Justin Astley wins GUKPT Blackpool

Justin Astley wins GUKPT Blackpool

Monday, 17 November 2014

Justin Astley is the latest UK tour winner after topping a competitive field of 171 runners in the £200k guaranteed GUKPT Blackpool Main Event over the weekend.

Astley pocketed a career-best score of £59,000 after outlasting a final day line up that included defending champion Rick Trigg and former Irish Open winner James Mitchell.

Trigg was well placed for another deep run in the Lancashire resort but his hopes of a repeat stalled in 11th in unfortunate manner. He looked in good shape for a big double up with AcKs against the KcJs of Dan Kneafsey. A jack on the flop then another on the turn was enough to send Trigg to the rail with a consolation of £3,600.

Mitchell's hopes of adding a GUKPT title to his 2010 Irish Open crown were also dashed by Kneafsey who was on the right end of a flip with AdQc against pocket 8s which sent the Londoner to the rail in fourth.

Astley then eliminated Phil Walker in third place to set up a heads-up battle with Kneafsey for the title. The latter started with a three to one chip lead but an early double up sent the momentum Astley's way. He didn't look back from that point on, winning all the crucial hands.

The end came appromxinately an hour into two-handed action with the short-stacked Kneafsey taking a stand with Kd9c. Astley looked him up with Ah8s which held to give him the title and a very tidy five-figure score.

The final table payouts were as follows:

1st - £59,000 - Justin Astley
2nd - £38,800 - Dan Kneafsey
3rd - £24,400 - Phil Walker
4th - £16,600 - James Mitchell
5th - £11,000 - Fabian Towers
6th - £8,200 - Alan Barnacle
7th - £6,600 - Carl Harris
8th - £5,600 - Martin Paul
9th - £4,800 - Kev Steele
10th - £4,200 - John Miller

The GUKPT heads to London for its season-ending finale. The side-event and satellite action starts on Sunday 23 November with the £400,000 guaranteed Main Event starting on Thursda 27 November.

Image and stats courtesy of GUKPT.com.



Tags: Justin Astley, GUKPT Blackpool, Rick Trigg, James Mitchell