Blonde Poker - Report

Tournament Report: GUKPT Blackpool

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:03:31 +0000

Summary:

Brian Clarke surprises everyone by becoming the penultimate GUKPT champion of the year.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Thu, 13/11/2008 - 2:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 16/11/2008 - 2:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/brian_clarke_2876.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

With the Pleasure Beach shutting up shop for the winter, the usually heaving coastal setting echoed scenes from genocidal zombie films as poker’s very own living dead assembled in the recently refurbished G Casino for the penultimate leg of this year’s GUKPT. With recent numbers in Thanet and Bolton lacking, an impressive 343 found their way to this seasonal coastal town with the likes of Ian Frazer, James Akenhead, Praz Bansi, Sam Trickett, Mickey Wernick and reigning champion Paul Bracken all avoiding the magnetic field of Warsaw or Amsterdam and setting their sights on more local shores.

Tournament Report: GUKPT Thanet

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:59:27 +0000

Summary:

Andrew 'tufat23' Teng becomes the latest GUKPT champion in Thanet.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
Yes

Start Date:
Thu, 16/10/2008 - 11:00am

End Date:
Sun, 19/10/2008 - 11:00am

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Snoopy

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/andrew_teng_1402.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Location:
Grosvenor Thanet

Report:

When the GUKPT first released its schedule for season two, the poker world experienced its fair share of raised eyebrows with most puzzled expressions mouthing the word “Where?” in unison before eagerly booting up Googlemap on the PC. But unfamiliar settings and an extra gallon of petrol in the tank didn’t put off a stubborn poker world as a highly respectable 226 made the southerly journey, over 50 more than the Tour’s last outing in Bolton several weeks ago.

EPT London £1m Showdown

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:09:35 +0100

Summary:

Jason Mercier triumphs in the EPT's star-studded £1 Million Showdown.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Sun, 05/10/2008 - 1:00am

End Date:
Mon, 06/10/2008 - 1:00am

Rebuys:
no

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/jason_mercier_2136.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Whilst the commoners were grinding like Tony Hawks in the $1/2 cash games, an elite group of poker’s ‘high rollers’ were busy fighting it out for a £516,000 first prize in the EPT’s £1 Million Showdown. My pockets weren’t quite deep enough, but 85 pairs of trousers (safari shorts in Raymer’s case) did boast such depth, the high buy-in and six-figure guarantee luring over a who’s who of poker to the Grosvenor Victoria which included messieurs Ferguson, Brenes, Seidel, Antonius, and Mizzi, as well as a host of other notable names from across the poker globe.

Barcelona EPT

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:06:22 +0100

Summary:

Sebastian Ruthenberg takes the spoils as EPT season five kicks off in Barcelona.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Wed, 10/09/2008 - 6:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 14/09/2008 - 6:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/sebastian_ruthenberg_739.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Location:
Gran Casino de Barcelona

Report:

Four years ago, the combination of a naked John Duthie, a lukewarm bubble bath and a bright idea saw the EPT pop out the poker womb at the Gran Casino de Barcelona where Alexander Stevic became the Tour’s opening, and worst paid champion. Whilst the diminutive prize pool, star-less field and lack of organisation may have changed, one thing remains evidently constant – the EPT is as popular as ever.

GUKPT Bolton

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:21:54 +0100

Summary:

Former footballer Tony Cascarino becomes the latest GUKPT champ.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Thu, 04/09/2008 - 12:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 07/09/2008 - 12:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Snoopy

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/tony_cascarino_772.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Textiles, Amir Khan, Vernon Kay – there aren’t too many things Bolton is famed for, but in the niche world of poker, being the birthplace of the GUKPT is one. Now, 18 months on, 175 players reunite in the Grosvenor Casino in an attempt to echo Praz Bansi’s efforts of last year and be crowned King of Bolton.

World Championship of Amateur Poker

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:03:47 +0100

Summary:

Nick Jenkins takes down the lastest APAT event at the Grosvenor Victoria.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Wed, 27/08/2008 - 1:00am

End Date:
Sun, 31/08/2008 - 1:00am

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Richard Prew

Image Id:
blondepedia/images/nick_jenkins_307.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

The APAT Poker Association & Tour held the World Championship of Amateur Poker at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London from August 27th to 31st. The week consisted of four championships in Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud and Razz before the No Limit World Amateur Poker Championship main event.

