Bull Charges through UKIPT London Opposition
Monday, 7 October 2013
Scotland's Robbie Bull charged through the final table of this year's UKIPT London finale to take the title and an impressive £113,405.
Yesterday's final table initially kicked off with seven players in the hunt for the title owing to Paul Zimbler's late arrival. Despite being a regular fixture on the London poker circuit, Zimbler found himself caught up in traffic and missed the first four hands of the day.
Once he arrived at the venue things didn't get any better as he found himself heading back through the Grand Connaught Rooms' doors after less than half an hour. Karl Mahrenholz became Zimbler's executioner, catching top pair with Qc Jc to out draw his opponent's Ah Kh.
That early flash of luck was one of the last Mahrenholz would enjoy as he could only survive one more elimination before he was sent to the rail in sixth when his pocket eights were unable to outrace Jack Slater's As Qs.
Now down to five it was the turn of the final table's travelling pros to exit stage left. First to fall was Italy's Dario Sammartino, just before Denmark's Lasse Frost followed suit and headed for the cashiers' desk in fourth.
Following the demise of the tournament's last foreign grinder a three-way tussle between Scotland's Salter and Robbie Bull and Irish Open Champion Ian Simpson ensued. With over £100,000 on the line for the winner the atmosphere was tense but after a veritable cold deck for Salter his dreams of success were over.
Indeed, after a flurry of betting and a 7s Td 7h 9s board, Salter moved all-in with Ts 8s but after Simpson called with Jd 8c he found himself in need of some help. Unfortunately the river wasn't able to save Salter's tournament life and with that he was sent to the rail to collect his £59,125 consolation prize.
With Simpson and Bull virtually level in chips heads-up a deal was struck that ensured each would go home with more than £100,000 before the action resumed. Soon after Bull enjoyed a double dose of luck and eventually clinched the title when he made a flush to scoop the final pot and oust Simpson.
Commenting after his win, Bull told the PokerStars blog: "It's a dream [to win] I've had for three or four years. 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..."
UKIPT London Final Result:
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
Image courtesy of PokerStars Blog / Rene Velli.
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