WSOPC Nottingham: Record-Breaking Festival and a British Title for Francis Obadun

Record-Breaking Start to the Festival

The festival kicked off with the £300 Mini Main Event, setting a record-breaking start. The event saw 1,214 entries, smashing the guaranteed £150,000 and inflating the prize pool to £327,780. Anthony Desai emerged victorious from the massive field, claiming the title along with £46,568 and the festival's first ring.

On the same day, the one-day £300 6-max event attracted 207 entries, generating a £55,890 prize pool. Adam Sandercock emerged as the winner, securing £9,654 and the first of two festival rings he would take home from Nottingham. Both champions, along with other ring winners, also received a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, earning them a December trip to the Bahamas.

Million Pound Main Event Guarantee Shattered

The WSOPC UK Main Event – the festival's centerpiece – featured a £1,350+150 buy-in and a bold £1,000,000 guarantee. Five starting flights attracted 845 entries, creating a £1,140,750 prize pool with £189,030 awaiting the winner. Each starting day played down to 15% of participants, advancing 129 players to Day 2.

The event featured well-known names from the local scene, such as Jack O'Neill, Gilbert Black, Sandeep Shah, and Mark Stokes, along with international players like Pranav Agarwal and Wai Hung. The final day began cautiously, with players feeling each other out to avoid fatal mistakes before the action truly exploded.

Jack O'Neill's Run Falls Short Against Obadun's Momentum

Francis Obadun entered the final table with nearly double the stack of second-place Gilbert Black and quickly proved he wasn't there just to spectate. Despite looking like a main contender for the title, Gilbert Black finished fourth, as his chips went to Obadun, earning him £62,725.

After an active game, Pranav Agarwal took third (£88,195), setting the stage for the concluding showdown. The heads-up between Francis Obadun and Jack O'Neill ended the festival with a thrilling finale. Although Obadun had a significant lead, O'Neill refused to capitulate, managing to double up three times and narrow the gap to 24M vs. 18M in chips.

In the final hand, O'Neill opened from the button, Obadun shoved from the big blind, and the Brit called with A d 9 c against Obadun’s 9 d 6 d. The flop of 5 s 3 d 7 c gave Obadun a gutshot, which he hit on the turn with a 4 s. The river K d sealed the deal. Jack O'Neill claimed £126,005 for second place, while Francis Obadun celebrated his first WSOPC ring, £189,030, and the $5,000 WSOP Paradise package.

Final Table Results:

Sources: Poker.Pro, dusktilldawnpoker, FB, X