Live poker remains popular in Britain judging by the turnout for the GBP 120 buy-in annual Goliath competition organised by the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour and held this year at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
The event recorded 4,120 entries from 2,764 unique players, which easily surpassed the GBP 250,000 guaranteed prize pool at GBP 421,000, and featured seven starting flights.
Last Sunday saw the start of the final action at midday as 16 survivors battled for the top prize of GBP 75,800 at two eight-handed tables, led by Leeds internet and live ace Shane Mossop.
A negotiation pause was called when the action was down to Miikka Toikka, Katie Swift, Ryan Meager and Sunil Moti as a deal was discussed. The four agreed on a chop that would see everyone guaranteed at least a take-home of GBP 25,200, with the winner taking the lion’s share of the remainder.
The heads up between Miikka Toikka and Katie Swift was a brief affair, thanks to Toikka’s overwhelming 10 to 1 chip advantage, giving him the honours and the revised GBP 70,800 main prize. Swift earned a well-deserved runner-up pay-day of GBP 46,300.
Other final table cashes were:
Ryan Meager GBP 29,050
Sunil Moti GBP 25,200
Philip Bain GBP 12,650
Andrew James GBP 8,400
Ben Boulden GBP 5,900
Shane Mossop GBP 3,800