money and, as the final table started, Jarvis was still in good shape along with 2001 WSOP Main Event final tablist Henry Novakowski and PPUKT Brighton finalist Jerome Ho.
A long final table ensued and, with few eliminations early on, the blinds eventually caught up to most players and the stacks got shallow. Unfortunately for Jarvis, who was looking to follow in the footsteps of PPUKT Leeds champion (and PokerPlayer editorial director) Dave Woods, he was card dead throughout the final and exited in 6th when his shove with K-Q was called by the A-Q of Isaac Wiafe.
Once only three players remained a deal was made, with Mark Gray, Jerome Ho and Isaac Wiafe all taking home fairly equal cash sums of £5,000+. They played on for the trophy and the added £1,060 GUKPT seat and, after a very lengthy heads-up duel it was Gray who took home the honours. In the final hand Ho shoved a short stack with A-7 and called by Gray’s Q-J. A Queen on the river secured victory for Gray after a great performance.
Check out the next issue of PokerPlayer magazine, on sale December 26, for a detailed report on the PPUKT Grand Final. And stay tuned for the return of the PokerPlayer UK Tour, in association with GrosvenorPoker.com, in 2014.
PokerPlayer UK Tour Grand Final results
1. Mark Gray £5,894*
2. Jerome Ho £5,140*
3. Isaac Wiafe £5,426*
4. Gokhan Ozbek £2,058
5. Henry Nowakowski £1,593
6. Ross Jarvis £1,261
7. Victor Crespin £996
8. Paul Edgington £730
9. Damon Davey £531
10. Tony Clifton £465
*denotes deal was made three-handed
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