We haven't yet received the full player list although scanning the tables, I noticed Brighton GUKPT Winner Dave Smith, finalist and well known chip mover and shaker Albert Sapiano,
Scott O'Reilly, who made the final table of the plymouth GUKPT and many others.
Julian Thew is here too apparently although i missed him - he's probably obscured by crowds of well wishing fans after recent exploits.
And amazingly we already have out first exit...
IAN FRASER became involved in a pot with mateyboy. The board read
and somewhat suprisingly himself and mateyboy managed to get allin on the flop, Ian holding T9 for top pair, no kicker or "TOP BAD" as
Jamie Gold might refer to it, whilst mateyboy was "all over the flop" like a rash with Ah 3x or the nut flush draw with a gutshot.
The
on the turn, completing the gutshot straight draw was good enough to defeat Ian's top pair and he is the first casualty of what will prove a bruising day if it continues in this vein!
The press were strangely drawn to Albert Sapiano's table, perhaps due to his previous performances in the GUKPTs where he has not been shy of getting his chips in the middle early doors. Indeed as we arrived we caught Albert in a big pot.
With the board reading
, Albert was betting 1500 into the pot and was called by the player 3 seats to his left.
The river came a J and a check by Albert prompted a bet of 1500 from mateyboy. Albert reluctantly called and there was a collective gasp of breath as he didn't show us bottom pair but revealed quite a strong hand....QT for trips...which had been somewhat unfortunately rivered by his opponent's T9 whose trips had improved to a straight on the river. An unlucky start for Albert there...
Jen has some photos of players to follow shortly once her recalcitrant computer has been brought to task...