The Edinburgh Job: Michael Kane Takes Down Latest 888poker UKPL Main Event
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Michael Kane ensured the 888poker UK Poker League (UKPL) Edinburgh Main Event trophy remained in bonny Scotland by outlasting 310 opponents at the Grosvenor Maybury Casino. Kane came out on top after a three-way deal that resulted in £25,208 of the £147,730 prize pool hitting his bank account.
Kane has a penchant for going deep in Edinburgh-based live events. In 2014, he finished seventh in the PokerStars UKIPT Edinburgh Main Event for £15,570. At the 2019 GUKPT Edinburgh Main Event, Kane finished second for £27,860. He finished second in a £250 NLHE event in February 2022 for another £18,165. Now Kane has got the job done on home soil and walked away victoriously.
Forty-nine of the 311 starters navigated their way through to Day 2, with each of those players receiving at least £840 for their efforts. Matthew Davenport was one of the first Main Event players to cash; Davenport would later take down the £200 Closer for £3,660.
Others who reached the money places but fell short of a final table appearance included Robbie Bull and Colin Gillon.
888poker UKPL Edinburgh Main Event 2024 Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Kane | £25,208* |
| 2 | Helder Casacasena | £24,866* |
| 3 | Tom Laghzaoui | £21,965* |
| 4 | George Wyatt | £10,490 |
| 5 | Paul McTaggart | £7,090 |
| 6 | Paddy Doonan | £5,020 |
| 7 | Roddy MacNeil | £3,990 |
| 8 | Paulo Santos | £3,470 |
| 9 | Chris Johnstone | £2,960 |
*reflects a three-handed deal
Chris Johnstone was the first player eliminated from the final table, committing the last of his stack with ace-ten and finding himself in terrible shape against the pocket kings of Roddy MacNeil. Although disappointed to bust in ninth, Johnstone collected £2,960 in prize money, his first four-figure score.
An absolutely bonkers hand resulted in Paulo Santos bowing out in eighth for £3,470 and Kane soaring into the chip lead. Santos five-bet shoved for 50 big blinds with pocket eights, and Kane wasted no time in snap-calling with ace-king of spades. An ace on the flop blew more than the bloody doors off, and Santos was gone.
Kane then helped himself to MacNeil's last 16 big blinds after MacNeil got his chips into the middle with pocket sixes, which couldn't hold against Kane's ace-queen. MacNeil collected £3,990 for his seventh-place finish.
Sixth place and £5,020 went to Paddy Doonan, who busted in a cooler hand against George Wyatt. A battle of the blinds saw them go to a nine-seven-five flop, and all the chips went in. Doonan had flopped two pair with seven-five, but Wyatt had him in a world of pain, having also made two pair with his nine-seven. No help arrived for Doonan, and he headed to the cashier's desk.
Popular pro Paul McTaggart was the next player to find themselves void of chips. McTaggart was the shortest stack with four players remaining but played that short-stack well. Eventually, he jammed with ace-eight of diamonds, and Kane looked him up with king-deuce. A double-up looked likely for McTaggart, but the poker gods had other ideas, gifting Kane the most unlikely of runner-runner six-high straights. McTaggart headed into the night with £7,090 in tow.
Wyatt was next to fall, his fourth-place finish coming with £10,490, his first five-figure haul from a live event. Wyatt committed his last 12 big blinds from the small blind with queen-eight, and Helder Casacasena called from the big blind with ace-deuce. An ace on the flop proved more than enough to relieve Wyatt of his chips.
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The final three players struck a deal that left only the trophy and title of champion to play for. Tom Laghzaoui, fresh from his runner-up finish in the GUKPT Manchester Main Event at the start of February, crashed out in third, his ace-seven losing to Kane's queens. Laghzaoui has now won almost £100,000 in February alone.
The 888poker UKPL Main Event crowned its champion shortly after Laghzaoui's demise. Casacasena got his stack in with ace-seven only for Kane to wake up with the dominating ace-king. No seven on the board meant Casacasena was gone, and Kane was the Main Event champion.
Other 888poker UKPL Edinburgh Results
Bill Henderson and Barrie Greenan were the two players outside of the Main Event that saw £10,000+ prizes land in their bank accounts. Henderson clinched the £1,100 High Roller title, outlasting 56 opponents on his way to banking £13,620. Greenan was the £250 NLHE Opening Voyage champion, £11,118 was Greenan's reward to coming out on top of a 277-strong field.
| Event | Entrants | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| £560 NLHE Main Event | 311 | Michael Kane | £25,208 |
| £1,100 High Roller | 57 | Bill Henderson | £13,620 |
| £250 NLHE Opening Voyage | 277 | Barrie Greenan | £11,118 |
| £200 NLHE Closer | 86 | Matt Davenport | £3,660 |
| £150 Seniors | 89 | Brian O'Connor | £2,410 |
| £150 PLO 4/5/6 Card | 54 | Jacques Nadler | £1,400 |
Upcoming 888poker UKPL Stops
There is not long to wait before the next 888poker UKPL stop gets underway. March 5-10 is when the 888poker UKPL Luton festival takes place. Luton is a hotbed of poker action, with dozens of superstar players having taken down prestigious tournaments there. Will you add your name to the list of champions? Qualify for the Luton Main Event for pennies online at 888poker.
| Dates | UKPL Festival |
|---|---|
| March 5-10 | Grosvenor Casino Luton |
| April 16-21 | Grosvenor Casino Manchester Bury New Road |
| August 27-September 1 | Grosvenor Casino Leeds Westgate |
| September 24-29 | Grosvenor Casino Victoria, London |
| October 10-21 | Grosvenor Casino Coventry |
