UK Poker Online » Offline poker

Trickett Secures Top Ten Finish Among Poker’s Elite

James — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:48:01 +0000

Following the success of British players in Las Vegas this year, it is now the case that any performance less than a bracelet win barely attracts notice. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2010 has proved extremely fruitful for UK players, with James Dempsey, Praz Bansi, Mike Ellis, Richard Ashby and Steve Jelinek all winning bracelets in what is Britain’s most successful year at the annual event. In fact, no other nation besides the US has won more bracelets at the WSOP in a single year. As Britain awaits its next bracelet, some huge performances have gone largely unnoticed.

James Akenhead, Barny Boatman and Neil Channing played superb poker to reach day 2 of Event 55, which is still in progress, whilst Martins Adeniya finished a strong thirteenth in Event 52 for $58,699. Event 52, a no-limit Hold’em six-handed tournament with a buy-in of $25,000 featured a prize pool of $4,536,250 and received 191 entries. Whilst Adeniya’s exploits were hugely impressive, it was fellow Brit, Sam Trickett, who finished within sight of a bracelet win. Trickett, of Retford Nottingham, enjoyed an impressive run of form from day one of event 52 to finish in seventh position for $141,168.

En route to seventh place, Trickett finished above poker legends Daniel Negreanu, Carlos Mortensen and Justin Bonomo but came up short to Dan Kelly, Shawn Buchanan, Frank Kassela, Jason Somerville, Mikael Thuritz and Eugene Katchalov, all of North America. Trickett is a respected player at many UK poker tournaments, which have experienced a surge in UK online poker players during the WSOP. Many professional online players have sought to take advantage of a weakened field this summer as Britain’s top tournament players have embarked on their crusades in Las Vegas. Tournament fields have been further diluted by the football World Cup, which is also thought to have reduced the number of people playing online.

Poker Columnist and Oxford Maths Graduate Wins GUKPT Coventry

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:35:56 +0000

Stuart Rutter, a 27-year-old UK Pokernews columnist, put his mathematical skills and poker knowledge to the test over the weekend to win a Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) final at the fourth attempt. The Oxford maths graduate headed a field of 142 players to win the GUKPT Coventry – one of the most popular UK poker tournaments around today. Success could not have arrived at a better time for Rutter, who is one of the most likable poker pros to emerge from the UK in recent times.

Rutter explained: “This win is absolutely perfect timing coming just one week before I set off for Vegas and the WSOP. It gives me a great confidence boost, which I always struggle for on the GUKPT having made three previous final tables and seeing them go wrong each time”. Making it to three GUKPT final tables is in itself no minor accomplishment and many UK online poker players who qualify for GUKPT events would no doubt wish to achieve similar results; however, the difference between finishing 10th and 1st is considerable in terms of financial reward.

Having claimed his first GUKPT title, Rutter banked a cool £41,910, compared to 10th place Leon Campbell, who scooped £2,480. After an impressive run of form, Rutter’s victory was arguably never in doubt when he made it heads-up with Danny Toffel, who finished second for £29,460. Toffel and Rutter played a tight heads-up game for the most part, with Rutter managing to carve out a substantial lead over his rival; on the final hand, Toffel’s pocket fours ran into Rutter’s pocket nines all-in. The aptly named Darren Grosvenor finished third for £18,460, whilst positions four to nine were taken by Hassan Mohammed (£11,360), Tom Mannion (£8,880), Jeff Kimber (£6,740), Roberto Romanello (£5,320), Rupert Elder (£3,900) and Nick Wealthall (£2,840).

GUKPT London Conquered by Former Beauty Salon Owner

Larry — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:34:28 +0000

Cuong Tran is not a name that is familiar with many UK online poker players or live tournament stars. In fact, Tran has more recently been associated with the beauty industry – not for his personal attributes but because he once owned a beauty salon. At the GUKPT London, the Vietnamese beauty-salon-owner-turned-poker-star edged out a familiar face of UK poker tournaments in Neil Channing, who desperately wanted to win the title in order to increase his standing as one of the country’s all-time greats.

Channing has won more than $2 million in prize money during his professional poker career; however, his record includes only 5 first place finishes – a statistic he is no doubt eager to improve upon. Notwithstanding this, Channing’s efforts to take the GUKPT London over the weekend resulted in relative disappointment.

