This Sunday, Londoner Joe Grech fended off 81 other competitors to become the Birmingham Open Champion.
As part of the Broadway Casino's second festival, the £1000 main event lured many a familiar face including the likes of Micky Wernick, Marc Goodwin, Iwan Jones, John Shipley, and Willie Tann.
With 21 players returning for the second day, the bubble boy was Peter ‘The Bandit' Evans, who lived up to his moniker when he tried to steal a pot off eventual victor Joe Grech.
Although the process of whittling down to 10 was a quick affair, the final was anything but. With just Grech and Paul ‘actionjack' Jackson remaining, early beliefs were that everyone concerned would soon be heading back for an early night. The two players, however, had other ideas. Three and half hours later, and the two Trojans were still seated, battling away, but simultaneously immersing in a war of back and forth banter. Highly entertaining for anyone who opted to watch this heads up feast.
Finally, after Jackson's top pair ran into Grech's 2 pair, we had a winner. Grech lifted the trophy, pocketed the tasty 32 grand, and gladly accepted the honour of Birmingham Open Champion.
A cracking display of poker, with both players living up to their highly acclaimed reputations.