As the regular host of EPT London and the GUKPT Grand Final the ‘Vic’ is the true home of live poker in London
The Grosvenor Victoria casino is undeniably the epicentre of cash games in the capital, and as the official home of both the London EPT and GUKPT, its pedigree as a major tournament location is a given. Affectionately known as ‘the Vic’, the casino lies just off the bustling Edgware Road and the spacious cardroom takes up residence on the second floor. Despite receiving an extensive £1.5m facelift in recent years the venue has maintained many of its old values, and continues to be a magnet for the city’s most ferocious gamblers.
History In The Making
According to local theory, the Vic’s affinity with poker began in the early 1960s. In the early years a mixture of games was played, but by the early-to-mid 1980s players had settled on their game of choice.
‘Seven-card Stud was very popular then,’ says Neil Channing. ‘When I first arrived [in 1990] the minimum buy-in for cash games was £50. The games were self-dealt and to be honest it was all a bit intimidating.’ Texas Hold’em arrived from the US via Ireland in the early 1980s, but as the 1990s rolled on the status quo was shaken up again, as an influx of relocating Arabs took the Vic by storm. ‘The Arabs wanted to play Omaha,’ says Channing. ‘They would walk in and slap ten grand down. You’d see huge pots all the time.’
Table Talk
Unsurprisingly, Hold’em now reigns, with stakes starting at £1/£1 and rising to £10/£25. At peak times (from 9pm) almost all of the 23 tables are in use – around 12 or 13 are devoted to cash games and about eight are designated for tournament tables (when they run).
Cardroom supervisor Brian Masterson says that even when there is one cash table they try to keep the game going on for as long as possible. ‘We have £1/£1 games that can go on for three or more days, with different people coming in and out,’ says Masterson. ‘We do have a VIP area for the bigger players. But our players don’t seem to like it so we keep it for corporate events.’
The cardroom has also recently introduced a £75/£150 8-game mix, which Masterson says is ‘very popular with the very skilful players’. As for tournaments, the Wednesday £80 rebuy is particularly popular, and there are plans for a £500 freezeout on the first Sunday of every month.
Regular Guys
The Vic’s greatest asset remains the venue’s regulars. These are not household names, but to those who know them they are names that command respect. Channing recalls cash specialist Ramin Sai and Late Night Poker IV winner Hemish Shah – both of whom have since passed away – as two of the greatest. ‘Hemish was a brilliant player. Ramin Sai searched out the best games. If he didn’t want you playing at his table, he would throw insults at you so you would leave.’ But of all those mentioned, the name of ageing shark Fred Carle is repeated the most. ‘Nobody will have heard of him outside the Vic,’ says UK pro Karl Mahrenholz, ‘but he is absolutely fearless.’ Channing is able to divulge more. ‘He’s probably the best. These kids see him and they can take the piss because he is an old man. But he’s ruthless.’
Growing Concern
According to Channing, there is planning permission to add another 20 tables to the Vic’s cardroom next February. ‘Basically they’re going to knock out the restaurant, the VIP room and the walls behind the kitchen – all that will be extra cardroom space,’ says Channing, adding that the new tables will mostly cater for £1/£2 players. He also reckons the extra space will allow the London EPT to find its way back to the Vic after relocating to the nearby Hilton Metropole last year. ‘If they can have it so they can have the tournament and a load of tables left over for cash games, it becomes a profitable thing again.’
