Day two of the £3,000 GUKPT Grand Final has concluded with nine players remaining from a field of 183. The UK’s version of the November Nine will take place from 2pm on Sunday 29th at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London. It is an international field including and Italian, a Cypriot, a Dane, a Frenchman, four Englishman and an Irishman (or five Englishmen, depending on your view of Tony Cascarino’s nationality).

The chip counts going into the final are as follows:

Romano Pizzo - 879,500
Albert Iversen - 589,500
Bambos Xanthos - 434,000
Philip Patrick - 407,000
Mike Hill - 371,000
Daniel Millar - 338,500
Stuart Rutter - 263,000
Tony Cascarino - 261,000
Antoine Arnault - 124,500

First prize is £168,800

Both Tony Cascarino and Stuart Rutter made last year’s Grand Final. Cascarino is the only previous winner of a GUKPT event and this is his third appearance on a main event final table on the tour. Likewise Stuart Rutter is taking part in his third GUKPT main event final table. Mike Hill has also previously graced a GUKPT main event final, while the remaining competitors, including World Heads Up Champion Bambos Xanthos are appearing on a GUKPT final table for the fist time.

Betting on the final table will be available first thing on Sunday morning on tour sponsor Blue Square Poker’s sportsbook.

Well, it is November…

Romano Pizzo - 879,500
Albert Iversen - 589,500
Bambos Xanthos - 434,000
Philip Patrick - 407,000
Mike Hill - 371,000
Daniel Millar - 338,500
Stuart Rutter - 263,000
Tony Cascarino - 261,000
Antoine Arnault - 124,500

We’ll have full chip counts here shortly.  Players are currently being bagged and tagged.  They will come back to the Vic. for 2pm for photo shoot, interviews and the like.  Expect play to re-commence around 2:45PM.  It should be a cracker with Albert Iversen and Romano Pizzo firing like they have.  I have a inkling, though that Bambos Xanthos will be there by the end.  I feel it in me waters ! .. g’night and thanks for watching.

Albert raises and Matt Perrins over the top all-in.  Albert asks for a count.  It’s 150k more.  “I call!”

Albert has 66’s and Matt A9.  The 66’s ‘ave it and we have our final 9 players.

Matt Perrins finishes 10th for £8,200

Bambos with KK’s and Richard Liotta QT soooted.  Bambos points to one of the KINGS and immediately another one falls on the turn.

Richard is out in 11th for £6,900 and we’re hand 4 hand again to determine the final 9.

AT for the 2008 Thanet winner and QQ’s for Phillip Patrick, all-in preflop.

Andy also takes home £5,500

So exclaims Romano Pizzo after he makes a broadway with his AK and stands up to go.  Albert Iversen gets it all-in with J9 on a QT5 flop and a JACK falls on the turn. 

Now after doubling up Romano and Matt Perrins, Albert is left with only 380k.  Romano up to 800k.

Mike Hill raises from the small blind and Ash moves in from the big.  It’s alot of chippies to call holding only A7, but Mike does make it, thinking Ash is on a move.  He’s not.  Ash has AQ.

A SEVEN on the flop and Ash heads back up north with £5,500 in his pocket.

Table  - Seat  - Player  - Chips
4  - 1  - Matt Perrins  - 259500
4  - 2  - Charalambos Xanthos  - 199000
4  - 3  - Tony Cascarino  - 233500
4  - 4  - Richard Liotta  - 48500
4  - 5  - Arshad Hussain  - 127500
4  - 7  - Albert Iversen  - 894500
4  - 8  - David Clark  - 122000
4  - 9  - Romano Pizzo  - 307000
5  - 1  - Philip Patrick  - 304000
5  - 2  - Daniel Millar  - 336500
5  - 3  - Michael Hill  - 230500
5  - 5  - Stuart Rutter  - 194000
5  - 6  - Antoine Arnault  - 147500
5  - 7  - Andrew Teng  - 168000

Table  - Seat  - Player  - Chips
4  - 7  - Albert Iversen  - 894500
5  - 2  - Daniel Millar  - 336500
4  - 9  - Romano Pizzo  - 307000
5  - 1  - Philip Patrick  - 304000
4  - 1  - Matt Perrins  - 259500
4  - 3  - Tony Cascarino  - 233500
5  - 3  - Michael Hill  - 230500
4  - 2  - Charalambos Xanthos  - 199000
5  - 5  - Stuart Rutter  - 194000
5  - 7  - Andrew Teng  - 168000
5  - 6  - Antoine Arnault  - 147500
4  - 5  - Arshad Hussain  - 127500
4  - 8  - David Clark  - 122000
4  - 4  - Richard Liotta  - 48500