Matt Saville – Robin Hood, Havant
2025 UK PUB POKER CHAMPION
The Location
Redtooth Poker’s VEGAS100 continued it’s 3-year residency at the luxurious MGM Grand in true style, as the biggest hotel in the whole of the USA welcomed over 250 people in what was the largest and most prestigious VEGAS100 festival to date. The MGM Grand is located in a real hotspot on the Las Vegas strip, offering our guests a short walk to attractions such as the Bellagio fountains & the Linq High Roller, which stands a whopping 107ft taller than the London Eye. VEGAS100 truly is now an unrivalled brand on the UK poker scene with this deal taking it into statospheric levels, and we have no intention to ever come back down.
What is VEGAS100?
In 2012, Redtooth Poker revolutionised pub poker in the UK by introducing VEGAS100, a concept taking the UK’s top 100 poker players, which are found via regional, national and online qualifiers, to the poker capital of the world, Las Vegas, to join the VEGAS100 experience and compete for the title of UK Pub Poker Champion. 100 players would travel across the pond but only 1 would return as the champion. Liverpool’s Anthony Hannon emerged victorious last time out in 2024, but would he hold onto his crown and be the first player to defend his title? Or would a new star emerge from the desert of Las Vegas?
If you’re not a winner, you cannot come in!
Shuffle up n Deal
At 10:30am Las Vegas time, it was time to announce the famous words of ‘Shuffle up n Deal’ which was said by the MGM Poker Manager Steve Pique. Lets get the cards in the air!
First To Fall
The first player to fall in this year’s prestigious event was a rising star around the Redtooth Poker circuit. Robert Edwards from the Robin Hood in Hayling Island, who was enjoying his second VEGAS100 Main Event and is becoming a regular in the MALTA52 grand finals as well couldn’t get going on this occasion despite all of his best efforts to do so.
He got his chips in the middle in excellent shape holding A-7 on a 4-6-8-7 board. His all-in was called by A-K and in Rob’s disbelief, the K hit the on river and with his opponent covering him, we had our first elimination.
Brutal!
Nobody wants to be the first player out, but Rob took it extremely well considering how the hand played out. The room breathed a huge sigh of relief that the 1st out accolade has been awarded. On with the tournament…
Champ Watch
Anthony Hannon returned to the VEGAS100 off the back of a fantastic year as our champ. Anthony made maximum use of his sponsorship deal, cashing for nearly £7,000 from his £5,000 in tournament buy-ins, setting a new record for sponsorship winnings. He returned extremely confident and was really believing he could be the first ever back-to-back champion. Well, Day 1 came to a close as we played down to the final table, and who was there as chip leader? No other than the champion, Anthony Hannon. One-by-one players were eliminated until we were suddenly 3-handed with Anthony still in the mix. That was until he tangled with our runner-up Martin Dyer. Anthony moved all-in with K-Q, only to be called by Martin’s A-Q. The board was of no help to Anthony as he was eliminated in 3rd place.
What a fantastic defence of his title though! Not only has Anthony set new records for winnings, he has now produced the best defence of a title in Redtooth Poker history!
The Bubble
Isaac Ejindu (left) found himself in a good spot for a double up holding A-A. He was swiftly called by Martin Bremner (right) with 10-10.
To Isaac’s dismay, we got a 4-10-Q-K-4 board to give Martin Bremner a Full House and burst the bubble at Isaac’s expense.
The remaining players all stood up and congratulated each other with a big round of applause. We’re in the money!
Hand for hand play was lifted on all of the remaining tables and the tournament continued.
Cash Prize Winners
- 20th: Robin Yeung – Back Lane WMC, Hyde
- 19th: Peter Lummiss – Hayride Arms, Beverley
- 18th: Andrew Hanson – Tehidy Golf Club, Redruth
- 17th: Claudiu Cristian Illusco – Red Cow, Cheshunt
- 16th: Andrew Carr – West End, Gomersal
- 15th: Chris Campbell – O’Neill’s, Ilford
- 14th Jodi Hurley – Alleyns Head, London
- 13th: Gordon Robertson – I-Que Cafe Bar, Kirkintilloch
- 12th: Billy Morrison – Scalloway Hotel Shetland Islands
- 11th: Antony Rogers – London Inn, Okehampton
VEGAS100 2025 Final Table
Once the final table had been reached the remaining chips were bagged up and stored away over night with the final table re-commencing the following day in what was an extra-ordinary set-up. The MGM Grand poker team went all-out to give our final 10 players an experience of poker in Las Vegas that they will never forget.
