GUKPT Leg 7, Grosvenor Casino, Bolton, 4-7 September 2008

Entrants: 175

Buy in: £1,000 + £60

Prize pool: £175,000

Final individual results:

1. Tony Cascarino, £52,850
2. Ali Mallu, £30,600
3. Roberto Romanello, £21,900
4. Rob Sherwood, £14,900
5. Kevin O'Leary, £11,400
6. Dennis Clough, £8,750
7. Surinder Sunar, £7,000
8. Sid Harris, £5,250
9. Greg Hunt, £4,400

Textiles, Amir Khan, Vernon Kay – there aren't too many things Bolton is famed for, but in the niche world of poker, being the birthplace of the GUKPT is one. Now, 18 months on, 175 players reunite in the Grosvenor Casino in an attempt to echo Praz Bansi's efforts of last year and be crowned King of Bolton.

Although other festivals resulted in a depleted field, we were still blessed with the presence of Marty Wilson, Jen Mason, Julian Thew, Neil Channing, Dave Colclough, Nik Persaud and Luton champ Sam Trickett, not to mention actor Michael Le Vell who had swapped a spanner for a deck of cards to take a last minute venture away from the Street.

Whilst pocket rockets launched the wooden spoon into the hands of Om Aggarwa, others weren't too far behind as Darren Hickman, Nick Gibson, Nick Hicks and Katherine Hartree all suffered fatal accidents early doors.