Footballer Tony Cascarino Wins GUKPT Grand Final Main Event

Former Ireland football striker Tony Cascarino has just won the GUKPT (Grosvenor UK Poker Tour) Grand Final main event at the Vic in London, after beating a field of 183 players to take down the top prize of £168,800. Cascarino, who also won the GUKPT Bolton Main Event in 2008 now moves to the all-time GUKPT money list, with around £250,000 in earnings.
The 4 day event, cost £3,000 to buy-in and attracted some of the top players from around Europe and the UK. A tough final table included World Heads Up Champion Bambos Xanthos and online poker tournament pro Daniel Millar and by the heads-up stage Cascarino found himself up against experienced live poker tournament player Antoine Arnault.
Cascarino gained a healthy lead and had almost eliminated Arnault after the chips went all-in with his A-2 versus Q-10, but a spade on the river made a flush for the Frechman and it was game on once more.
However, the poker scales of justice evened themselves out after Cascarino, with Ah2h was all-in against his opponents 10-9 on a 10-J-8 board with only one heart showing. A heart on the turn and river completed the flush for Cascarino and handed him his second title and a £168,800 pay-day. Arnaut received an impressive £107,100 for his runner-up finish.
Following his victory, Cascarino said, “I’ve been moaning all year, ‘cos nothing good has really happened to me. I’ve won something every year for the last four years, but until now 2009 has been frustrating. I got divorced earlier in the year and I’m delighted that she won’t be getting her hands on any of this. She’s already had enough out of me.”
The final GUKPT event of the calendar kicks off on the 30th November at the G Casino in Luton and culminates in the £100,000 Champion of  Champions tournament. The event is, however, an invite only tournament and will feature the winners from past GUKPT tournaments.