- 10th Jonathan Laing – Boathouse, Braunston (£200)
- 9th Fareed Cadour – Royal British Legion, East Molesey (£300)
- 8th John Murdoch – Lade Inn, Callander (£400)
- 7th Paul Knott – Vale, Coventry (£500)
- 6th Dan Lamb – Lamb Inn, Worle (£750)
- 5th Mick Ashton – Sloop, Beverley (£1,000)
- 4th Martin Bremner – Nabb Inn, Hucknall (£1,500)
- 3rd Anthony Hannon – Railway Inn, Meols (£2,000)
- 2nd Martin Dyer – Golden Cross, Harvington (£4,000)
The 3-4 hour final table kicked off on an amazing stage, the best we have ever had for a Redtooth Poker final table event. After our reigning champ Anthony Hannon exited in 3rd place, which ended his fantastic title defence, we were left with our heads-up match between Martin Dyer and Matt Saville. The tournament came to a sudden end after about 10 minutes of heads-up play. On a flop of Ad-5c-7d, Matt Saville announced all-in, which was met with a call by Martin after a minutes thought. Matt tabled Qd-5d for a pair and flush draw, and Martin showed a slight advantage holding 7s-6d. The day belonged to Matt though as the 2d hit the turn to end the contest and after a meaningless Ac hit the river, a short chip count followed before we declared Matt Saville as the new UK Pub Poker Champion! Congratulations Matt.
Matt takes away $10,000 and a £5,000 sponsorship package which includes: Return trip for VEGAS100 May 2026, custom branded clothing, entry into all of the RPT legs and many many other tournaments around the UK poker scene.
VEGAS100 Finishing Positions
01 – Matt Saville – Robin Hood, Havant (£13,000 package)
02 – Martin Dyer – Golden Cross, Harvington (£4,000)
03 – Anthony Hannon – Railway Inn, Meols (£2,000)
04 – Martin Bremner – Nabb Inn, Hucknall (£1,500)
05 – Mick Ashton – Sloop, Beverley (£1,000)
06 – Dan Lamb – Lamb Inn, Worle (£750)
07 – Paul Knott – Vale, Coventry (£500)
08 – John Murdoch – Lade Inn, Callander (£400)
09 – Fareed Cadour – Royal British Legion, East Molesey (£300)
10 – Jonathan Laing – Boathouse, Braunston (£200)
11 – Antony Rogers – London Inn, Okehampton (£200)
12 – Billy Morrison – Scalloway Inn, Shetland Islands (£200)
13 – Gordon Robertson – I-Que Cafe Bar, Kirkintilloch (£150)
14 – Jodi Hurley – Alleyns Head, London (£150)
15 – Chris Campbell – O’Neill’s, Ilford (£150)
16 – Andrew Carr – West End, Gomersal (£100)
17 – Claudiu Cristian Illusco – Red Cow, Cheshunt (£100)
18 – Andrew Hanson – Tehidy Golf Club, Redruth (£100)
19 – Peter Lummiss – Hayride, Beverley (£100)
20 – Robin Yeung – Back Lane WMC, Hyde (£100)
21 – Isaac Ejindu – Duke of Wellington, Chelmsford
22 – Callum Berke – Sword Dancer, Sheffield
23 – Darren Pooley – Argosy, Derby
24 – Iancu Ferferi – Cossham Inn, Bristol
25 – Justin Cox – Tredegar Arms, Bassleg
26 – Jay Orriss – Snow Goose, Farnborough
27 – Paul Baker – Crookham Street Social Club, Aldershot
28 – Jeremy Gagne – Golden Hind, Cambridge
29 – Michael Foster – Wimbledon Village Club, Wimbledon
30 – Alex Collins – Three Elms, Cardiff
31 – Ian Harnett – Prince of Wales, Hammersmith
32 – Tim Carver – Pagham Beach Club, Bognor Regis
33 – John Russell – Crown, Bridgnorth
34 – Steve Slater – Greenhouse, Belper
35 – Thomas Hudson – Merlin, Swindon
36 – Michael Cunniffe – Good Game, Banbury
37 – Andrew Looker – Stag Inn, Wigan