After Channing knocking out third-place Leon Bui, who also happens to be a former Vietnamese beautician, the Irish Open Champion was favourite to take the GUKPT London when he was heads up with Tran on the final table. Holding a 2:1 chip lead, Channing pushed hard with his three-of-a-kind eights but Tran punished his aggressive play with a straight. Then, on the final hand, Tran moved all-in before the flop with 10-7. Channing had pocket nines. Amazingly, Tran hit a 10 on the flop and neither player improved, which consigned Channing to second place.

The top ten paid money positions at the GUKPT London comprised: 1st Cuong Tran (£127,800); 2nd Neil Channing (£84,700); 3rd Leon Bui (£56,000); 4th Rumit Somaiya (£33,400); 5th Steven Ducharme (£25,300); 6th Salman Behbhani (£20,500); 7th Michael McCool (£15,700); 8th Darren Annis (£11,900); 9th Victoria Coren (£9,100); and, in 10th, Laurence Houghton (£6,700). The 4th leg of the GUKPT tour now heads to Manchester in the G Casino from the 17th – 25th April.

Offline poker directory

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:39:13 +0000

Directory of offline poker rooms in the uk.

Fancy playing poker for real? We’ve put together this directory of live poker rooms, where you can test your skills against other players without the use of a keyboard!

LONDON

The Loose Cannon, City of London
13-16 Allhallows Lane, LONDON, EC4R 3UL
contact@loosecannonec4.co.uk
0207 283 1505
http://www.loosecannonec4.co.uk/

The Casino at the Empire
5-6 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7NA
0 203 014 1000
www.thecasinolsq.com

Fifty
Fifty, 50 St James’s Street, London, SW1A 1JT
0 207 491 4678
www.fiftylondon.com
info@fiftylondon.com

Grosvenor Victoria, West End
150-162 Edgware Road, London, W2 2DT
0207 262 7777
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

The Sportsman, West End
The Sportsman Casino, Old Quebec Street, London, W1H 7AF
020 7414 0061
www.thesportsmancasino.com

MIDLANDS

Dusk Till Dawn, Nottingham
Redfield Way, Boulevard Retail Park, Lenton, Nottingham, NG7 2UW
www.dusktilldawnpoker.com

Gala Casino, Leicester
90 Highcross Street, Leicester, LE1 4NN
www.galacasinos.co.uk

Gala Casino, Wolverhampton
Whitmore Street, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV1 1JR
www.galacasinos.co.uk

Shaftesbury Casino, West Bromwich
0121 525 4744

Sorrento Casino, Walsall
www.bluechipcasinos.co.uk

Maxims Casino, Coventry
Fletchamstead Highway, Coventry, CV4 9DW
024 7671 6067
www.stanleycasinos.com

Circus Casino, Stoke-on-Trent
Etruria Road, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, ST1 5NH
www.stanleycasinos.com

SOUTH

Gala Regency, Bournemouth
48 Westover Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2BZ
www.galacasinos.co.uk

Grosvenor Casino, Brighton
9 Grand Junction Road, Brighton, BN1 1PP
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

Rendezvous Casino, Southend
www.rendezvouscasino.com

Maxims Casino, Bournemouth
9 Yelverton Rd, Bournemouth, BH1 1DA
01202 29318
www.stanleycasinos.com

Mint Casino, Portsmouth
Oriel House, Alec Rose Lane, 21-23 Guildhall Walk, Portsmouth, PO1 2SA
023 9273 6668
www.stanleycasinos.com

Big Slick, Purley
Big Slick, Unit 10 Royal Oak Centre, Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2BG
www.bigslick.co.uk

Grosvenor Casino, Luton
Dunstable House, 50 Dunstable Road, Luton, England, LU1 1EE
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

SOUTH WEST

Gala Harbourside, Bristol
Explore Lane, Bristol, BS1 5TY
www.galacasinos.co.uk

Triangle Casino, Bristol
7-12 Triangle South, Bristol
0117-9291515

NORTH

Napoleon’s Casino, Leeds
2 Bingley St, Leeds, LS3 1LX, United Kingdom
0113 242 0284
www.asleisure.co.uk/casinos

NORTH EAST

Aspers, Newcastle
Aspers at The Gate, Newgate Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 5TG
0191 255 0400
www.aspers.co.uk

Gala Teeside, Stockton-on-Tees
Aintree Oval, Teesside Leisure Park, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 7BU
www.galacasinos.co.uk

