GUKPT regular Stephen Foster takes down Leeds

A huge field leads to a bumper £24,500 winner’s cheque for family man Foster at the GUKPT Leeds

Leeds played host to the latest leg of the GUKPT and it was a big success. 249 players bought into the Main Event creating a £124,500 prize pool – smashing the £100,000 guarantee and making it one of the biggest GUKPTs of the year.

Loads of regulars and big names made the trip up north, including GUKPT legend Ali Mallu, EPT winner Tom Middleton, previous GUKPT Champs Jamie O’Connor and Paul Foltyon, and Grosvenor pros Jeff Kimber and Ellie Biessek.

As ever the final table line up showcased what a diverse playing field the GUKPT Main Events attract. Renee Xie, who finished 9th for £2,600, was determined to leave Leeds with a profit after bubbling the 2014 Main Event in cruel fashion. Local Leeds players, George Wainberg (8th), Gary Whitehead (7th) and Richard Hawes (6th) departed one after another. Luke Fields (5th) is no stranger to the GUKPT Tour and was the tour’s Champion of Champions back in 2010. He’s also a star online, where he’s won more than $2.5m.

Thomas Besnier bowed out in 4th place for just shy of £20,000, before Aussie Simon Taberham was eliminated in 3rd. When asked what he was doing with the money he said it was giving it straight to the wife, as he does with all his money!

John Woodhead was runner-up but he’ll be over the moon with his performance. He won his £550 GUKPT buy-in via his local poker league and was close to selling his ticket but his friend talked him in to playing. A very wise friend indeed.

2015 GUKPT Leeds Results

1st – £24,500 – Stephen Foster
2nd – £19,500 – John Woodhead
3rd – £19,500 – Simon Taberham
4th – £19,500 – Thomas Besnier
5th – £6,500 – Luke Fields
6th – £4,850 – Richard Hawes
7th – £3,850 – Gary Whitehead
8th – £3,100 – George Wainberg
9th – £2,600 – Renee Xie.
10th – £2,250 – Masud Prodhan