Cardiff, the Welsh capital, was the setting for the 3rd GUKPT event of the year, once again selling out and complete with a field containing the great and the good, though unlike Walsall, the Scandie invasion was seemingly just a single member, Robert Forsman. With a number of tournaments going on in Stockholm attracting many of his brethren, he would still however make enough crazy moves to make up for all of them. Also playing, were both previous winners Praz Bansi and Jerome Bradpiece, but neither would make it too far this time.As we reached the final table, we lost Vicky Coren (two pair into a made flush) in 11th place and Anthony Romanello in 10th who was bidding to join his brother on the final table but went out with A-5 to Hoss Parhizkar's Jacks. The chip counts for the final table were as follows:
Seat 1: Kayshan Muthy -- 508,500
Seat 2: Elliot Bowker -- 422,000
Seat 3: Ian Nelson -- 89,000
Seat 4: Hoss Parhazkar -- 623,500
Seat 5: Simon Zach -- 253,500
Seat 6: Steve Craig -- 449,500
Seat 7: Michael Greco -- 167,000
Seat 8: Roberto Romanello -- 496,500
Seat 9: Dave Smith -- 139,500
Ian Nelson would double up very first hand, his A-K holding against Kayshan Muthy's paltry 7-2. Shortly afterwards, Michael Greco's Aces held against Hoss' K-T on a Q-T-2 board. Yet it would surprisingly be Kayshan, who started 2nd in chips, to go out first when he dangerously check/raised all-in with A-A on a K-Q-J board to find that Hoss had spiked a set with his J-J. Nelson would be out next, his doubled up stack had dwindled back down again and his K-7 failed to improve against Greco's A-T. Online whiz, Elliot Bowker (right) succumbed shortly afterwards - he pushed with Queens on a T-T-3-3 board but was met by a quick call from Welshman Roberto holding A-T and neither remaining lady came to save the former on the river.
Simon Zach would be the next victim for Roberto, his A-5 no good against pocket snowmen, while Dave Smith's K-5 was swept away by Greco's Nines. Steve Craig then departed holding 7-9 on a 5-6-7 board but Hoss held 6-5 which left us with just the three players.
All relatively equal in chips, there then followed a long period of small ball with none of the remaining
three wishing to overly commit. Eventually though Greco won the crucial key pot against Romanello - Hoss limped the button and Greco limped behind with A-J, Romanello pushed with Nines and Hoss (left) got out of the way with Greco calling instantly. Michael was probably disappointed to only find himself in a race, but the K-K-T-Q-T board left him with a broadway straight and more importantly, a 2:1 chip lead over Hoss.
After a twenty minute or so 'phony war', Greco was victorious, both checked a K-8-3 flop and then Hoss pushed on the 9 turn with J-T but was called by Greco's K-9, a Jack on the river for Hoss but to no avail giving Michael his, and DTD's, first ever major tournament win for £97,680. Our congratulations go to Michael and all the other finalists for another exciting edition of the GUKPT tour.
All relatively equal in chips, there then followed a long period of small ball with none of the remaining
three wishing to overly commit. Eventually though Greco won the crucial key pot against Romanello - Hoss limped the button and Greco limped behind with A-J, Romanello pushed with Nines and Hoss (left) got out of the way with Greco calling instantly. Michael was probably disappointed to only find himself in a race, but the K-K-T-Q-T board left him with a broadway straight and more importantly, a 2:1 chip lead over Hoss. After a twenty minute or so 'phony war', Greco was victorious, both checked a K-8-3 flop and then Hoss pushed on the 9 turn with J-T but was called by Greco's K-9, a Jack on the river for Hoss but to no avail giving Michael his, and DTD's, first ever major tournament win for £97,680. Our congratulations go to Michael and all the other finalists for another exciting edition of the GUKPT tour.
And I even managed to do the whole report without once calling him 'Beppe'...
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