Robert Baguley has won the UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) Nottingham, after topping a 1,625 player field to claim the title, and collect the £210,400 ($276,566) first place prize.
The 60-year-old, retired landlord from Leicestershire is a regular at the ‘Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club’ in Nottingham, where he plays £15 tournaments three times a week. On this occasion, however, Robert Baguley found himself playing in the £770 buy-in event after splashing out on a £100 satellite and the rest, as they say, is history.
As the final table of eight got underway, Iqbal Ahmed was the chip leader (6.7m), with Ian Senior a distant second (3.765m) and Baguley way behind in 7th on a 2.1 million stack.
Nevertheless, Ian Senior was the first to exit in 8th (£22,750) holding Q-Q to Grant Pirie’s K-K, followed 20 minutes later by James Cummings in 7th (£34,000) with K-J to Nick Woodward’s K-K, who was then eliminated himself in 6th for £45,500.
Two hours later and Iqbal Ahmed scored a double elimination after Hasmukh Khodiyara (K-9) and Barry McMahon (A-6) were all-in and Iqbal Ahmed suprisingly decided to call with Q-7. However, the 7-2-6-7-Q board sealed their fates and they departed in 5th (£62,500) and 4th (£79,600) respectively.
A few minutes later and Iqbal Ahmed (A-J) took care of Grant Pirie (A-7) in 3rd (£96,700) to go heads-up against Robert Baguley.
Despite Baguley (7.685m) trailing Iqbal Ahmed (16.5m), the 60 year-old was able to chip up after winning several pots including one in which he turned trip sevens. Eventually, a low stacked Iqbal Ahmed (J-7) pushed over the top of a Baguley (A-10) pre-flop raise, who then made the call to eliminate his opponent on a 10-4-6-6-K board.
After his remarkable victory, Robert Baguley heaped praise on his competitors and commented: “They were all brilliant lads, especially Iqbal. The final table was played in a wonderful atmosphere. No one had a wrong word to say all day.”
The final payouts were as follows:
1st: Robert Baguley (£210,400)
2nd: Iqbal Ahmed (£125,000)
3rd: Grant Pirie (£96,700)
4th: Barry McMahon (£79,600)
5th: Hasmukh Khodiyara (£62,500)
6th: Nick Woodward (£45,500)
7th: James Cummings (£34,000)
8th: Ian Senior (£22,750)
