It took a river king to end it all. Kostas Patsourakis came out on top of the 2025 GUKPT Blackpool Main Event after a wild three-way all-in decided the title, earning £67,990 from the £289,550 prize pool. The win also gave the Greek player his second GUKPT Main Event trophy, following his first in Leeds back in 2023.
Patsourakis started the final day with a huge chip lead and never really lost control. The field of 279 had been trimmed down fast, with Osman Mustanoglu’s missed flush draw sending him out in ninth and Ewen Trevidy’s mistimed four-bet shove running into Patsourakis’ queens. From there, the chip leader kept the pressure on as Iwan Jones, Thomas Clack, and Michael Rolt all fell before the last three players were set.
The final hand was one for the highlight reel. Patsourakis opened the button with A♦K♦, Clack jammed 27 big blinds holding 10♣9♣, and McMurray reshoved for 39 bigs with J♥J♣. Patsourakis called, and the three watched the board come 8♣8♥5♦4♣K♥. McMurray’s jacks were in front the whole way—until that king hit the river to seal it for Patsourakis.
It’s a moment that pushes his 2025 live earnings past $100,000 and his lifetime total beyond $210,000. Not bad for a player who only started taking poker seriously two years ago.
The Blackpool stop had plenty of other winners too. Gilly Black topped 699 entries in the £250 Mini Main for £30,150, while Alex Rizvi took the £250 Pot Limit Omaha event for £5,080. Harry Sandford went back-to-back in the £1,650 High Roller, banking £36,810, and veteran Keith Littlewood added another GUKPT trophy after claiming the £550 GUKPT Cup for £14,170.
Next up: the big one. The 2025 GUKPT Grand Final kicks off November 20 at London’s iconic Grosvenor Victoria Casino, fresh off its £15 million refurbishment. With a £2,000 Main Event boasting a £500,000 guarantee, the season finale promises to close the year in style.