38 – Stephen Nicholson – Sandal RUFC, Wakefield
39 – David McHugh – Orford Social Club, Walthamstow
40 – Roger Marl – Bromborough, Wirral
41 – Bruce Elston – London Inn, Okehampton
42 – Rinaldo Thomas – Royal Oak, Cannock
43 – Alan Brankling – Suttonfields, Hull
44 – Arrif Shugafi – Half Moon, Sheffield
45 – Gary Pratt – Grosvenor Casino, Aberdeen
46 – Neil Harvey – Shoeburyness Conservative Club, Shoeburyness
47 – Graham Bloomer – Charlie’s Sports Bar, Heckmondwike
48 – Thomas Miskell – Sportsman, Huddersfield
49 – Darran Monk – New Crown, South Shields
50 – Steve Lewis – Blyth Conservative Club, Blyth
51 – Chris Connolly – Hoptimist, Wakefield
52 – Simon McDonald – Sanctuary, Liverpool
53 – Richard White – King William IV, Barry
54 – Chris Lambert – Rushley, Mansfield
55 – Thomas Kettles – Corner House, Forfar
56 – Jason Kemp – Birchgrove, Cardiff
57 – George McPherson – I-Que Cafe Bar, Kirkintilloch
58 – Andrew Martin – James Atherton, Wallasey
59 – Chris Sussex – Central Broadheath FC, Altrincham
60 – Peter Sheppard – Trading Post, Kettering
61 – Adrian Millington – Crown Hotel, Derby
62 – Mark Taylor – Coach House, Paignton
63 – Julius Temba – Plough on the Green, Newbury
64 – Adrian Shinn – Three Horseshoes, Doncaster
65 – Patrick Mason – Red Lion, Wooburn Green
66 – Scott Rock – Rocky’s Bar, Gillingham
67 – Dean Benson – Golden Cross, Moreton
68 – Robert Kingsman – Hammer & Pincers, Sheffield
69 – Scott Hattersley – Hayride Arms, Beverley
70 – Daniel Keiller – Revolution, Manchester
71 – Jill Goodfellow – Shooters Bar, Killmarnock
72 – James Lynch – Jonty Farmer, Derby
73 – Derek White – Mill Bar & Grill, Stowmarket
74 – Stephen Patchett – National Hunt, Cheltenham
75 – Lorraine Butler – High Orchard, Gloucester
76 – Anthony Miller – Dog & Partridge, Chelmsford
77 – Tom Powton – Shuttle & Loom, Darlington
78 – Eric Moore – Railway Inn, Studley
79 – Iain Else – Jug & Glass, Mansfield
80 – Robin Redding – Coopers Inn, Stevenage
81 – Gareth Tomlinson – Dog & Partridge, Morecambe
82 – Paul Atkinson – Anson, Wallsend
83 – Robert Wignall – Caledonian, Inverness
84 – Mark Jones – Rose & Crown, Clitheroe
85 – Martyn Quarry – Roebuck, Wolverhampton
86 – Chris Byrne – Monk Bretton WMC, Barnsley
87 – Vincent Bond – Comrades Club, Epsom
88 – Kelvin Weeks – Monkseaton Arms, Whitley Bay
89 – John Marks – Royal British Legion, Ellon
90 – Claire Gamble – Bagster House, Shepperton
91 – Alex Rooney – I-Que Cafe Bar, Kirkintilloch
92 – Ewan Caldwell – Pied Piper, Middlesbrough
93 – Leon Taylor – Royal Oak, Wolverhampton
94 – Colin Asmussen – Wheatsheaf Farm, Woolsington
95 – Daniel Brown – Green Tree, York
96 – Paul Harrison – Crown Inn, Heanor
97 – David Evemy – Ye Olde Hob Inn, Bamber Bridge
98 – David Tearl – Windmill Club, Rushden
99 – Ellie Blake – New Plough, Hinckley
100 – Bradley Dixon – Railway Hotel, West Wickham
101 – Casey Kilsby – Foxhound, Grays
102 – Robert Edwards – Robin Hood, Hayling Island
The Staff
As always, none of this would be possible without the amazing work of the Redtooth Poker staff and the poker team at the MGM Grand for being extremely accommodating, VEGAS100 has an exciting future. So while reading this, give them all a big round of applause! We’ll see you all next year!