£1,100 Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2023 UKIPT Brighton
£1,100 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2023 UKIPT Brighton
Buy-in
£1,100
Prize Pool
£337,920
Entries
352
Level
30
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
120,000
Entries
6
Players Left
1
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The PokerStars UKIPT Brighton Main Event, running at the Rendezvous Casino, has reached its conclusion.
A total of 352 entries were recorded across three starting flights, which made for a prize pool of £337,920. Of those, 54 players made it through to Day 2 to lock up the £1,640 min-cash. Six players returned to the final table for Day 3.
In the end, PokerStars Team Online Pro Benjamin Spragg conquered the field to earn £69,120 in prize money and the trophy, taking down his first ever UKIPT event.
"I’m genuinely really emotional," said Spraggy. "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, who started the day at the bottom of the pack in terms of chips, made a comeback to eventually finish third in the event and obtain his first major cash in live poker. The PokerStars ambassador and football influencer takes home £30,110 for his win.
Dominik Nitsche, who is fifth on Germany’s all-time money list with over $20 million in live tournament cashes, started the day as chip leader and continued to play aggressively throughout the final table, losing and gaining chips until he eventually met with Spragg heads-up.
Spragg came into the heads-up match with a significant chip lead, but Nitsche doubled up with a straight to bring it even. Spragg then called Nitsche's river bluff to all but win the event, leaving Nitsche with just a single 5,000 chip left. He won the event the very next hand.
Nitsche earned £42,150 for second place and Spragg claimed the top prize of £69,120 for first, along with his first ever UKIPT trophy.
"It’s unbelievable. I’ve been playing UKIPT’s since 2011 and to win one…I’m lost for words," said Spraggy.
UKIPT Brighton Main Event Final Table Results
| PLACE | PLAYER | COUNTRY | PRIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benjamin Spragg | United Kingdom | £69,120 |
| 2 | Dominik Nitsche | Germany | £42,150 |
| 3 | Adam McKola | United Kingdom | £30,110 |
| 4 | Oliver Hutchins | United Kingdom | £23,160 |
| 5 | Alessandro Spina | Italy | £17,820 |
| 6 | Sebastian Gohr | United Kingdom | £13,700 |
| 7 | Jun Beum Chun | South Korea | £10,540 |
| 8 | Stewart Kirby | United Kingdom | £8,690 |
| 9 | Oscar Tompsett | United Kingdom | £7,240 |
Final Day Recap
Six players returned to the felt for the final day of action in the UKIPT Brighton Main Event.
McKola doubled through Alessandro Spina early on. Spraggy then doubled up against Sebastian Gohr with aces and eliminated Gohr a few hands later, again holding pocket aces. Gohr had to settle for sixth place and £13,700 in prize money. Meanwhile, McKola and Spraggy were back into serious contention.
Spina lost a huge pot against Nitsche's two pair. Spina managed to spin up his short stack a couple of times before running into McKola's pocket jacks and busting. Spina finished in fifth place for £17,820.
Power Path Silver Pass Winner Oliver Hutchins was next to go. He got it in good against Nitsche, but Nitsche paired his hand to double up and leave Hutchins short. Hutchins then got his chips in against McKola, who hit two pair to bust his opponent. Hutchins finished in fourth place for £23,160.
Action went three-handed and by this point Spraggy had accumulated a significant chip lead. McKola was in second, with Nitsche close behind. Nitsche doubled through Spragg before McKola ran into Spraggy's pocket queens to bust the event in third place for £30,110.
Spragg and Nitsche went heads-up and Spraggy still held on to a chip lead of more than 2-1. A split pot saved Nitsche from an early exit and moments later he doubled up with a straight to bring the stacks close to even.
Spragg then picked off Nitsche's river bluff with a pair of jacks to leave Nitsche with just a single 5,000 chip behind. The following hand it was all over. Spraggy held up and Nitsche was eliminated in second place for £42,150.
You can read the full interview with .
That concludes the PokerNews coverage of PokerStars UKIPT Brighton Main Event.
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Benjamin Spragg has emerged as the UKIPT Brighton Main Event champion, picking up the first UKIPT title of his poker career. He won £69,120 for his efforts and took home the trophy.
Stand by for the final table recap on PokerNews.
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Dominik Nitsche raised from the button, Benjamin Spragg reraised to 400,000 and Nitsche called.
The flop came 9♠K♠7♠. Spraggy continued for 300,000 and Nitsche called. The turn was the J♣. Spraggy checked and Nitsche bet 650,000, which Spragg called.
The river was the 3♦. Spragg checked again and Nitsche put his chips in the middle. Spraggy made the call. Nitsche showed A♠6♣ for a bluff with his missed flush draw. Spraggy showed A♥J♠ and had picked off the bluff with a pair of jacks.
He won the pot and left Nitsche with just 5,000 behind.
The next hand, Spraggy completed on the button and Nitsche was already all in on the big blind.
Dominik Nitsche: K♠J♥
Benjamin Spragg: 10♥3♥
The board ran out 3♠Q♣Q♠9♦8♦. Spraggy made two pair on the flop with the queens on board and his threes. He held to the river to win the pot, the tournament, and the trophy.
Nitsche was eliminated in second place for £42,150.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
10,560,000
5,660,000
|
5,660,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Dominik Nitsche raised from the button and Benjamin Spragg called.
The flop came 10♥J♦2♦. Spraggy checked and Nitsche made a continuation bet, which Spraggy called. The turn was the 8♥. Spraggy checked again and Nitsche bet 550,000, which Spraggy called.
The river came the 2♣. Spraggy checked and Nitsche moved all in for 1,900,000. Spraggy made the call. Nistche showed Q♣9♥ for a turned straight.
"I thought I had you beat Dominik," said Spraggy as he mucked his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,900,000
-3,160,000
|
-3,160,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,700,000
2,200,000
|
2,200,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Benjamin Spragg and Dominik Nitsche are now heads-up and have since played several pots.
Nitsche doubled up with a straight against Spragg's pocket deuces when the two got it in preflop.
Then, Spraggy got his A♦K♦ in good against Nitsche's A♥J♦, but the board ran out Q♠Q♣8♠3♣8♦, resulting in a split pot.
The action continues, with Spraggy still maintaining a significant chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,060,000
1,260,000
|
1,260,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,500,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
|
||
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Adam McKola shoved all in from the small blind and was called by Benjamin Spragg in the big blind, who had McKola well covered.
Adam McKola: 6♠6♦
Benjamin Spragg: Q♥Q♦
McKola had run his sixes into Spraggy's pocket queens. The board ran out 4♦4♥10♠K♥8♦. Spragg held to win the pot. McKola was eliminated from the tournament in third place for £30,110.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,800,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 30
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Benjamin Spragg shoved from the small blind and Dominik Nitsche called in the big blind with the shorter stack. The cards were turned on their backs.
Dominik Nitsche: Q♣4♣
Benjamin Spragg: 5♠3♠
The board ran out Q♠8♦4♥J♦6♣. Nitsche hit two pair to win the pot and double up his stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,800,000
-1,000,000
|
-1,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,700,000
-10,000
|
-10,000 |
|
|
||
Level: 30
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Level 29
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
Players in the Main Event are now heading for a 20-minute break.
There are only three remaining for the title; Benjamin Spragg is in the lead, Adam McKola is in second and Dominik Nitsche is currently third. The next payout is worth £30,110.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,800,000
2,700,000
|
2,700,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,040,000
-260,000
|
-260,000 |
|
|
1,710,000
-690,000
|
-690,000 |
|
|
||