DTD Deepstack

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:46:03 +0100

Summary:

Andrew Tuxworth defeats Paul Murphy to win DTD's Deepstack Festival.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Fri, 22/08/2008 - 10:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 24/08/2008 - 10:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Image Id:
blondepedia/images/andrew_tuxworth_2561.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Sometimes, even the fish rise to the surface, and never has this been more evident than when yours truly made the final at this weekend's DTD Deepstack Festival.

GUKPT Luton

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:28:32 +0100

Summary:

Sam Trickett becomes the latest GUKPT winner as he triumphs in Luton.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Thu, 07/08/2008 - 10:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 10/08/2008 - 10:00pm

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Snoopy

Image Id:
blondepedia/images/sam_trickett_1429.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

It’s not often Luton becomes a main attraction, but when there’s a BlueSquare.com GUKPT in town, the fabulous G Casino becomes a hotbed of poker action as fanatics nationwide make the roadwork-infested journey up/down the M1. In all, an impressive 376 players stumped up the £1,000 buy-in fee meaning alternates were required, Russ Cawley joking, “I’m sure the players would make room if they knew I was on the list.”

DTD Mini Festival

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:27:58 +0100

Summary:

Trumper and team return with a Mini Festival. But what happened?...

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Fri, 18/07/2008 - 9:00pm

End Date:
Sat, 19/07/2008 - 9:00pm

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by snoopy

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/simon_trumper_400.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Whenever you make the trip up the M1 to Nottingham’s recently erected Dusk Till Dawn Club, there are a number of things you can rest assured of: a cracking atmosphere, impeccable facilities and service, and Chris Bruce winning yet another bloody event! Of course, and without ever doubting the conclusion, all three came into fruition last weekend as Yongsta and the boys showcased their second foray onto the festival scene, the DTD Mini Poker Festival.

APAT: UK Team Championship

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:22:10 +0100

Summary:

Mary Martin shines as the APAT tour bus stops in Blackpool for the Team Championship.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Sat, 19/07/2008 - 6:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 20/07/2008 - 6:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Richard Prew

Image Id:
images/uploadimages/news2/apatlogo.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

The APAT Poker Association & Tour held the inaugural United Kingdom Team Championship in the G Casino Blackpool on 19th & 20th July. The event had 200 entries, in teams of ten drawn from 20 UK poker communities with a £50 buy-in per person. Supporting the event were 5 former APAT Champions and 13 former APAT Tour finalists. The players played for both individual and team prizes, points being scored by the top 50 finishers. The individual winner received significant added value from tour sponsors BlueSquare.com via the form of an entry package into a GUKPT Tour event worth $3,000 to the winner in addition to their cash prize. The winning team also received a championship trophy and £1,000.

GBCPT Nottingham

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:59:10 +0100

Summary:

The winner of the GBCPT Nottingham, Rupinder Bedi, gives us the lowdown on his tournament

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Fri, 18/04/2008 - 10:00pm

End Date:
Sun, 20/04/2008 - 10:00pm

Game Type:
No Limit

Author:
by Rupinder Bedi

Image Id:
http://blondepoker.com/blondepedia/images/rupinder_bedi_1654.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Location:
Gala, Nottingham

Report:

Ever heard of a superstitious poker player? Or someone who thought they were "destined" for the win? That was me a week before I sat down to play the GCBPT in Notts. Even after I'd managed to bubble a freeroll live satellite holding the chip lead at the final. Maybe that's the sort of belief you need to win a big tournament. I had no doubt from the moment I sat down on at my first table on Saturday that I was gonna win.

I still remember the words of my mate - the 'real' Kev Smith who'd made Day 2: "Be patient, despite the buy-in, there's plenty of easy chips out there." Easy chips? I had Ash Hussain sat to my left, local tough players Nick Hicks and Sam Trickett as well as the now infamous Spencer Lawrence - a man so aggressive he makes Ivey look like Hellmuth.

