Poker Tour Approaches Climax In Bristol

Poker players head to Bristol for grand final

Many of the UK's top poker players are in Bristol this week for the grand final of the Gala Casinos British Poker Tour (GCBPT).

With an estimated prize pool of £400,000, the event at Gala's flagship Harbourside Casino is expected to be a keenly-contested affair, with the main championship event alone offering about £300,000 in prize money.

The poker action has been underway in Bristol since Monday (December 1st), but the £1,600 buy-in main event does not begin until this afternoon.

As well as cash prizes, packages to the World Series of Poker, Aussie Millions and European Poker Tour events are also up for grabs at the grand final, which will conclude on Sunday.

Last year Joe Beevers pocketed a first prize of £87,500 after defeating Rob Akery in a dramatic heads-up session, with Barny Boatman coming third.

All three players were rewarded with places in major worldwide poker tournaments as well as their cash winnings.

The 2008 GCBPT began with an event in Edinburgh in February, when Colin Wu was declared the winner.