Bernie McGinlay Converts Glasgow Run Into GUKPT Main Event Title

There were established names scattered around the nine-handed final table, and WPT champion Andreas Olympios was the first to leave.

With only eight big blinds, Olympios pushed ace-jack and ran into Dean Lyall's pocket aces. The board provided no help, making £2,860 the first payout of the final.

Richard Kellett was next. His ace-king was ahead of Andy Mackenzie's jack-ten suited when the chips went in, but Mackenzie paired his jack on the turn. Kellett exited eighth for £3,440.

Paul Green then found pocket aces against Mark Swift's queens, bringing Swift's run to an end in seventh.

Michael Kane took care of Lyall soon afterwards. Lyall's nine-big-blind stack went in with pocket fives, Kane called with queen-jack, and a jack on the flop was enough to send Lyall out in sixth.

Green's strong run of starting hands continued against Andy Mackenzie. Mackenzie shoved 10 big blinds holding ace-jack, while Green called with pocket kings. The board stayed low enough for the kings to hold and Mackenzie finished fifth.

Four-handed play finally brought McGinlay his first knockout. Kane open-jammed his final 10 big blinds from the button with ace-seven. McGinlay picked up pocket kings and called, with the board doing nothing to overturn the preflop advantage. Kane's fourth-place finish was worth £11,120.

Green then went from contender to third-place finisher in quick order. A two-pair hand lost to McGinlay when the eventual champion completed a draw on the river, leaving Green with only five big blinds.

Those chips went in shortly afterwards with eight-seven. Varanavicius called with ace-six and held, taking the tournament into its final matchup. Green collected £16,850.