After losing an early pot to Ash and not hitting one set with a gazillion medium pairs, I found myself down to 4,200 chips with blinds at 200/400/25. I pushed all-in under the gun with 8-7 of spades. Nick Hicks made the call from the button - please have Ace King! He flipped Tens. I stood up still believing and out came the Flop, 2s-6s-Qs. I sat back down with that guilty pleasure you feel after sucking out.

A couple of hours later the table breaks and I take my 8kish stack to another table. I double through with 8-8 vs 5-5 and am up to a peak chip count of 18k. I actually start raising a few pots, for the first time able to play some poker rather than shove/folding.

Tournament Report: DTD Opening Weekend

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:35:51 +0000

Summary:

Steve Read gives us his account of DTD's £500 main event.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
Yes

Start Date:
Sat, 01/12/2007 - 2:00am

End Date:
Thu, 20/12/2007 - 2:00am

Game Type:
No Limit

Rebuys:
no

Author:
by Steve Read

Image Id:
images/the_new_era/uk_players_thumbnails/stephen_read.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Due to work commitments I was originally unable to play this event, however a last minute reprieve meant that I was able to take my seat with another 85 hopeful poker players at the DTD opening weekend main event.

Tournament Report: Amsterdam Master Classics

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:56:25 +0000

Summary:

Jen tells all in her latest report.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Wed, 07/11/2007 - 5:00pm

End Date:
Sat, 10/11/2007 - 5:00pm

Author:
by Jen Mason

Image Id:
images/the_new_era/casino_thumbnails/holland_casino_amsterdam.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

The Holland Casino in the heart of Amsterdam hosts the Masterclassics of Poker once a year, a tournament (or festival, more accurately) run so efficiently, with such a good structure, that players from all over Europe (and a few from further afield) make an annual pilgrimage to play. Attendance has been good for years, and 2007 saw it reach capacity – a few visitors who’d thought they’d just see some sights or lounge in some cafes before moseying on to register found their dreams of spending €5k to play in the Main Event crushed by their own holiday-style procrastination. No more were the ‘famous one-hand turnovers’ being run to fill the last places (‘famous’ because it’s €500 a pop to last-minute yourself into the event) – and well-known players like Jan Boubli, Dave Colclough, Patrick Bruel, Peter Roche, Juha Helppi and Henning Granstad squeezed in ten-handed next to Dutch superstars like Marcel Luske, Rob Hollink and Noah Boeken.

EPT Baden Tournament Report

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:25:10 +0000

Summary:

Julian Thew finally takes European glory by lifting gold in Baden, Austria.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Tue, 30/10/2007 - 5:00am

End Date:
Tue, 30/10/2007 - 5:00am

Image Id:
http://www.blondepoker.com/images/the_new_era/uk_players_thumbnails/julian_thew.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

Of all the casinos on the EPT tour, Baden is my favourite, I never managed a trip to Deauville and have heard many a story about how wonderful it is there, but out here in the Austrian countryside, there is a quiet pleasantness unlike anything I think you'll find in the UK or anywhere else for that matter. Dana and I had a spot of slight crazy panic when our original flight to Prague was 20 minutes late leaving us (literally) with a mad dash through the terminals and security to reach our mosquito sized connecting flight to Vienna.

Tournament Report: Barcelona EPT

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 02:50:33 +0100

Summary:

Barcelona, such a beautiful horizon. Barcelona, like a jewel in the sun. Bar... oh, I think you get the point.

Show Time:
No

Single Day Event:
No

Start Date:
Tue, 25/09/2007 - 11:00am

End Date:
Sat, 29/09/2007 - 11:00am

Author:
by NoflopsHomer

Image Id:
images/uploadimages/news2/barcelonacasino.jpg

Is Live Update:
No

Report:

The new season of the EPT was already upon us before we had even regained our breath from the Vegas-based sojourn of the WSOP. Poker players and journalists may require sleep, but it seems the many event organisers are determined to that a free weekend is a missed opportunity. But enough of the moans and groans, these are tiny negatives when compared with the huge amounts of fun that doing an update brings.