Anthony Hannon – Railway Inn, Meols
2024 UK PUB POKER CHAMPION

The Location

Redtooth Poker’s VEGAS100 started 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. Glasgow’s Stephen Maxwell emerged victorious last time out in 2022, 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.

First To Fall

The first player to fall in this year’s prestigious event was Sean McAllister from the Peacock Inn, Shrewsbury. Unfortunately for Sean, his run only lasted for 3 hands as he got involved with Q-Q against K-Q. Sean saw a fantastic flop after a pre-flop raise of K-Q-3 where we saw a continuation bet from Sean, that was followed by a call. Unfortunately for Sean, the turn produced another K to put him from being a long way in front to drawing completely dead in the turn of 1 card. All the chips proceeded to go into the middle where the cards were flipped to everyone’s amazement. The dealer finished the hand by dealing a meaningless 7, and with that, we lost our first player. Unlucky Sean!

Champ Watch

Stephen Maxwell, our reigning champion, was in an extremely confident mood with the prospect of becoming the first champion to defend the title of UK Pub Poker Champion, or at least besting our previous champion Gareth Tomlinson‘s run of finishing in 10th place during his defence. Stephen’s loose aggressive playing style held him in good stead like it did last year as he powered his way to the final two tables with the Las Vegas poker gods still shining down on him as we pick up the action with the following hand. Stephen found himself all-in holding K-J on a 4-6-2-J board facing two callers, both holding Q-Q. With the champion all but dead, he picks up his things and starts to walk away from the table. The dealer soon after deals the river before a huge gasp was heard across the MGM card room as the players at the table see a K hit the felt. This huge pot gave Stephen the kind of stack that makes him very dangerous to play against.

Stephen made good use of his new stack, but sadly for him, he crashed out of the VEGAS100 just short of the final table in 13th position. With Stephen’s playing style being as it is, we will no doubt see him back here again in the coming years.

The Bubble

Andrew Quinn from the Longacre in Skelton found himself in a difficult spot while all-in holding A-10 against A-J. An unfavourable board of 4-J-7-8-A was dealt by the dealer to eliminate Andrew in 21st position. That knock-out was met with a huge cheer and a number of high fives from the remaining 20 players. The bubble has burst and we are now in the money!!

Cash Prize Winners

VEGAS100 2024 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.

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 Gary Pratt exited in 3rd place, who incidently has already secured an immediate return to Las Vegas next year as our North Scotland champion, we were left with our heads-up match between Anthony Hannon and Daniel Connolly. The tournament came to a sudden end with a classic race as long time chip leader Anthony Hannon tabled Q-Q to Daniel Connolly‘s A-K. A predicted pre-flop all-in and called was heard, with a run out giving Daniel hope on a flop of 10-5-Q. However, it was all over on the turn as another 10 hit the felt before a 9 on the river crowned Anthony Hannon our new UK Pub Poker Champion. Congratulations Anthony.

Anthony takes away £8,000 and a £5,000 sponsorship package which includes: Return trip for VEGAS100 May 2025, custom branded clothing, entry into all of the RPT legs and many many other tournaments around the UK poker scene.

VEGAS100 Finishing Positions

01 – Anthony Hannon – Railway Inn, Meols (£13,000 package)
02 – Daniel Connolly – Testwood Hotel, Southampton (£4,000)
03 – Gary Pratt – Grosvenor Casino, Aberdeen (£2,000)
04 – Mike Yeo – Alexandra Hotel, Hindley Green (£1,500)
05 – Andrew Taylor – Wheatsheaf Inn, Atherton (£1,000)
06 – Andrew Allen – Apple Tree, Haslemere (£750)
07 – Nathan Turnill – Wheatsheaf, Bognor Regis (£500)
08 – Alan Hackland – Green Man, Bedfont (£400)
09 – Steven Smart – Ceres Inn, Fife (£300)
10 – Luke Warren – Turmut Hoer, Gloucester (£200)

11 – Roy Atherton – Stag Inn, Wigan (£200)
12 – Ivan Husarik – Comrades Club, Haslemere (£200)
13 – Stephen Maxwell – I-Que Cafe Bar, Kirkintilloch (£150)
14 – Mark Lang – Gardeners Arms, Hyde (£150)
15 – Edward Davison – Winter Green, Rotherham (£150)
16 – Michael Arnold – Parc Y Prior, Newport (£100)
17 – Richard Green – Durham Ox, Northallerton (£100)
18 – Alex Simpson – Bargoed Labour Club, Bargoed (£100)
19 – Andrew Wainwright – Montrose Playhouse, Montrose (£100)
20 – Andrew Meadows – Fieldhouse, Solihull (£100)

21 – Andrew Quinn – Longacre, Skelton
22 – Sean Richards – Railway, West Wickham
23 – Daniel Royle – Wrottersley Arms, Perton
24 – Joe Dawber – Jubilee Inn, Studley
25 – Thomas Allan – Dudgeon Park, Brora
26 – Neil McDonald – Royal Oak, Tetbury
27 – Brian McLuckie – Old Brewery, Alloa
28 – Ryan Estabrooks – Black Bull, York
29 – Adrian Clark – Rushden Windmill Club, Rushden
30 – James Thomas – Llandaff Rugby Club, Llandaff

