The 2015 UK Poker Championships (UKPC), sponsored by SkyPoker, came to a close last night. Taking top honors was British poker player Fraser Bellamy, who scooped a massive £200,000 for winning the SkyPoker UKPC Main Event.
The multi-event poker festival got underway on February 22nd at Dusk Till Dawn (DTD) in Nottingham. After four days of starting flights that saw 1002 players registering for the Main Event, just 31 players made it to the end of day 2. Then on Sunday afternoon, when Alan Saluk, who won his seat in the Main Event via an online poker freeroll on SkyPoker, fell to the rails in 10th (£12,000), the final table was set.
Fraser Bellamy was already in great position, going into the final table with the next-highest chip stack of 8.08mm, second to former DTD poker dealer, Tom Hall (9.855mm). The first player to walk from the table was Dewi James, who earned £15,050 for a 9th place finish when his 6-5 couldn’t stand up to the 8-8 of David Lloyd. Things slowed down after that until hand #50.
John Kalmar shipped his 2.6mm stack pre-flop, getting a quick call from Jamie Clossick. Bellamy responded by going all-in, much to the consternation of Clossick, who eventually decided to call with the other half of his remaining stack. Kalmar showed 5-5, Clossick K-Q and Bellamy A-Q. The board played out A-J-8-J-J, giving Bellamy the full boat of Jacks over Aces, and subsequently knocking both of his opponents out of the race for the title. Kalmar finished 8th for £20,000; Clossick 7th for £25,000.
Next on the hit-list was Farhaan Kahn, who ran pocket Jacks into the pocket Aces of Chris Vernon. Kahn received £30,000 for the 6th place finish. Soon after, Tom Hall was eliminated in 5th for £40,000 when the British poker player’s per-flop shove on Q-J fell short of the Q-Q of Matas Cimbolas.
The celebration from Cimbolas’ rail wouldn’t last long, though. As he limped from the button, Bellamy raised to 2mm and Cimbolas pushed all-in. Fraser did not hesitate to make the call, showing A-J. Matas turned over 10d-7d, and the race was on. Cimbolas hit one diamond on the 2-J-5 flop, and another on the 2d turn. No help came on the 4 river, though, sending Cimbolas out in 4th for £55,000.
Three-handed play between Bellamy, Vernon and Lloyd didn’t last very long when the short-stacked Lloyd looked underneath at A-Q, pushing all-in. Fraser Bellamy called with J-T, and things were looking great for David Lloyd as the board delivered a whole lot of nothing on the 5-K-4-8 flop and turn. But Lady Luck graced Bellamy with a 10 on the river, just in time to send Lloyd home in 3rd with a respectable £80,000.
The British poker pro had a lofty lead of 39mm to Vernon’s 11mm, and it took just half an hour for Bellamy to claim them all. On the final hand of the SkyPoker 2015 UK Poker Championships, the two got all the chips in the middle pre-flop with Bellamy leading Q-Q over Vernon’s A-4. The board dealt 7-3-J-2-Q, giving Bellamy the set and the 1st place victory, worth £200,000. Vernon’ worthy efforts earned him the runner up prize of £120,000.
2015 SkyPoker UK Poker Championships Final Table Results
| 1st | Fraser Bellamy | £200,000 |
| 2nd | Chris Vernon | £120,000 |
| 3rd | David Lloyd | £80,000 |
| 4th | Matas Cimbolas | £55,000 |
| 5th | Tom Hall | £40,000 |
| 6th | Farhaan Khan | £30,000 |
| 7th | Jamie Clossick | £25,000 |
| 8th | Jonathan Kalmar | £20,000 |
| 9th | Dewi James | £15,050 |