The UK and Ireland Poker Tour Nottingham has officially etched its name into the record books, drawing an astounding 1,282 entries at Dusk Till Dawn. This spectacular turnout not only eclipses last year’s total of 1,227 but also sets a new benchmark for the event, highlighting its growing popularity and prestige.
A new record was also set in the Nottingham leg of the UKIPT for the largest opening flight, with a staggering 568 players taking their seats in Day 1d and 85 making it into the money. Each competitor was eager to test their skills against some of the region’s finest and battle for a share of the £1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Simultaneously playing out was Day 1e, the turbo flight, which drew 237 entries and saw 36 players fight their way through the field and into Day 2.
Day 1d Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashraf Desai | United Kingdom | 632,000 | 158 |
| 2 | Ishaq Ilaj | United Kingdom | 534,000 | 134 |
| 3 | Edward Quinn | Jersey | 502,000 | 126 |
| 4 | Yucel Eminoglu | United Kingdom | 493,000 | 123 |
| 5 | Arian Kashani | United Kingdom | 490,000 | 123 |
| 6 | Daniel Myers | United Kingdom | 485,000 | 121 |
| 7 | Richard Jones | United Kingdom | 467,000 | 117 |
| 8 | Zsolt Molnar | United Kingdom | 452,000 | 113 |
| 9 | Bhavin Khatri | United Kingdom | 411,000 | 103 |
| 10 | Robert Sherwood | United Kingdom | 358,000 | 90 |
At the top of the pack is Ashraf Desai, who bagged a hefty 632,000 chips, which also gives him the title of overall chip leader once Day 2 kicks off. Ishaq Ilaj finished in second with 534,000 chips, and Edward Quinn rounded out the podium places with a stack of 502,000.
Another player to watch on Day 2 is Arian Kashani, who finished Day 1 with an impressive 490,000 chips. Renowned for his methodical and strategic play, Kashani has a proven track record of strong performances. With his experience and a solid chip stack, he’s well-positioned to make a deep run and could be a serious contender for a final table spot.
PokerStars Ambassador and part of Team Online Benjamin Spragg navigated his way through the field and ended with a stack of 226,000 chips. Spragg is no stranger to the UKIPT as he won the Main Event in Brighton just over a year ago for £69,120.
Yucel Eminoglu, also known as “The Mad Turk”, booked his ticket to Day 2 and has a healthy stack of 493,000 to work with come the starting bell. Eminoglu sits fourth on Turkey’s all-time money list and is closing in on $2,000,000 in lifetime career earnings.
The unfortunate title of bubble boy went to Gurrinder Konkon, when his Big Slick fell to the pocket queens of Daniel Myers. Konkon turned a king, but a queen on the river meant he was the last player to leave empty-handed.
Other notables to make it through include Christopher Brammer (351,000), Paul McAulay (325,000), Hong Pham (282,000), Longmao Fan (227,000), and Kuljinder Sidhu (208,000).
Remaining UKIPT Main Event Schedule
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 17 November | Day 2 | 12:00 p.m. |
| 18 November | Day 3 | 12:00 p.m. |
Play will begin at noon on Sunday, November 17 with longer 60-minute levels. Blinds will start at Level 15 – 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante as that was the earliest point in which a flight finished (Day 1a).
Be sure to keep it right here with PokerNews for Day 2 as the UKIPT Main Event heads towards its business end.