Ian Simpson Wins Second 888poker LIVE Event of 2025; Takes Down UKPL Newcastle
Table Of Contents
888poker ambassador Ian Simpson has become the first-ever player to capture an 888poker LIVE Main Event and an 888poker UK Poker League (UKPL) Main Event title after coming out on top in Newcastle. Simpson, a North East resident, ensured the UKPL Newcastle Main Event's trophy remained close to home after overcoming a star-studded 344-strong field in the £560 UKPL Newcastle Main Event.
Simpson triumphed in the €888 buy-in 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event in January, taking home €62,000. The popular grinder has added another £34,800 to his live poker tournament earnings following this impressive victory in Newcastle; he is now approaching $1.5 million in live tournament winnings.
The 2013 Irish Open Main Event champion took to Facebook following his 888poker double-completing victory, revealing he was battling "some sort of virus or mild food poisoning" during the UKPL Newcastle Main Event. Simpson also took the time to reflect on his recent run of form while admitting his rode his luck, requiring "at least three three-outers" to save his tournament life during the tournament's business end.
"Big congrats to Sinead Davenport and Thomas Clack for their podium finishes; the deck was too kind to me. I am incredibly aware of just how well my life is going when others are having battles I can't even imagine. Stay strong. Thank you, everyone, for the kind messages of love and support."
888poker UKPL Newcastle Main Event Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Simpson | £34,800 |
| 2 | Sinead Davenport | £25,910 |
| 3 | Thomas Clack | £17,900 |
| 4 | Ali Ahmed | £11,750 |
| 5 | George Wyatt | £8,090 |
| 6 | Lewis Parker | £5,800 |
| 7 | Patrick Begley | £4,580 |
| 8 | Alex Rizvi | £4,000 |
| 9 | Thomas Baggaley | £3,430 |
The top 45 finishers won a slice of the £163,400 prize pool. The likes of Stefan Lazar, Ravi Sheth, 888poker Stream Team's Nick Eastwood, Jamie Nixon, Carlo Citrone, and Yucel Eminoglu navigated their way to the money places.
Thomas Baggaley was the final table's first casualty. Down to a mere two big blinds, Baggaley found himself all-in with king-nine against the ace-king of hearts in George Wyatt's hand. Neither player improved, and Wyatt's ace-high was enough to bust Baggaley.
Alex Rizvi was the next to fall. The National Poker League (NPL) leader won two side events before navigating to this final table. His last action in the Main Event was to commit his last 13 big blinds with pocket tens and run them into the pocket kings of Ali Ahmed. Rizvi improved to a set but so did Ahmed.
Seventh place went to Patrick Begley who limp-called off his last 10 big blinds with king-ten of clubs and couldn't get there against Sinead Davenport's pocket queens.
While Simpson admitted the deck smacked him in the face, Lewis Parkes found himself on the wrong side of two coolers and busted in sixth. Parkes lost a flip with pocket jacks against Thomas Clack's ace-queen, then got the rest of his chips into the middle with ace-ten only for Davenport to awaken with the dominating ace-king. The £5,800 Parkes won is by far his largest live tournament haul.
Fifth place and £8,090 went to Wyatt after he bricked a flush draw in a hand where Clack flopped top pair. This was Wyatt's second UKPL Main Event final table appearance, having finished fourth in Edinburgh in February 2024 for a career-best £10,490.
The final table lost another player when Ali Ahmed shoved on the river after backing into two pair. Unfortunately for Ahmed, Davenport held a straight, and he was gone. The £11,750 fourth-place prize should go some way to numbing Ahmed's pain.
The UKPL Newcastle Main Event progressed to the heads-up stage when the dangerous Clack crashed out at the hands of Simpson. Clack moved all-in for eight big blinds with king-ten, and Simpson found pocket aces for one of the easiest calls of his illustrious career. The five community cards provided little in the way of drama. Clack headed to the cashier's desk, and Simpson prepared to take on starlet Davenport.
Simpson held a three-to-one chip lead at the start of heads-up play, and it proved too significant of a gap for Davenport to bridge. The final hand occurred during the 100,000/200,000 level. It saw Simpson min-raise to 400,000 with ace-queen, Davenport respond with a 12 big blind shove with ace-eight of clubs, and a quick call from the champion elect.
Davenport spiked an eight on the all-spade flop, but Simpson had 14 outs twice. The nine of clubs was not one of those outs, but the deuce of spades was. Davenport bowed out in second place for £25,910, leaving a delighted Simpson to collect the £34,800 top prize and his second 888poker title of the current season.
Other 888poker UKPL Results
As mentioned, NPL leader Alex Rizvi bagged two side event titles, taking down the £150 PLO 4/5/6 Card and £220 KO Rumble for £1,934 and £1,775.
Simon Cameron won the £13,060 top prize of the £250 Opening Voyage, while Spain's Adria Dalmau took down the £1,100 High Roller for £17,120. Impressively, Simpson finished fourth in the High Roller for £5,290.
| Event | Entrants | Prize Pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £1,100 High Roller | 53 | £50,350 | Adria Dalmau | £17,120 |
| £250 Opening Voyage | 284 | £59,370 | Simon Cameron | £13,060 |
| £150 PLO 4/5/6 Card | 75 | £10,000 | Alex Rizvi | £1,934 |
| £220 KO Rumble | 61 | £5,790 | Alex Rizvi | £1,775 |
What's Next on the 888poker LIVE Calendar?
The next 888poker UKPL sees the tour head to the Grosvenor G Casino in Reading from May 27 through June 1. Before then, between May 8 and 18, the 888poker LIVE tour heads to Barcelona, where an €888 buy-in Main Event is likely to attract some stellar names. Can Simpson complete a remarkable hat-trick? We shall find out in a little over a month's time.
