Cascarino strikes to win GUKPT Grand Final

RACING POST football writer and former professional footballer Tony Cascarino netted a £168,800 payday when winning the Grand Final of the 2009 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT).

Tony Cascarino nets £168,000

  PICTURE: Robin Gibson  

The ex-Republic of Ireland international outclassed 183-strong field who had paid £3,000 to enter the Blue Square Poker sponsored GUKPT showpiece event at the Grosvenor Victoria casino in London.

This was the second time that Cascarino has tasted victory on the UK's largest poker tour. His first win came just over a year ago when he won the Bolton leg of the 2008 tour. It was his third GUKPT main event final table, having also finished in 6th place in last year's Grand Final. His latest success takes him to the top of the all-time GUKPT money list, with almost £250,000 in winnings.

The tournament included some of the best poker players from the UK and Europe.
 
Cascarino's heads up opponent was Frenchman Antoine Arnault, a keen amateur from Paris who is the head of communications for avant-garde fashion house Louis Vuitton. Both players went into the final with the lowest chip counts of the final nine, but ended up as the last menstanding.

Cascarino said: "I've been moaning all year, ‘cos nothing good has really happened to me. I've won something (in poker) every year for the last four years, but until now 2009 has been frustrating.

"Getting respect from your peers and being acknowledged for being good at whatever you do with your life means a lot to me . . . I think I have proved myself now."

His opponent Arnault heads back to France with £107,100 for his second place finish.

The final table also included World Heads Up Champion Bambos Xanthos from Cyprus, who is one of London's most successful high stakes cash game players. He finished in 6th place while another high stakes cash game player Albert Iversen from Denmark exited in 5th

GUKPT - 2009 Grand Final result

1st - Tony Cascarino - £168,800
2nd - AntoineArnault - £107,100
3rd - Philip Patrick - £71,400
4th - Daniel Millar - £43,900
5th - Albert Iversen - £32,900
6th - Charalambos (Bambos) Xanthos - £27,400
7th - Romano Pizzo - £22,000
8th - Mike Hill - £16,500
9th - Stuart Rutter - £11,000