NORTH WEST

Empire Street, Manchester
2 Empire Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, England M3 1JA
0161 834 8433

Grosvenor Casino, Blackpool
The Sandcastle, Promenade, Blackpool, FY4, United Kingdom
01253 341 222
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

Grosvenor Casino, Liverpool
76-78 West Derby Road, Liverpool, England L6 9BY
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

The Arch, Manchester
20 Stretford Rd, Manchester, M15, United Kingdom
0161 227 7550

SCOTLAND

Cincinnati Poker Club, Glasgow
67 Bridge Street, Glasgow, G5 9JB
0141 418 2399

Gala Casino, Dundee
Earl Grey Pl, Dundee, DD1 4DE, United Kingdom
01382 201888
www.galacasinos.co.uk

Gala Rotunda, Glasgow
28A Tunnel St, Glasgow, G3, United Kingdom
0141 243 2430
www.galacasinos.co.uk

International Casino, Aberdeen
01224 208 686

Circus Casino, Edinburgh
www.stanleycasinos.com

Wabash Club, Glasgow
50 Cumberlund Street, Glasgow, G5 QJD
0141 420 7215

WALES

Grosvenor Casino, Cardiff
Atlantic Wharf Leisure Park, Hemingway Rd, Cardiff, CF10 4JY
02920468350
www.grosvenor-casinos.co.uk

N. IRELAND

Cavendish Club, Belfast
29-31 Corporation Street, Belfast, BT1 3BA, Northern Ireland
02890 324 626

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

Fitzwilliam Card Club Dublin
Clifton Hall, Lower Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
www.fitzwilliamcardclub.com

Macau Sporting Club Cork
16 Patricks Quay, Cork City, Ireland
www.macausportingclub.com

Merrion Club Dublin
81 Merrion Square, Dublin
www.merrioncasinoclub.com

Poker in the real world

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:04:44 +0000

Interest in poker has never been so high. Part of this has been due to the explosion of online poker, making all forms of the game accessible to hundreds of millions of households. But this popularity was built on the propulsion of the offline game into mainstream attention in the 1970s. Firstly, the World Series of Poker brought more interest in tournament games in American casinos. Not only was this the starting point of today’s large tournaments, it also started the trend of celebrity professionals – names like Amarillo Slim, Doyle Brunson and Puggy Pearson becoming household names. The introduction to the more exciting community card poker in the 1980s and televised American poker in Britain has also contributed to its popularity. The introduction of the ‘hole card’ camera, allowing television viewers to see the private cards in each player’s hand, has further increased interest in televised poker.

The most well-known and prestigious tournaments in poker are the World Series of Poker (WSOP) held annually in Las Vegas, where the first prize is always a coveted WSOP bracelet and a lot of cash. From its foundation in the 1970′s, it has grown into a series of tournaments that attracts poker players from all around the globe in their thousands. The prize fund for the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event is now tens of millions of dollars. These tournaments have proved extremely popular with poker pros and amateur players aspire to one day compete and even win. Indeed, the past few winners of the WSOP Main Event were amateurs who became multi-millionaire celebrities overnight. The WSOP isn’t the only organisation that hosts real world tournaments. UK Poker is another that holds a wide range of tournaments around the world. The Irish Winter Festival (currently scheduled for this coming October) and the Asian Poker Tour are just a sample of the tournaments they organise, as well as numerous satellite qualifiers in-between these events.

What makes the fascination with poker so strong are the names behind the game. Professional poker players who are everyday, ordinary people, are now household names. Possibly the most well-known poker player in the world today is Phil Ivey, resident support member of Full-Tilt Poker and one of one of the most feared players in the game. He, however, isn’t unique in this aspect. Full-Tilt Poker has a whole host of celebrity professionals: Allen Cunningham, one of the most successful players in terms of money won; Gus Hansen, a three time World Poker Tour (WPT) winner and Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson, a Ph.D. in computer science and the winner of the Championship No-Limit Hold-em tournament at the WSOP in 2000. There are also celebrities from unrelated fields who make appearances at the poker table, an indication of just how popular the game has become. These have included the Spiderman actor Tobey Maguire, a participant of the WSOP Main Event for the past few years. The ‘Ante Up For Africa’ charity tournament on July 2nd 2009 had Hollywood actors Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Mekhi Phifer, ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ actor Brad Garrett and professional poker player Phil Hellmuth, winner of the most WSOP bracelets in history, among the big names participating in the annual event.