The Bristol leg of the Gala Casinos British Poker Tour (GCBPT) saw Neil Blatchly, an accountant from Leicester, claim the first prize of £34,750. The final players (heads up) decided to come to a deal, splitting the prize money so that they were each guaranteed £30,000, with amateur player, Blatchly, scoring the ultimate glory of first prize.

With over 600 runners across the over-subscribed festival, and an overall prize fund of £182,800, there was much to play for at the Gala Harbourside Casino in Bristol.

Blatchly said: “A good structure meant there was lots of play and I was able to go to the final table needing only one good hand to take the title.