Former European number one Ash Hussain has won the Grosvenor Grand Prix in Walsall. The unique pot limit Hold’em event, which is now a part of the GUKPT had a relatively small field of 58 players, but represented great value, as Blue Square Poker added £25,000 to the prize pool. Players were not permitted to buy into the event, but could only take part by winning a seat via a series of £50 rebuy satellites. Two years ago, Hussain’s brother Zahir ‘Zippy’ Aslam won this same tournament and now Ash has brought the trophy back home to Accrington once again. He defeated long time chip leader Ash Ahmed from Walsall in a short heads up battle. Ahmed had dominated the field for most of the tournament and still held a significant lead with just three players remaining. However, Ahmed, who finished fourth in the same event last year began to leak chips to Hussain and by the time Tony Harman had been eliminated in third place, the chip lead had been reversed. A few hands later it was all over, as Hussain, holding 9-7, made a straight against Ahmed’s K-5 to take the first prize of £20,948. He also secures seats in the tour’s £3,000 Grand Final and the £75,000 Champion of Champions tournament for his victory in the two-day event.
After receiving his trophy, Ash praised the event and commended Blue Square for adding so much value to live poker in the UK. He also praised the staff at the Grosvenor Casino in Walsall for the efficient way that the tournament was run. He has recently taken some time out from playing poker and just three weeks ago he celebrated the birth of his first son. During the post tournament interview, the former European rankings winner said, “Having had the best part of a year away from poker, I am delighted to have made my comeback to the game in this manner.” He also commented that he intends to make a full time return to the UK poker circuit in 2009.
Other players who graced the final table included online pro Adam ‘Clarkatroid’ Clark and GUKPT regulars Jimmy Morgan and Derek Miller. Local players Peter ‘The undertaker’ Seager, Martin Cheese and Neil Saunders completed the final table line up.
The tour now heads north to the seaside resort of Blackpool, where the town’s G Casino will play host to the ninth leg in just two weeks time. The nine-day festival begins on November 8th and the four-day main event takes place between 13th-16th.
1st Ash Hussain -- £20,948
2nd Ash Ahmed -- £11,970
3rd Tony Harman -- £8,980
4th Adam Clark -- £5,990
5th Jimmy Morgan -- £4,490
6th Peter Seager -- £3,740
7th Derek Miller -- £2,990
8th Martin Cheese -- £2,240
9th Neil Saunders -- £1,500