Tony Hallam wins GPS Stoke

Tony Hallam wins GPS Stoke

Monday, 16 September 2013

The fifth leg of the Genting Poker Series is in the book with Tony Hallam taking the honours in Stoke over the weekend. Hallam pocketed a first prize of £34,360 after working his way through a field of 415 entries who created a prize pool of £166,000.

The eventual winner started yesterday's final table with the second shortest stack but an early double up with KQ against Justin Devenport's AJ gave him just the momentum he needed and he rode it all the way to the title.

Maurice Nicholson was the first man at the final table to hit the rail when his two pair couldn't improve to a full house to beat Devenport's flopped nut straight. Nick Ramsey followed soon after when his 4s ran into Tom Seaman's pocket queens. Both players flopped a set but there were no miracle quads for Ramsey who had to settle for £4,485.

Devenport departed in sixth when his pair couldn't hold against Jon Alley's two overcards and a flush draw. Alley was responsible for the next elimination too, his AQ holding against Seaman's J10.

Gabriel Tuna's 20 big blind shove with Q7 was looked up by Ray Power who was holding AK. An AA7 flop left the former Fox Main Event winner needing running 7s but a K on the turn sealed his exit.

Demetris Theophanous went in fourth, unlucky to run is pocket 2s into Alley's aces. It didn't take long to get to heads up play with Power departing in third when is A2 couldn't overturn Alley's pocket 33s.

With the stacks relatively even the final pair agreed a deal that would see both of them take home £30,000 before playing on for the extra £4,360.

After a relatively slow start, two handed play sprung into life with a huge double up for Hallam. The chips hit the middle on a 9d4d6c board with Hallam's AdJd needing help to beat Alley's pocket queens. The turn was a blank but the 5d on the river gave Hallam the flush and a tournament defining lead.

The short stacked Alley managed a couple of double ups but his luck ran out when Hallam spiked a 7 on the river holding A7 to crush the former Genting Club Stoke dealer's AK. £30,000 should offer some consolation.

The final table positions and payouts were as follows:
1st - £34,360 - Tony Hallam
2nd - £30,000 - Jon Alley
3rd - £19,670 - Ray Power
4th - £13,860 - Demetris Theophanous
5th - £10,045 - Gabriel Tuna
6th - £7,720 - Tom Seaman
7th - £6,005 - Justin Devonport
8th - £4,485 - Nick Ramsey
9th - £3,325 - Maurice Nicholson
The next stop on the Genting Poker Series is Edinburgh. The Main Event in the Scottish capital runs from 10th October. Qualifiers for the £400+£40 tournament are up and running at GentingPoker.com.




Tags: Tony Hallam, Genting Poker Series