Tour Manager Jonathan Raab posts a daily diary during each GUKPT event

Bolton Final Day

The first two days of the Bolton leg of the 2008 GUKPT have now been completed and 47 of the 175 players made it through to the second full day of the tournament. Although there was a lower turnout than expected a lot of the usual faces braved the foul weather to take their seats in the £1,000 main event. Last month's winner Sam Trickett got off to a flying start and was one of the chip leaders at the end of the first day. The legend that is Ali Mallu also finished the day with a lot of chips, but it was Dominic Rossookh, playing in his first big event, who finished day 1a with the chip lead. However, on day 1b Lawrence Gosney surpassed Dominic and finished up as chip leader from both starting days combined on 100,700. James Morgan, who has won more online satellite packages than anyone else this year also made it into day 2, with a healthy stack of 64,000 chips..

In the last leg in Luton darts player Wayne Mardle joined celebrity tour regulars Teddy Sheringham, Michael Greco and Tony Cascarino. Here in Bolton, actor Michael La Vell joined Greco and Cascarino at the tables. Michael plays car mechanic Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, but the Weatherfield rover will not be returning for day two of the tournament, as he was eliminated seven hours into the day. Cascarino cruised through day one and was chip leader for much of the day, finishing on an above average 45,000 chips.

Now, I most apologise for not writing a diary at the last leg in Luton. Unfortunately I fell ill during the event and missed the last two days of the event, but I would like to use this opportunity to congratulate Sam Trickett on his well-deserved win. A special mention also goes out to Luton runner up David La Ronde, who also made it through to day two here at Bolton.

The side events earlier in the week were reasonably well attended, with 153 players taking part in Monday's £200 NL Hold'em freezeout. The winner was Glenn Ashworth, who has now won two events on the tour this year and increases his starting stack for the Champion of Champion's tournament to 10,000 chips. Andy Greekfish won the Omaha event on Wednesday, which was also his second victory on the tour, having won a side event last month in Luton. He also moves his C of C starting stack up to the 10,000 mark.



Jonathan Raab
Friday 5th September 2008