Bad Beat for Second

The GUKPT London is always a popular affair, and this year was no different. Given that the buy-in fee had crept up to £1,500, 318 runners was an impressive feat, and it was of no surprise to see many of the UK’s biggest and best circuit players fish into their wallet for a piece of the action.

Eager to dip his finger into the £477,000 pie was local hero Neil Channing, the Vic stalwart taking his seat on Day 1B along with the likes of James Mitchell, Ali Mallu, Keith Hawkins, Stuart Fox, Jake Cody, John Tabatabai and the entire Hit Squad who bought in as alternates. But despite the ferocious competition, Neil enjoyed a fruitful day, ending the session third in chips with 99,400.

Day Two was perhaps a more turbulent affair, Channing forced to dodge a few beats and win a couple of flips to storm his way into the final. Nevertheless, storm he did, and at 1.15am he texted: “Somehow, I luckboxed my way into the final with an average stack. Just have to win it tomorrow. Fingers crossed.”

Rumit Somaiya - 1,286,000
Leon Bui - 873,000
Neil Channing - 546,500
Cuong Tran - 440,500
Stephen Ducharme - 410,000
Salman Behbehani - 408,500
Mick McCool - 302,000
Darren Annis - 181,000
Laurence Houghton - 167,500
Vicky Coren - 134,000

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Early action suggested he’d tied them up in granny knots, as within the opening level he was able to eliminate danger man Laurence Houghton in ninth place with K-T versus 8-8. Perhaps the most entertaining moment, however, came in the form of Shoegate, when Roland De Wolfe, who was watching the live feed, bet Neil £3,000 that he couldn’t put his shoes on the table for one orbit. Scents were released, stacks were knocked, and bloggers were duped, but I’ll let Neil explain the rest.

http://www.vimeo.com/10524928

Post Shoegate Scandal, Neil enjoyed both highs and lows, doubling up with Q-5 versus A-7, and A-A holding up against J-9 on a Q-T-x flop (both courtesy of Somaiya), but also running K-Q into A-K on two separate occasions. Ultimately, though, he managed to squeeze into the final three with 1.5 million in chips and in with a great shot at giving his Irish Open trophy a new neighbour.

After a gruelling back and forth battle in which many all-ins went uncalled, Channing took the chip lead for the first time, his A-T dominating, and subsequently beating, Bui’s A-7. Moments later and Channing finished off his man with A-J versus Q-3 to leave himself heads-up with Tran and just inches away from his first GUKPT title. But sadly, it wasn’t to be, and after doubling his foe up with a set versus a turned straight, Tran took the title soon after, T-7 spiking a dramatic ten on the turn against pocket nines to send Neil out in a disappointing, but financially rewarding second place.

Whilst 30-year old Londoner Tran clapped the air and celebrated with his friend and third place finisher Bui (who, incidentally, had percentages with one another), Neil slipped off to confront the rail of salivating nippers before collecting his £84,700 prize. Neil was understandably devastated to see the title slip through his fingers, but it was still a remarkable performance and one that will hopefully put him in good stead heading into next week’s Irish Open.

http://www.vimeo.com/10525109

As always, Neil Channing will be playing on his ‘NeilChanning’ cash table next Tuesday in our weekly Challenge Channing promotion. If you would like to try your hand at some $0.25/0.50 cash and tackle the GUKPT London runner-up, then be sure to grab your seat from 7.30 onwards.