Tony Cascarino, the former professional footballer who played as striker for Millwall, Celtic and Aston Villa as well as internationally for the Republic of Ireland, has won the 7th leg of this year’s Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) in Bolton.

He eventually took down the four-day tournament and the 1st place prize money of £52,850 and a £3,000 seat in the Champion of Champions Final by beating local player Ali Mallu who had put in a dominant display at the final table and who held a 4-1 chip lead going into heads up against play against the footballer turned poker player.

Just 17 players made it through Day 1a, including last month’s Luton GUKPT winner Sam Trickett who held the second largest chip stack and Brighton winner Julian Thew. Trickett had earlier knocked out Gala Casino British Poker Tour (GCBPT) winner Colin Wu, who took down the Edinburgh leg of that tour back in March. Sam called a raise from the BB holding 3-7s and made trip 3’s on the flop with Wu making top pair Queens with his A-Q. Dominic Rossookh who was a late entry ended the day as chip leader. Also in the mix was Andy Greekfish who recently eliminated UK Sharks Poker Forum’s very own XrayEye/RiverAsUsual from the GUKPT £250 PLO event.

Day 1b of the event didn’t prove to be quite so intense with 30 players making it through the day to join the 17 who got through from Day 1a including eventual winner Tony Cascarino and Late Night Poker veteran Surinder Sunar.

On Day 2, Sunar quickly doubles his stack up to in excess of 40k as his A-K dominates against Justin Devonport’s A-Q. Sam Trickett is taken out by Ali Mallu’s A-K, all-in pre-flop as his pair of 8’s fall short when an Ace is the first card to hit the board.

The player to eventually go out on the bubble was Steve Craig, in a battle of the blinds Steve pushed all-in with pocket 7’s against the T-J of Dennis Clough with a Jack arriving on the river.

In all ten players made it through the day, see below…

Player (Chip Count)
Rob Sherwood - 349,300
Ali Mallu - 329,100
Tony Cascarino - 282,300
Roberto Romanello - 211,400
Sid Harris - 132,100
Greg Hunt - 131,800
Dennis Clough - 128,200
Tim Flanders - 85,000
Kevin O’Leary - 51,900
Surinder Sunar - 51,500

Ali Mallu was totally dominant throughout the final table and by the time just three players remained in himself Roberto Romanello and Tony Cascarino, he was in total control. Then Mallu and Romanello both see an unraised flop of 4-5-10 with the Welshman Romanello betting out 20k and the local player Mallu calling. A 10 on the turn sees Roberto bet 20k again, with Ali coming over the top with a raise to 75k which is called. The river brings another and the action is checked to Mallu who bets 110k is called. Ali has quads and Roberto with A-5 was left with just 75k and would be eliminated shortly after.

Despite being a massive short-stack Cascarino was quick to impose his will heads up, firstly he doubled up when his top pair beat the middle pair of his opponent and then again when holding pocket Kings versus K-8 all-in pre-flop.

His efforts to dominate his opponent where completed when he finished him off with Ac-8c versus 9h-3h hitting the flush on the flop.

In the post match interview Cascarino was delighted with his win declaring, “I had a great sports career, but even this I think has overtaken some of things I have done in football. I just enjoyed it. I’ve had a strange year and this has made a big difference for me in the poker world.”

Cascarino now 46, first took up poker six years ago after retiring from football and has been a regular on the UK poker circuit for the past two years. He has won invitational events before in the Caribbean, but this is his first major tournament victory on home soil. His next target will be the European Poker Tour event that takes place in Barcelona later this week.

Final Positions & Payouts
1. Tony Cascarino - £50,850
2. Ali Mallu - £30,600
3. Roberto Romanello - £21,900
4. Rob Sherwood - £14,900
5. Kevin O’Leary - £11,400
6. Dennis Clough - £8,750
7. Surinder Sunar - £7,000
8. Sid Harris - £5,250
9. Greg Hunt - £4,400

The next leg of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour takes place in Thanet between October 13th and 19th, 2008. To sign up with GUKPT sponsors Blue Sq. Poker and qualify online simply click on the banner below…



Picture courtesy of GUKPT

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