Deal, Drama, and Dominance: Le Shines in £1,100 Main Event
After seven days of cards flying at The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, the United Kingdom’s own Tuan Le stood tall as the champion of the £1,100 PokerStars Open Manchester Main Event. Le conquered a massive field of 927 entries to capture £149,200 and his second PokerStars trophy, following a memorable heads-up duel with fellow Brit Christopher Brammer.
The tournament drew a £1,000,000 prize pool and plenty of big-name competition, but in the end, it was Le who held his nerve and his chips. After agreeing to an even split deal with Brammer that left £15,000 and the trophy to play for, Le sealed the victory in style.
Fire Alarm, Deal-Making, and a Champion’s Composure
Le entered the final duel with the chip lead, but Brammer quickly fought back to level the stacks. Once even, Brammer offered the split, and Le was happy to shake hands on the deal before play resumed. But this wasn’t just any heads-up match—it came with a twist. A sudden fire alarm interrupted the action mid-hand, forcing an evacuation of the building.
“We were in a hand, I was about to bluff, and the fire alarm went off,” Le laughed. “I had to decide whether to bluff now or when we get back!”
Once the players returned, the battle continued for more than two hours, with the chip lead changing hands multiple times. Eventually, Le landed the final blow to claim the trophy and the glory. Brammer collected £134,200 for his runner-up finish.
Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuan Le | United Kingdom | £149,200* |
| 2 | Christopher Brammer | United Kingdom | £134,200* |
| 3 | Hasmukh Khodiyara | United Kingdom | £77,860 |
| 4 | Adam Andersson | Sweden | £59,890 |
| 5 | Mohamed Kerkeni | France | £46,070 |
| 6 | Sinead Davenport | United Kingdom | £35,440 |
| 7 | Iulian-Petrut Petrache | Romania | £27,260 |
| 8 | Ravi Sheth | United Kingdom | £20,970 |
| 9 | John Adderley | United Kingdom | £16,130 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
“I Just Enjoy Being Here”
Despite his growing list of accomplishments, Le isn’t a full-time poker pro—just a family man who loves the game. His laid-back attitude and sense of humor were on full display throughout the final table.
“I enjoy being here, so I slept fine last night,” Le said with a grin. “It’s my time to relax, so I can get away from the wife and kids.”
He admitted that playing against a seasoned pro like Brammer was no small task. “It was tough playing against a pro. I’ve got four kids, so I’ve got no time. I’m not technically good, I can’t think numbers. These guys talk about big blinds—I’ve got no idea!”
When asked about the win, Le joked, “I’m going to pay off my debts, take this trophy home to the missus, and tell her I’m going pro.” Though his wife isn’t a fan of his poker hobby, Le hinted he’ll be taking more shots at bigger events across the UK.
From 927 Entries to One Champion
Out of 927 total entries, 381 players advanced to Day 2, where 135 made the money after Alex Todd’s kings ran into aces on the bubble. By the end of the day, 49 players remained, led by Ravi Sheth, who later reached the final table.
Day 3 saw the field trimmed to a final nine, with Le and Brammer both near the top of the chip counts. When the finalists returned, the two Brits dominated the action, holding nearly two-thirds of the chips between them.
Short stack Sinead Davenport exited in sixth after Brammer paired on the river. Mohamed Kerkeni followed in fifth, then Le knocked out Adam Andersson in fourth. Brammer eliminated Hasmukh Khodiyara in third, setting up the final heads-up clash that would crown Tuan Le as champion.
With this victory, Le adds another chapter to his growing poker résumé and further cements his reputation as one of the UK’s most entertaining and unpredictable talents on the felt.
