A pot of 4,000 had developed by the turn on A♥3♦2♦A♦, in a hand between Kerryjane Craigie and Chrisy Taylor, with Craigie check-calling a bet of 1,500 from Taylor.
The 6♣ river completed the board, and Craigie checked once more. Taylor fired out a bet of 3,200, and after a period of deliberation, Craigie flicked in a calling chip.
Taylor tabled A♠J♣ for trip aces, and Craigie flashed the A♣ as she mucked. Taylor gave a mini fist pump in celebration as he raked in a chunky early pot.
The Grosvenor CasinosGOLIATH festival has rapidly become the red-letter event in the calendar for UK poker players since its debut in 2011, and the 2025 edition has proved to be no exception, with swarms of players seeking poker fame and fortune descending on the Grosvenor CBS Arena, Coventry.
The largest live poker festival outside Las Vegas produced another GOLIATH Main Event record-breaker, attracting 12,961 entries to create a monstrous £1,970,070 prize pool as the event heads into Day 2, with Joseph Gibbons and Joseph East leading the way. Those figures smashed the previous record from 2024, where players split a £1,879,840 prize pool.
The festival has already thrown up some intriguing storylines, as Ravi Sheth joined an exclusive club of players who have won multiple GUKPT Main Events, securing his second title and a career-best payday of £192,700, denying Rick Trigg his fourth in the process. Trigg then used the momentum of his fourth-place finish to go on to take gold in the £3,000 GOLIATH Super High Roller for £38,000.
Ravi Sheth
Yuzhou Yin got in on the High Roller action as he took down the huge 296-entry £1,500 GOLIATH High Roller for £75,150, while Sam Goodmanhit the jackpot, pulling the biggest bounty of £50,000 in the GOLIATH Mystery Bounty, with the title going to Yannik Seabrook.
Yuzhou Yin
Players who have not managed to find a bag for Day 2 of the GOLIATH Main Event need not despair, with the £550 buy-in PokerNews Cup set to begin at 2 p.m today, offering the perfect opportunity to resume the trophy chase.
PokerNews is delighted to sponsor the event, previously named the Goliath Cup, and players can attend the PokerNews desk in the tournament room for the chance to win all kinds of PokerNews merchandise!
The 2024 edition attracted huge numbers, with a 792-entry field creating a £380,160 prize pool. Rhys Jones emerged victorious, taking the trophy back to Wales, along with the first-place prize of £76,990, after defeating GUKPT stalwart Kully Sidhu heads-up. Jones will attempt to defend his title, with his name among the entrants for Level 1.
Goliath Cup 2024 Final Table Results
Rank
Player
Country
Prize
1
Rhys Jones
United Kingdom
£76,990
2
Kully Sidhu
United Kingdom
£56,610
3
Ben Teague
United Kingdom
£37,410
4
Isaak Han
United Kingdom
£23,260
5
Paul Nunes
United Kingdom
£14,610
6
Philip Tate
United Kingdom
£10,030
7
Artur Craciun
United Kingdom
£8,710
8
Michael Rosaman
United Kingdom
£7,380
9
Piotr Koplin
United Kingdom
£6,040
Players will start the two-day event with a 50,000 starting stack, at blind level 100/100, with a 100 big blind ante. Blinds will increase every 30 minutes for the duration of Day 1, which will conclude after 16 levels.
Late registration is open until the start of Day 2, which is due to take place at noon on Sunday, August 3. The clock will remain at 30-minute levels for Day 2, and play will continue until the trophy is lifted.
PokerNews will be on the floor from cards in the air until a champion is crowned, so stick with us for all your coverage of the PokerNews Cup from GOLIATH.
