Nik Persaud wins World Heads Up Championships

Nik Persaud wins World Heads Up Championships

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

UK pro Nik Persaud – and former cover star of Bluff Europe, no less – has taken down the £2,200 Heads-Up Championships running alongside the GUKPT Grand Final at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino this week, winning his first major title and £30,000.

Persaud dominated the final clash with Leon Louis, the youngster eventually taking a stand with pocket fives on a 7s4d6c board. Persaud, holding 8d9d called Louis' three-bet shove. A 7d on the turn gave Persaud a flush draw to go with his open ended straight draw and overcards. The river was another 6 which paired the board and counterfeited Louis' pocket fives. It took a while for Persaud to realise that his 9 kicker played, a fact he blamed on his third Corona of the evening.


"I'm really pleased to have won a title," added Nik. "There were some great players in there, so it feels good to have won, especially in a format which I've been playing a lot of. It's also great for Black Belt Poker, and hopefully shows what a great team spirit we have. It spurs you on when you see everyone else doing so well."


Persaud had earlier beaten Vicky Coren in the quarter final then Toby Lewis in the semi to book his place in the final. Louis, who has been an online pro for a year but is a relative novice in the live arena, can be pleased with his weekend's work too. The youngster beat defending champion Bambos Xanthos in the quarter final and 2007 winner Jeff Kimber in the semi but didn't have quite enough to beat Persaud in the final.


The full payouts were as follows:


1.Nik Persaud - £30,000
2.Leon Louis - £15,000
3.Toby Lewis/Jeff Kimbler - £5,500


The GUKPT Grand Final £2,650 Main Event begins on Thursday with two opening flights capped at 200 players. Each competitor will receive 25,000 chips and a one hour clock throughout the opening days.


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