September 10, 2023, Brighton, UK
Schedule | Galleries | Full Results | All files from UKIPT Brighton UKIPT Brighton took place September 5-10 at the Rendezvous Casino, Brighton The Main Event’s 352 entries generated a £337,920 prize pool, paid to the top 54 finishers PokerStars Team Pro Benjamin Spragg bagged the trophy and £69,120 first prize. All payouts Kerryjane Craigie victorious in the £220 Women’s Event and Nicholas Marshall in the £220 Bounty Chuc Khuu won the £330 UKIPT Brighton Cup and £18,990 after a deal with Darren Murphy PokerStars Live app: Android | iOS
PokerStars Team Pro Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg has won the £1,100 Main Event at the first UK and Ireland Poker Tour stop in Brighton since 2011, along with £69,000 in prize money.
The Main Event attracted 352 entries, paying out a £337,920 total prize pool amongst the top 54 finishers. The top six prizes were awarded today, on a final that, though undoubtedly tough, the eventual winner found nothing but friendly: “I’m genuinely really emotional,” said Spragg, after he saw off final opponent Dominik Nitsche. “I didn’t think I would be because there was such a good atmosphere at the final table, it didn’t feel like a final table. Having Adam [McKola] there and other players I know, it didn’t feel that intense.”
Adam McKola, a well-known football YouTuber and podcaster, has thrown himself into poker having only learned the game two years ago, and his dedication has paid off to the tune of £30,100 for third place in the Main Event. Good friends with the new Brighton champ, McKola started the day as the short stack, having run a full house into the quads of Sebastian Gohr right before the end of play on Day 2. He was, however, to outlast not only Gohr (6th for £13,700) but almost everyone else.
Alessandro Spina bust in 5th place (£17,820) after a turbulent level, followed by Power Path Silver Pass winner Oliver Hutchins, who turned $11 into £23,160.
• Full Main Event payouts
• Profiles of all nine finalists
• PokerStars Blog interview with 2023 UKIPT Brighton champion Benjamin Spragg
• Main Event coverage on PokerNews
Also making the money in the Main Event were top of the UKIPT Leaderboard (and PokerStars online qualifier) David Docherty who finished 26th for £2,500 and yet more POTY points, Power Path Silver Pass winner Samuel Taylor, Jack Hardcastle, Kevin Williams, Leo Worthington-Leese, Conor Beresford and Ian Simpson (all picking up a min-cash of £1,640). Further notable cashers include Marle Spragg (32nd for £1,890), Marian Farcas (12th for £5,030) and Oliver Kong (10th for £6,040).
The final table lost a third of its players last night, with Oscar Tompsett first to bust in a battle of the kickers against McKola, who proceeded to eliminate Stewart Kirby with some timely pocket kings. Finally, Jun Beum Chun busted in 7th, adding another £10,540 to his already lengthy 2023 list of cashes.
UKIPT Brighton Main Event Final Day results:
1 Benjamin Spragg, PokerStars Team Pro, United Kingdom – £69,120
2 Dominik Nitsche, Germany – £42,150
3 Adam McKola, United Kingdom – £30,110
4 Oliver Hutchins, Silver Pass Winner, United Kingdom – £23,160
5 Alessandro Spina, Italy – £17,820
6 Sebastian Gohr, PokerStars Qualifier, United Kingdom – £13,700
The gregarious Spraggy, award-winning Twitch streamer, PokerStars Team Pro and now UKIPT champion, finally has a major live title under his belt to complement his online accolades. “I no longer feel like an online guy who plays a bit of live,” he said, “I’m just a poker pro.”
