Robbie Bull Wins UKIPT London Main Event for £113,405
It was a busy day in London on Sunday. Not only did the Season 10 European Poker Tour London Main Event kick off, but Martin Finger, Phil Hellmuth and Vanessa Selbst collected titles. With so many big names capturing the spotlight, it was easy to overlook the conclusion of the UKIPT London Main Event.
That tournament attracted 747 entries and created a prize pool of £724,590. After five days of play, 21-year-old Robbie Bull (pictured) emerged victorious to capture the £113,405 first-place prize and become the third Scotsman in a row to win a UKIPT title (Ludovic Geilich won in Marbella and Alan Gold in Galway).
UKIPT London Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Robbie Bull | United Kingdom | £113,405* |
| 2nd | Ian Simpson | United Kingdom | £106,869* |
| 3rd | Jack Salter | United Kingdom | £59,125 |
| 4th | Lasse Frost | Denmark | £44,635 |
| 5th | Dario Sammartino | Italy | £35,360 |
| 6th | Karl Mahrenholz | United Kingdom | £26,735 |
| 7th | Patryk Slusarek | United Kingdom | £19,200 |
| 8th | Paul Zimbler | United Kingdom | £13,115 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
Bull began the final table sixth in chips, but he got off to a quick start. One player who did not was Paul Zimbler, who showed up late after getting stuck in traffic. In one hand, Karl Mahrenholz opened for 125,000 from middle position and then called a three-bet shove from Zimbler for right around 500,000.
Mahrenholz: Q♣J♣
Zimbler: A♥K♥
Zimbler got it in good, but he would not hold as the board ran out 10♦5♠Q♥5♦10♥. Zimbler became the first elimination of the final table and took home £13,115 for his efforts. A half-hour later, Polish pro Patryk Slusarek exited in seventh place, and he was followed out the door by Mahrenholz, who lost a massive flip against start-of-day chip leader Jack Salter (Mahrenholz’s 8x8x to Salter’s A♠Q♠).
After Dario Sammartino fell in fifth place for £35,360, it was Lasse Frost’s turn to go. On a 5♥J♦6♦ flop, Frost check-raised Bull’s 155,000 continuation-bet up to 450,000. Bull three-bet to 765,000 and then called when Frost shoved for 1.5 million. Frost was out in front with the J♠10♣, but Bull was drawing to a flush with the A♦7♦. The 8♦ completed the said flush, and after the meaningless Q♣ was run out on the river for good measure, Frost took his leave in fourth place for £44,635.
Three-handed play lasted 40 minutes, and that's when Salter opened for 250,000 from the button and received calls from both blinds. On the 7♠10♦7♥ flop, Salter bet 240,000, Ian Simpson called, and Bull get out of the way. When the 9♠ turned, Simpson seized the initiative and led out for 455,000. Salter moved all in for 2.85 million and Simpson snap-called with the J♦8♣ for a straight. Salter showed the 10♠8♠ and needed some help on the river. Unfortunately for him, the A♣ blanked and he was bounced in third place for £59,125.
Simpson began heads-up play with a small lead over Bull, and the two opted to strike a deal. There was originally £53,475 in prize money between first and second place, but the two closed the gap. Simpson locked up £106,869.23, Bull received £103,405.77, and they played it out for the trophy and £10,000.
From there, Bull took over and pulled out to a huge chip lead. Simpson battled back, and after an hour of play held a 2-to-1 lead over Bull. After a break, Bull four-bet jammed with the J♦10♣ and Simpson called with the A♥8♦. The board ran out J♣K♣9♣5♦3♣ and Bull’s flush gave him the double.
Minutes later, Simpson raised to 375,000 and Bull three-bet all in. Simpson called off with the A♥8♥, which was ahead of Bull’s A♣4♦. The J♦Q♦6♣ flop changed nothing, and while the A♦ turn paired both players, Simpson’s kicker had him out in front. The 8♦ river actually gave Simpson two pair, but it was no good as Bull had spiked a flush to win the UKIPT London Main Event.
"It's a dream [to win] I've had for three or four years,” Bull told the PokerStars Blog after the win. “When I play a live event in the back of my mind there's ‘I might win it’ but now I feel like I'm dreaming and might wake up and find the UKIPT is next week.”
Sweet jesus. Dream final table. Everything went my way. Can't think straight right now. Thanks for all the support and messages ya legends.
— Robbie Bull (@Robbie_Bull)
The next UKIPT Main Event will take place in the Isle of Man Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
Meanwhile, the EPT10 London Main Event is in full swing, and of course PokerNews is bring you live reports from that event. Click here to visit our live blog.
*Photos and data courtesy of the PokerStars Blog.
Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+!
