Uk-Poker.co.uk

18-year-old Scott Wilson proved that experience is not everything when it comes to winning UK poker tournaments after he took the APAT 2010 Scottish Amateur Poker Championships. Playing at the International Casino in Aberdeen, Wilson was perhaps fortunate to make it past doormen en route to his victory over a field of 127 players. Notwithstanding his marginal age, the new Scottish Amateur Poker Champion fully deserved his win. Indeed, Wilson was by far the most aggressive player to make it to the final table.

When a heads-up battle emerged between Wilson and eventual runner-up, Kevin Wallace, the young champion from Edinburgh quickly carved out a 3-to-1 chip lead. In fact, Wilson overcame Dundee’s Wallace with relative ease to win a superb £3,000 in prize money and a GUKPT seat courtesy of event sponsors, Betfair. The £10,300 prize pool was distributed among the final table finishers as follows: Scott Wilson (1st, £3,000); Kevin Wallace (2nd, £1,800); Jack Prime (3rd, £1,000); Shug Cairnie (4th, £550); David Blacklaw (5th, £500); Kris Buckley (6th, £550); Timothy Boyle (7th, £550); Omeed Farzin (8th, £500); and William Hanratty (9th, £550).

Many UK online poker players are well-acquainted with the amateur ranks and APAT league tournaments provide the perfect surroundings in which young players can learn to play poker competitively and safely. Amateur poker leagues help to encourage players’ confidence as they develop their skills at the table. However, neither league should be seen as a forum for lesser players. In truth, many top poker professionals started out in amateur leagues as a means of gaining experience whilst earning a bankroll for professional events. An APAT Professional League event also took place last week, with James Edwards emerging as victor over a competitive field. Edwards also received £3,000 and a GUKPT seat for his troubles, as standard in APAT events.