GPI Tournament Report: UKIPT, Empire State/Sydney Champs and More

We take you to Ireland, New York State, Sydney, Minnesota, California and Old Trafford in this week’s GPI Tournament Recap:

UKIPT GALWAY FESTIVAL

Full Tilt Poker hosted some of the best poker players in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia as the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) returned to Galway in Ireland as Season 4 reaches the mid-way point.

The festival started with Full Tilt Poker Professional Gus Hansen (GPI#2530) winning the UK vs. Ireland Heads-Up Championship, defeating David Nicholson in the final match. Ireland had “adopted” Hansen allowing him to represent them in the event.

In the Irish Poker Championship, Trevor Dineen (GPI#5908) would go on to upset GPI Top 10 star Steve O’Dwyer (GPI#10) and take home the first prize.

A total of 860 entries in the Main Event which was won by Alan Gold (GPI#18548). Gold earns €187,494 for the big win. Peter Murphy, Raul Paez and Jack Salter were amongst the Top 25 finishers in the Main.

Max Silver (GPI#436) was certainly busy during the Festival. Silver’s earned three Top 10 finishes in Galway first sharing the third position with Kevin Williams in the UK vs. Ireland Heads-Up Championship then earning a sixth place finish in the Irish Poker Championship. Silver’s UKIPT performance would end abruptly, however, as his ninth place finish in the Main Event meant that he would be the final table bubble. Still a fine performance for the former UKIPT Dublin Champion.

Spanish pro Sergio Aido Espina (GPI#358) won the 2K High Roller event as Dermot Blain (3rd), Christopher Day (4th) and Niall Farrell (6th) were some of the notable players who cashed in the event.

Main Event Final Table Payouts:

[table id=247 /]

Full results: UKIPT Galway Festival

EMPIRE STATE POKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York hosted the Empire State Poker Championship kicked off the new poker series “Poker Night in America” which will be present both cash games and tournaments to its viewers. The event included name pros David “ODB” Baker, Greg Mueller, Gavin Smith and Shawn Buchanan.

Adam Foster (GPI#5636) would end up winning the Main Event, defeating Matthew Parry (GPI#531) heads-up. Will “The Thrill” Failla (pictured, right), Matt Glantz, Darvin Moon, Stan Jablonski, Mike Matusow and Phil Laak all finished in the Top 25.

Top 6 Payouts:

[table id=248 /]

SYDNEY POKER CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Sydney Poker Championships were concluded over the weekend and Daniel Laidlaw (GPI#323) stole the show. One week after finishing second to Jonathan Bredin at ANZPT Queenstown, Laidlaw wouldn’t be shut out twice, winning the Main Event title defeating a final table that included former APPT Sydney winner Aaron Benton and 2011 ANZPT Sydney winner Michael Kanaan.

Former APPT Melbourne Champ Leo Boxell and Phillip Willcocks also cashed in the event.

Final Table Payouts:

[table id=249 /]

RUNNING ACES TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

The Running Aces Harness Park in Columbus, Minnesota played host to its Tournament of Champions over the weekend where Matt Alexander was the eventual winner, earning over 50K USD for the big win. Alexander defeated 2008 WSOP Circuit Council Bluffs Ring Winner Kou Vang (GPI#846) heads-up.

GPI300 member Rodger Johnson (GPI#288) finished seventh in the event. Johnson, who won the High Roller event at the LAPC in February, finished 12th in the Millionaire Maker event this summer at the World Series of Poker.

Top 10 Payouts:

[table id=250 /]

THUNDER VALLEY PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

The Thunder Valley Players Championship was captured by Mario Sequeira (GPI#12832) who takes home $75,000 of the original $347,000 USD prize pool.

A total of 347 players entered the event that was held at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.

PARTYPOKER ROAD TO OLD TRAFFORD

Finally, poker superstar – and Manchester United super fan – Sam Trickett (GPI#365) won the PartyPoker Road to Old Trafford event that was held this past weekend in order to amass funds for charity. Poker pros and online qualifiers got to play with some UK football legends.

Trickett, who also got to spend time with members of the Red Devils prior to the tournament, made a generous donation to Rio Ferdinand’s “Live the Dream Foundation” charity following his symbolic victory.

Top 10 Payouts:

[table id=251 /]