Rhys Jones has been crowned champion of the second leg of the 2014 GUKPT in Manchester from 2-9 March. Jones wins £42,000 for his exploits, which included leaving Simon Deadman as the bridesmaid once again.
Deadman was runner-up in the opening leg of the 2014 Genting Poker Series in Birmingham last month, runner-up in the final leg of the 2013 series at Dusk Till Dawn in January, and runner-up at EPT Deauville. And he’s runner-up in Manchester as well.
The main event attracted 192 entries, which meant a sizeable £8,000 overlay for the players, and Deadman was chip leader going into the final table. Online qualifier Mark Harding was the short stack, needing help with just 15 big blinds.
And the man from Newcastle was first to hit the rail, getting it all in on a 6-J-A-3 board holding A-10. It was ahead of the A-9 of Nathan Jackson until the river brought one of Jackson’s three outs, the nine of hearts.
Graeme Crozier, a live qualifier after winning his seat for £20 at the Salford 25/25, was next to go after his four bet shove with A-K ran into Richard Kellett’s pocket eights. Crozier came out on the wrong side of the coin flip, leaving him crippled and he bust the tournament one hand later in eighth place.
Karl Mahrenholz lost a few pots to Dahe Liu and then to Jackson to become the shortest stack seven handed and on a board of A-K-2-5 he shoved with K-J. He was quickly called by Jones, holding A-6 for top pair. No help on the river for Mahrenholz and he left in seventh place.
Liu, making his second GUKPT main event final table, was next to go when he got it all in blind on blind against Steve Warburton in a coin flip. A-5 for Liu against Warburton’s deuces. Liu couldn’t improve and cashed for £9,500.
Jackson was the next out when he ran his A-Q into Jones’ pocket sixes. Jackson coming out second best despite flopping top pair.
Kellett left in fourth place, five betting all-in with a pair of fives and running into the pocket 10s of Warburton, who flopped top set.
The remaining three players were then almost level in chips, so after some negotiating they decided on taking £39,000 each and playing for the remaining £4,000.
Warburton was first to leave, losing key hands to both his rivals. In his final hand, he got it all in with pocket sixes against Jones’ A-Q, Jones flopping an ace.
The chip counts were fairly even going into heads-up play. Deadman getting the better of it at the start, then Jones fighting back. But Jones chipped away at Deadman’s stack and in the very last hand Deadman called it off with K-2, which was unable to beat the J-9 of Jones, who flopped a nine and hit a straight on the river.
Another second place for Deadman, but another top payday as he takes home £40,000. And a great day for Jones… GUKPT Manchester champion.
The next leg of the GUKPT is in Edinburgh next month.
GUKPT Manchester:
1st Rhys Jones £42,000
2nd Simon Deadman £40,000
3rd Steve Warburton £39,000
4th Richard Kellett £15,000
5th Nathan Jackson £11,500
6th Dahe Liu £9,500
7th Karl Mahrenholz £7,500
8th Graeme Crozier £5,500
9th Mark Harding £4,000
