While the Grosvenor Casino, Walsall, located 150 yards from the M6, might not sound like the most glamorous location in the world, 360 runners turned up on February 15 to battle for the second GUKPT title, and the huge £121,600 first prize.

By Sunday the 360 had been whittled down to 12 and by 6pm the final table was assembled. Two internet qualifiers (including chip leader Jerome Bradpiece) brushed shoulders with the better-known pair of Joe Beevers and Peter Evans.

The final table was a tense, slow-paced affair and six hours in there were still six players vying for the prize after Joe Beevers went out in seventh.

Some bold calling and big-stack bullying from Bradpiece saw him through to heads-up with Billy Ngo, who had been down to less than five big blinds at the end of Day 2. The heads-up lasted just three hands, with Bradpiece taking the cash and a seat in the Grand Final when his A-J held up against Ngo’s A-8.

Because of the popularity of the tour, all future legs are now four-day events, with the next two in Cardiff (March 22-25) and Manchester (April 19-22).

You can find a full schedule along with details of all live and online satellites at: