PokerStars’ UKIPT London Main Event kicked off in style yesterday at London’s famous Hippodrome Casino, after a lengthy COVID-induced hiatus along with the rest of the poker world over the past two years.
PokerStars were keen to bring this event back with a bang, fresh back to live tournament series with just EPT Prague under their belt so far in the new season. They have been especially generous this year with their added value offered to satellite qualifiers, a full 44 of whom progressed from online satties to win a seat. These qualifiers have been treated to a cinematic showing of the famous film Rounders, some free gifts offered at registration, and best of all, a freeroll event to take place on the last day of the stop, Sunday 10th, with multiple prizes including a regional UKIPT free entry ticket for a future event worth £1,100 for the winner!
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The Main Event in this regional live poker tournament series is a £1,100 buy-in event with three day 1s spread over two days, with day 1b and day 1c (a turbo leg) both running on Friday. Day 1a saw a bonanza 191 runners enter, with more expected in day 1b, and just 31 survivors emerged at the end of a long day of play covering 12 levels, to prepare to do battle on day 2.
As the players registered for day 1A of the Main Event were whittled down across the intense hours of play, some famous names busted out including PokerStars Pros Benjamin Spragg and Chris Da-Silva. Both are expected to take another run at it in the latter-day 1s. Much-loved poker commentator Joe Stapleton was also amongst the casualties on day 1a.
Amongst the survivors were poker notables Parker Talbot and Londoner Sam Grafton, both of whom progressed with stacks just north of 190,000.
The man to chase belies his own name with his performance, as Ben Slack was clearly no slacker on this day, bagging as he did the biggest bag of chips of all on day 1a, at a stonking 479,500 chips. With only three other players holding north of 400k chips, that is quite an achievement!
Good luck to all the participants going into day 1b and day 1c today, may the poker gods smile upon you!
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Image courtesy of PokerStars
