TIGHT FIGHT FOR GUKPT GRAND FINAL

7 December 2007

London player takes down top prize of GBP 207 600


The inaugural season of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour has ended with the Grand Final championship, in which Londoner Mike Ellis fought his way through a starter field of 198, a final table of top players and a tough heads up with Sami Yusef to emerge as champion.

Most of the starting field had paid a buy-n of GBP 3 000 to participate in the Grand Final, although the field also included the 9 winners from the preceding regional stops of the GUKPT. These included WSOP bracelet winner Pras Banzi, actor Michael Greco and European poker legends Dave Colclough and Julian Thew.

The competition provided some highly entertaining high stakes poker for both players and railbirds, eventually producing a final table that consisted of Michael Ellis, Sami Yusef, Mark Friedman, Ben Vinson, Carlos Barrera, Dave Barnes, Owen Lock, Paul Moss and Simon Zach. Ellis was at this stage around the midway point in terms of chip count and was able to avoid the early eliminations as Simon Zach, online qualifiers Paul Moss and Owen Lock, and Dave Barnes all headed for the exit in ninth through sixth place respectively.

Fifth placed online player Carlos Barrera, fourth placed Ben Vinson and third placed Mark Friedman left the heads up to be decided between Ellis and Sami Yusef, with Ellis well ahead on chips. That didn't deter Yusef who gave a good account of himself, at times taking over the lead and keeping Ellis on his toes. Ultimately, through calm nerves and steady, efficient play Ellis held onto the lead to win, but it was at times a close-run and exciting contest.

Ellis took home the title and the main prize of GBP 207 600, with Yusef collecting a well-earned cheque for GBP 106 900.

The Grosvenor plans another UK Poker Tour for 2008, with the first event scheduled for Brighton on January 17 to 20.

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