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£550 PokerNews Cup
Day 1 Completed
2025 Grosvenor GOLIATH
£550 PokerNews Cup
Day: 1
Event Info
2025 Grosvenor GOLIATH
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1
Buy-in
£550
Prize Pool
£378,580
Total Entries
797
Level
39
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
747
Players Left
179
Players Left 1 / 797
Filter
Level 16
: Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Room Five of Grosvenor Casinos CBS Arena was absolutely packed from start to finish today, and the atmosphere was crackling, as players descended on the £550 buy-in PokerNews Cup, aiming to end their GOLIATH festival with a bang.
After 16 frantic 30-minute levels of play, a total of 746 entrants was whittled down to 179 players, but with late registration open until the start of Day 2, that figure, along with the £375,000 prize pool, is sure to increase further.
Steve Jelinek was the main beneficiary of the chips flying around, rising to the top of the standings at the close of play on 869,000. Jelinek, a long-time UK pro and a GUKPT regular, is a WSOP bracelet winner and clearly thrives here in Coventry, the scene of his triumph in the 2021 GUKPT Main Event for £105,050. He boasts a remarkable 18 recorded live tournament victories amongst total recorded earnings of just under $2,000,000.
Not far off Jelinek lie Adam Gemmell (830,000) and Henry Bibby (750,000). Gemmell is chasing his biggest career score, while Bibby's lifetime best is a £9,458 cash for a runner-up finish in a Grosvenor 25/50 event in Sheffield in March. All figures are courtesy of The Hendon Mob.
PokerNews Cup End of Day 1 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steve Jelinek | United Kingdom | 869,000 | 145 |
| 2 | Adam Gemmell | United Kingdom | 830,000 | 138 |
| 3 | Henry Bibby | United Kingdom | 750,000 | 125 |
| 4 | Kartik | Unknown | 612,500 | 102 |
| 5 | S.0. | Unknown | 523,000 | 87 |
| 6 | Jake Scarr | United Kingdom | 495,000 | 83 |
| 7 | Brandon Atkins | United Kingdom | 482,000 | 80 |
| 8 | Nicholas McLellan | United Kingdom | 479,000 | 80 |
| 9 | Emma Barnes | United Kingdom | 462,000 | 77 |
| 10 | Matthew Cartwright | United Kingdom | 457,000 | 76 |
Day 1 Action
Over 250 players were registered for the start of play, and the action was fast and fierce throughout proceedings. Defending champion Rhys Jones was amongst the early runners but did not make the end of the day, while Alexander Rizvi won a huge early pot in the classic confrontation, and would proceed to make the cut.
Tyler Stanger and Jodi Harley were the lucky winners of the PokerNews raffle, winning entries to the event, but neither could find a bag. Ryan Packer turned quads and got paid, and he would go through with 245,000.
Tadgh Meegan was the long-time chip leader after flopping a monster draw to then crack queens, but he fell away slightly to finish on 225,000.
Plenty of other quality players remain in the mix, including Harry Sandford (416,000), Ben Miller (278,000) Michael Rosaman (272,000), Grosvenor pro Matthew Davenport (34,000) and Sinead Davenport (224,500).
The players will return for Day 2 at noon on Sunday, August 3, with late registration closing before the start of play. The clock will be remain at 30-minute levels, and any additional entrants will receive a 50,000 starting stack. Players will return to blind level 2,500/5,000, with a 5,000 big blind ante, and play will continue until a winner is crowned.
Be sure to join us here at PokerNews to see who can take home the PokerNews Cup, in what is guaranteed to be an exciting day of poker to finish off GOLIATH 2025, with the Main Event trophy also to be lifted.
Level 16
: Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
869,000
869,000
|
869,000 |
|
||
|
830,000
350,000
|
350,000 |
|
750,000
750,000
|
750,000 |
|
612,500
612,500
|
612,500 |
|
|
523,000
523,000
|
523,000 |
|
|
495,000
445,000
|
445,000 |
|
|
482,000
282,000
|
282,000 |
|
479,000
479,000
|
479,000 |
|
462,000
462,000
|
462,000 |
|
457,000
122,000
|
122,000 |
|
|
439,500
278,500
|
278,500 |
|
432,500
432,500
|
432,500 |
|
|
425,000
425,000
|
425,000 |
|
416,500
416,500
|
416,500 |
|
416,000
416,000
|
416,000 |
|
408,000
408,000
|
408,000 |
|
|
405,000
135,000
|
135,000 |
|
|
393,000
393,000
|
393,000 |
|
380,000
380,000
|
380,000 |
|
|
364,500
364,500
|
364,500 |
|
353,500
6,500
|
6,500 |
|
344,000
139,000
|
139,000 |
|
|
338,000
338,000
|
338,000 |
|
337,000
337,000
|
337,000 |
|
|
331,000
331,000
|
331,000 |
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Play has now concluded in Day 1 of the PokerNews Cup, stay tuned to PokerNews for updated chip counts and a recap of the day.
Late registration will close before the start of Day 2 at noon, Sunday, August 3.
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Paul Johnston opened to 12,000 from early position, and received calls from the cutoff and button, along with Seyed Sarkeshik in the big blind.
On the 9♦8♠3♥ flop, Sarkeshik led out with a bet of 18,000, and was met with a raise to 55,000 from Johnston. The cutoff and button folded, and Sarkeshik called.
The Q♠ turn and 4♦ river were checked through. Sarkeshik declared "One pair" but mucked when Johnston tabled K♣9♣ for a pair of nines.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
360,000
360,000
|
360,000 |
|
|
220,000
220,000
|
220,000 |
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
The clock has been paused and the tournament director has announced five more hands will be played in Day 1, with 194 players still seated.
Late registration remains open until the start of Day 2, at noon on Sunday, August 3.
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
A player jammed from under the gun for 27,500 and was looked up by Adam Gemmell in the cutoff.
Opponent: A♠Q♦ 
Adam Gemmell: A♦8♦
Gemmell was dominated, and his opponent turned the nut straight on the K♥10♦6♠J♣K♠ runout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
480,000
480,000
|
480,000 |
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Ahmed Abdin opened to 10,000 under the gun, and was faced with a three-bet to 30,000 from Luke Hanson in the next seat. Action folded back to Abdin, who called.
On th J♥7♥6♠ flop, Abdin check-called a bet of 22,000 from Hanson.
The J♣ hit on the turn, and Hanson jammed for 135,000 when his opponent checked once more. Abdin gave the spot some thought, but folded in relatively short order.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
250,000 | |
|
|
135,000 |
Level 16
: 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Play in Day 1 will conclude at the end of this level, with 215 players currently still seated.
Level: 16
Blinds: 2,500/5,000
Ante: 5,000
