Glasgow Poker Festival – Final Day Wrap Up

All good things must come to an end, but great things remain etched in our memories forever. The Glasgow Poker Festival 2025 at the Alea Casino opened its doors on Main Event Sunday, with those not having banked an entry into the final having one last chance to do so.

The Main Event Day 1H (Hyper 6 levels only) started bright and earlier attracting 59 eager entries and bringing the overall prize pool to a staggering £280,820. With the fast-paced action in the hyper it set up the day in the Alea and things were rearing to go, 20 entries made it through to the Main Event.

All players eagerly waited for the Big Yin to begin; the Glasgow Poker Festival Main Event began with 182 entries. At the start some of those with low stacks doubled up and gave themselves a chance of fighting on. Others happy to have made it so far, were swapping stories and craic across the room, having gotten to know each other well throughout the week.

Then we got down to one of the earlier highlights of any event. The bubble was about to burst, with a few lucky breaks and double ups, eventually Jamie Wilson was the bubble boy. Going all in with Kings and Jacks. Two other players at the table called, resulting in a side pot, both had Ace’s and 9’s. The board was 6♣ 9♦ 10♦ 6♠ 2♦. Jamie unlucky, and keep at it, great work to get this far.

Now it was Business time in the Main Event with all players walking away with money, the question is would it be around £1000 or £50,000.

The Glasgow Poker Cup 1B, began at the same time, as the Main Event, 163 entries put there name in the hat to try and get through for the cup final later that day. With the prize pool reaching £49,508. If you are regular on livepokerupdates.com throughout the 1B, the tables although randomly generated were throwing up some interesting matches. 1st and 2nd on the leader board being placed beside each other to battle it out. Young couple Michelle Gross and Henning Wendlandt kept getting placed at the same table trying to mount a Bonnie Clyde type attack for the peaks of the of the tournament. They had a short break and back at it for the final which started at 8.30pm.

The Omaha 4/5/6 Cards had a decent turnout with 66 entries and a prize pool of £11,088. In the end Timothy Shirley took home the trophy with £3,548, Irish man Robert Elkin came 2nd with £1,640.

In the Glasgow Poker Cup once again a man who has been in so many final table pictures this week he has gone colour blind from the photographers flash was present and accounted for. Paul Carr, battled and has been a joy to watch at the Glasgow Poker Festival but one man was not letting the trophy go back in Paul’s suitcase. Having recently won a package to play in the WSOP Main Event Las Vegas. Colin Downie a local Glaswegian took home the honours and £9,248, a deal was made meaning Pauls takings was £8,500, leaving Mark Johnston in 3rd with £6,200.

The Last Chance Turbo had 39 entries and a prize pool of £4,680. It finished off with Stephen McCabe and Lewis Aikman, two local lads, partners in crime and lifelong friends battling through the competition. It ended with themselves in a heads up but Lewis took home 1st the trophy and £1,770. This time his sidekick in the double act show Stephen walked away with £1,220.

The Glasgow Main Event Final after the bubble burst, got as you would imagine quite serious, with many of the locals having a chance to play for the highest stakes ever seen in their local City. The final table consisted of 7 Scots, David Owens from England and Ireland’s legendary Andrew Toole who was chip leader. Englishmen David got forced out of the competition in 9th place with £6,650. Meaning the trophy would go to a Celt. They tried, but Cork Man Andrew sat back with a stoic look on his face pretty much saying “Alright lads, who’s got the schtuff?”. Although they tried Andrew who qualified from the Main Event Day 1H Hyper earlier in the day, was ready to go all week if it had to, to make sure he came out on top. The Scots fought hard but, in the end, Andy took home the trophy. Ben McCann who had to be in the office at 9am on Monday, was happy to do a deal when it got to heads up, Ben took home £43,000. Shane knocked out Patrick Murphy sending him with £26,000 in 3rd place.

The final hand played Qj vs j7 flop 9 10 6 check check on flop, turn 8 small bet from Andrew, raise from Ben, Andrew flats, river 3 Andrew checks Ben jams and Andy snap calls with the nuts.

Andrew told the lads at IPT to bring his trophy home as he was off to Thailand in the morning, with £53,000 the Champion of the Glasgow Poker Festival Main Event.

See you in Dublin for more livepokerupdates…