21-year-old Vinny Price from Birmingham has won the GUKPT Summer Series main event at the Grosvenor casino in Walsall. He defeated a field of 121 players in the two-day event to scoop the first prize of £19,520. Price, who works for the West Midlands Business Council, was playing his first Grosvenor UK Poker Tour event, but played with maturity beyond his years to take the title and claim a place in the tour’s end of year Champion of Champions tournament. His heads up opponent was 19-year-old Toby Lewis, a well respected online pro from Southampton. After eliminating Bognor Regis’s Simon Wickenden in third place, Lewis closed the gap on chip leader Price. However, a long and tense heads up session then ensued which saw the chip lead change hands several times. In the final hand Price held 6-4 against Lewis’s K-9, but a 6-4-9 flop put him firmly in command of the hand. A further 4 on the turn gave Price a full house and he remained in front after an 8 fell on the river. There had been betting on every street, but all the remaining chips then went into the middle, settling the encounter in favour of the local player.

The final table also included the reigning GUKPT Newcastle champion Tony Phillips, who had already claimed victory in one of the warm up events at the Walsall festival of poker. A third place finish for Phillips would have taken him to the top of the leader board on the tour’s official rankings, but he fell short, exiting in 6th place. He now moves up to third on the leader board, behind Sunny Chattha and Martin Silke. Former European number one Mickey Wernick also made the final, but was the first player to be eliminated, departing in 9th place. American Jeff Buffenbarger held the chip lead when there were two tables left, but was taken out in 8th place while Richard Connolly from the Isle of Man was 7th. Local Gordon Gainford and Mancunian Abed Eid completed the final table line up, finishing in 5th and 4th places respectively.

The tour now takes a break from live events in July, but gets back on the road again in the first week of August when leg 6 takes place at the G casino in Luton. However, the action continues in July on Blue Square Poker - www.bluesqpoker.com - with the tour’s online festival, which features a $1,000 main event. It takes place from the 20th - 24th July and players can qualify for as little as $2 via daily online satellites.

We have a winner!

Preflop it was raised up to 40k by Vinny and called.

Flop 6 4 9.

Check from Toby, 55k bet by Vinny. Call.

Turn 6 4 9 4.

Check from Toby, 120k bet by Vinny. Call.

River 6 4 9 4 8

Toby checked to Vinny who moved all in. After a significant dwell Toby finally called, only to be shown 4 6 for the full house which was enough to take down the title.

Vinny Price wins the Trophy, and an exclusive seat in the £100,000 Champion of Champions Tournament in December.

An unavoidable all in scenario.

KK for Toby against TT for Vinny.

Board of 4 2 Q A 6 means a double up for Toby. He’s now on about 740k.

Toby had been grinding away and had worn Vinny down somewhat before another key hand just now.

Toby made the standard raise to 40k and Vinny shoved over the top. A quick call from Toby and they were on their backs.

Ac 3h for Toby versus Ad 5d for Vinny.

Board of 9c 5c Kd 3s Qh and Vinny doubles to around 700k again.

Toby has just won another big pot holding A-6 and now has the chip lead.

Toby had been whittled down to about 260,000 but a big pot developed on a 6-K-5 flop. Toby bert 42,000 and Vinny reraised to 245,000. Toby pushed all in for a small amount more and Vinny called. Vinny showed 7-6 for one pair, but Toby had K-7 for a bigger one and after a 3 and 2 on the turn and river, a 600,000 pot was shipped in his direction.

The two remaining players have agreed to split the remaining prize money down the middle meaning they will both be taking home about £16,000 after a few quid goes the way of the dealers and staff.

They are now playing on for the Trophy, Ranking Points, and exclusive £100,000 Champion of Champions invitation. Still plenty to play for then!

Vinny Price 700k

Toby Lewis 510k

1st - £19,520
2nd - £12,700

Game on!

After some general calm at the table we get a flurry of action between Simon and Toby.

66 for Simon and AK for Mr Lewis.

The board runs out King high and being covered by Toby, Simon is our 3rd place finisher for £8,770.

Heads up now between the young guns!

Simon Wickenden