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

Leg 2 Walsall, Final Day

I usually like to wait a few days to complete my diary for each leg of the tour, but this has taken a bit longer than usual, largely due to an upset stomach earlier in the week that left me horizontal for over a day. I’m now up and about again and beginning to clear the workload that had built up during my absence. I enjoyed the week in Walsall. The side events were competitive, the main event was as ever intriguing to follow and the final table was played in a good natured way. I tried my hand at commentating during the final and its not as easy as it looks. On more than one occasion I declared that a pot had been shipped to Jeff, when in fact it was Peter who had taken it down. Nevertheless, it was fun to be involved with and I look forward to doing it again.

Apart from the obvious story of World Heads Up winner Jeff Kimber winning, there were a few unsung heroes who went deep in the event. Scott Edwards, who finished in 12th place for a payday of almost £3,000, qualified for diddly squat, as he won the Inside Poker Freeroll, but my personal favourite rags to riches story is reserved for that of Malcolm McKinley from Aberdeen. He had entered one of Blue Square’s bargain bumper satellites, which cost just $2.50 to get into. However, shortly after the start he fell asleep. He awoke an hour later after receiving a phone call from his girlfriend and was annoyed at himself, as he had missed the rebuy and add-on stage of the tournament. He put his remaining 700 chips to good use though and a few hours later emerged victorious. He placed 17th in the main event for over £2,000 in prize money.

The tour now rolls on to London, where up to 400 players are expected for the main event, which takes place from March 6th-9th. The festival week begins on Saturday 1st and there is a more varied schedule than at most of our events, including a couple of Omaha events and an Omaha hi/lo one too. Nik Persaud is the form man with two finals out of two so far this year. Will he go one better than his 4th place finish in Walsall? We’ll have to wait and see.

Jonathan Raab
GUKPT Tour Manager
Friday 22nd February, 2008

Leg 2 Walsall, Day 2

Another day on the GUKPT comes and goes. Heartache and belly busters for some; miracle rivers for others. Rupert Elder went into the day as the chip leader, but his stack dwindled and he was out before we got down to the money.

Day 1a pace-setter Mad Turk also failed to cash, but Joe Koumi, the third placed player overnight did make the money. One has to feel for Russ 'Ariston' Cawley though. The Boltonian had made his first day 2 on the GUKPT but was brutally disposed of on the first hand of the day when his pocket kings failed to stand up against Charlie Denton's pocket jacks.

As the day progressed, two players began to emerge as the new chip daddies. Jeff Kimber, the World Heads Up Champion, was one of these while the other was Nik Persaud, the 6th place finisher from leg one in Brighton. By the end of the day these two were the chip leaders and go into today's final as joint favourites. Nik is now the most consistent player on the GUKPT, having made the last two tables an astonishing five times. He finished on the final table bubble twice in 2007, at Bolton and Luton, while claiming a 16th place finish in Brighton. Last month he made his first final table in Brighton and has now repeated the feat.

Only two players have previously made back to back finals – Jonothon Butters and Leo Kam. Nik has now ditched his 'Deirdre Barlow' spectacles for a more subdued pair, but remains modest about his chances in today's final – having apparently never won a live tournament before. Pessimistic about his chances before the tournament started, Nik booked a skiing holiday, but he will miss his scheduled departure, as his plane leaves at midday on Sunday. I guess it's not the worst thing that could have happened.

On the flip side of the coin, Blackpudlian Maurice McCarthy was the unlucky player who finished in 28th place, just missing out on the prize money. After being eliminated he left the casino, only for another driver to reverse into his car as he was leaving the car park, destroying the bonnet. Sometimes no buses come and then three crash into you at the same time.

The final also features Luke Patten, winner of several events in 2006, and there are two online qualifiers left in the hunt. I am, however, slightly disappointed at the performance of the bald players. Having blistered their way through day 1, there are now no dome heads left in the game, although I have spotted the beginnings of a small, yet defined bald patch on Jeff Kimber's bonce. If he wins, I'm going to claim it as another victory for Team Bald.

Jonathan Raab
GUKPT Tour Manager
Saturday 16th February, 2008

Leg 2 Walsall, Day 1b

Another day has dawned and the sun has long since set, but as I write, they are still playing out the final half hour of the day. As predicted, far more players turned up today, 167 in all. Valentine's Day has now been long forgotten as attentions now turn fully to the serious business of poker. Last year's winner Jerome Bradpiece set the early pace today, knocking someone out on the very first hand, but it was Joe Koumi who took over the mantle of chip leader and remained out in front for much of the day.

Team Bald were not as strong in numbers today as they were yesterday, and by the time there were 60 players left, only eight could be considered fully-fledged team members. However Team Bald looks to have a rosy future, as there are several strong players who currently bat for the other team, who look likely to switch side in the near future. Internet hotshot Rory Matthews is one of these. Give him a couple of years and he'll be a team member for sure. Dan Carter looks unlikely to join the fold as his sponge-like hair looks likely to stay with him for many years to come.

One has to feel sorry for a couple of today's late arrivals. Richard Ashby missed his wake up call and arrived an hour and a half late, but was eliminated before the first break. John Kabbaj faced motorway traffic but got here with 15 minutes to spare before the alternates list. He was out within half an hour.

Ninety-one players turned out for the £100 NL Hold'em side event and with 77 in yesterday's one, the newly-introduced second chance Thursday and Friday tournaments seem to be a great success. Tomorrow there is a £300 NL Hold'em Freezeout, which is a two-day event. It should attract a large field.

Jonathan Raab
GUKPT Tour Manager
Friday 15th February, 2008

Leg 2 Walsall, Day 1a

Well, the main event is well and truly underway and much to the disappointment of ‘her indoors" I"m here in Walsall, rather than taking her out of doors for a nosh up and lover"s tryst at the excellent seafood restaurant that we usually frequent on Valentine"s day. It seems however that many of the tour regulars were a bit more romantic than we had given them credit for, as today"s 121 turnout was significantly lower than we would otherwise have expected. However, I expect that on Friday there will be a much bigger field as all those who were otherwise engaged today return once again to the poker fold.

I have high hopes for my fellow bald players at this event. At the time of writing, there were 40 players left today and no less than 25% of them can be considered, like myself, to be fully signed up members of "Team Bald." Come to think about it, Team Bald has a rather good record in GUKPT events. Jerome Bradpiece got the ball rolling when winning this event last year. Dave Colclough was the second victorious member of the team when he took down leg 4 in Manchester last year. Yes, although it might not be obvious to all, the ubiquitous cap wearer is hiding a small periscope like bald patch under his headgear and thinly disguises the fact by dying the rest of it blonde. One leg later, Team Bald had another victor in the shape of Dave Smith, another hat wearer. But it was not until leg 7 in Luton that we had an out and proud non-cap wearing baldy in the winner"s chair. Yes, hats off to Dave Clark for baldy going where no other Team Bald member had dared to go, by baring all for his adoring fans on the rail. Leo Kam had a shaved head when he won leg 9 in London, but as his hairline, or lack of it was a lifestyle choice, he can not be considered a fully fledged member of the bald gang.

Hopefully tomorrow there will be more baldies paving the way for another imminent hairless victory.

Jonathan Raab
GUKPT Tour Manager
Thursday 14th February, 2008