Tom Middleton Adds 2016 GUKPT Blackpool Title to His Poker CV
Tom Middleton added to his already stellar reputations after he emerged victorious in the 2016 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) Blackpool Main Event this weekend, turning £1,100 into £56,255 after a three-way chop.
2016 GUKPT Blackpool Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Middleton | £56,255* |
| 2 | Tom Hall | £52,990* |
| 3 | Richard Kellett | £36,825* |
| 4 | Jeff Kimber | £18,750 |
| 5 | Chris Johnson | £12,800 |
| 6 | James Simms | £9,540 |
| 7 | Steve Beattie | £7,530 |
| 8 | Mark Kelsall | £6,030 |
| 9 | Pete Mason | £5,020 |
*reflects a three-way deal
Seventeen players returned to their seats in the Main Event on November 13 to play down to a champion. Within minutes of the restart, Andrew Duffy found himself all-in with ace-queen against the dominating ace-king of Pete Mason and failed to improve to become the first casualty of the afternoon.
Duffy was joined on the sidelines by Simon Zach, Paul McTaggart, Ben Jones, and Satpaul Sidhu to leave only 12 players in the hunt for the title.
A lull in eliminations ended when Mitch Johnson’s ace-king didn’t improve against Middleton’s pocket kings before Harry Zammitt’s ace-king failed to come from behind and beat Jeff Kimber’s pair of fives, and the final table was set.
2016 GUKPT Blackpool Main Event Final Table
| Seat | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Hall | 1,102,500 |
| 2 | Pete Mason | 425,500 |
| 3 | Richard Kellett | 404,500 |
| 4 | Tom Middleton | 1,128,000 |
| 5 | Steve Beattie | 410,000 |
| 6 | Chris Johnson | 425,000 |
| 7 | Jeff Kimber | 824,000 |
| 8 | James Simms | 196,500 |
| 9 | Mark Kelsall | 195,000 |
Pete Mason was the first player to bust from the final table. Five players went to a 
flop, Middleton bet 100,000, two players folded, Mason jammed all-in for 125,000, and only Middleton called. Mason showed 
and Middleton the 
, the 
on the turn gave Middleton top pair, with the 
river sending Mason to the showers.
Eighth-place went to Mark Kelsall who got the last of his chips in good with 
against Chris Johnson’s 
but the board ran 
to improve Johnson to a diamond flush, sending Kelsall to the rail.
The final table grew evermore short-handed when Tom Hall opened to 40,000 with 
, Steve Beattie three-bet all-in for 300,000 from the big blind with 
. Hall called and the dealer fanned the 
community cards onto the felt. Game over for Beattie.
James Simms then clashed with Middleton and it didn’t go to plan for him. Middleton raised to 50,000 and only Simms called. Simms led for 70,000 on the 
flop, Middleton called, before both players checked on the 
turn. Simms tapped the table and checked on the 
river, Middleton set Simms all-in for his 250,000 chips and Simms made the call with 
only to be shown 
for bottom set.
Middleton extended his lead when his held against Johnson’s , and then eliminating Jeff Kimber. Kimber exited when he raised to 75,000 and was called by Middleton. A flop of saw Kimber lead for 150,000 and Middleton called. A brief raising war broke out on the 
turn that resulted in Kimber being all-in with 
and Middleton calling with 
. The river improved Middleton to a full house and left only three players in the tournament.
Shortly after Kimber’s exit, Middleton, Hall, and Richard Kellett decided to end the tournament prematurely, chopping the remaining prize pool. Middleton took the larger of the three prizes and the trophy, with Hall officially finishing in second place, with Kellett becoming the third-place finisher.
The 2016 GUKPT draws to a close later this month with the Grand Final festival. The Grand Final Main Event is a £2,125 buy in affair with a £400,000 guaranteed prize pool, which you can qualify for online at Grosvenor Poker. Grosvenor Poker via UK & Ireland PokerNews and claim your 200% up to £700 first deposit bonus.