31 – John Stephens – Old Horns, Great Barr
32 – Stuart Sefton – Sanctuary, Liverpool
33 – Mark O’Connor – Royal British Legion, Challow
34 – Nick Tatton – Friar Tucks, Quedgeley
35 – Robbie Hancocks – Bulls Head, Furnace End
36 – Thomas Clark – Sutton Arms, Sutton
37 – Harry Robinson – Honey Bee, Aylesbury
38 – Brian McLean – Buccleuch, Dalkeith
39 – Chris Jiggins – Rose & Crown, Wivenhoe
40 – Andrew Morris – Jug & Glass, Mansfield

41 – Ian Hughes – Red Lion, Wigan
42 – Adrian Shinn – Three Horseshoes, Doncaster
43 – Joey Doidge – Grove Inn, Newark
44 – Chris Garlick – Queslett, Great Barr
45 – Paul Felton – Trumpet, Northampton
46 – Ricky Canham – Green Dragon, Thetford
47 – Iggy Davis – Conservative Club, Wareham
48 – Harry Painter – Park House, Kettering
49 – Daniel Lamb – Lamb, Worle
50 – Kristian Crocker – Gilfach Bowling Club, Gilfach

51 – Rhydian Stringer – King William IV, Barry
52 – Simon Noakes – Apple Tree, Carlisle
53 – Felix Brooks – Crown, Bridgnorth
54 – Elara Hammett – Big Tree, Sheffield
55 – Jeffrey Bamforth – Lambwath, Hull
56 – Allen Tatton – Friar Tucks, Quedgeley
57 – Jake Houlichan – Oadby Owl, Leicester
58 – Mustafa Gozlugol – Redbridge, Andover
59 – Susan Norsden – Wheatsheaf, Grimsby
60 – Sandra Kendrick – Red Admiral, Swindon

61 – Nora Dodds – Bagster House, Shepperton
62 – Steve Jones – Old Queens Head, Talke
63 – Robert Bentley – Eaton Farm, Long Eaton
64 – Jqke Darter – Star Inn, Wallington
65 – Dion Jones – Fairbourne Golf Club, Fairbourne
66 – Bruce Sercombe – Barnbow. Leeds
67 – Graham Cooper – Newton Arms, Doncaster
68 – James Nicol – Chaddlewood Inn, Plymouth
69 – Carl Barwick – King & Queen, Caterham
70 – Terry-lee Wheaton – Ebberley Arms, Barnstaple

71 – Adam Blain – Sir Joshua Reynolds, Plymouth
72 – Tim Spencer – Marsh, Cleckheaton
73 – Jeremy Willgress – Buff, Orpington
74 – Robert Scott – Green Oak Farm, Ellesmere Port
75 – Jack Robinson – Rose & Crown, Wallington
76 – Reiss Holmes – Romans Rest, Worksop
77 – Ricky Canham – Gren Dragon, Thetford
78 – Taylor McDaid – Bourneville Social Club, Birmingham
79 – Edward Cherrie – Shah of Persia, Poole
80 – Maggie Simpson – New Crown, South Shields

81 – Chris Nadison – King & Queen, Caterham
82 – Spencer Owen – Globe Inn, Buckfastleigh
83 – Daniel Cloran – Miss Q’s, Rochdale
84 – Kieran Evett – Bell Inn, Kingsteignton
85 – James Fletcher – Newton Arms, Doncaster
86 – Steven O’Donnell – Lade Inn, Callander
87 – Richard Manchester – George Inn, Ripley
88 – Stephen Harney – King William IV, Barry
89 – Robert Bennett – Stag & Hounds, Churchill
90 – Matthew Davies – Sarah Moore, Southend

91 – John Paterson – Red Cat, Greasby
92 – Stephen Roberts – Unionist Club, Bromsgrove
93 – Matthew Taylor – Podger, Leeds
94 – Chris Turner – Stawberry Gardens, Stockport
95 – Dinesh Patel – Friar Tucks, Quedgeley
96 – David Hamilton – Conservative Club, Coundon
97 – Kevin Bream – Rafa Club, St Neots
98 – Joe Thorne – Riverside Farm, York
99 – Jay Orriss – Snow Goose, Farnborough
100 – David Cross – Maxwells, Leicester

101 – Anand Karia – Five Bells, London
102 – Josh Oliver – Catchems Inn, Swadlincote
103 – Nathan Matthews – Plough Inn, New Ollerton
104 – Sean McAllister – Peacock Inn, Shrewsbury

The Wedding

Everyone at Redtooth would like to congratulate VEGAS100 2024 member Nathan Matthews, who got married to his long term partner Jessica Snowball while they were in Las Vegas. We wish the both of you all the very best for the future.

The Staff

As always, none of this would be possible without the amazing work of the Redtooth staff and the poker team at the MGM for being extremely accommodating, it’s going to be an exciting few years. So while reading this, give them all a big round of applause! We’ll see you all next year!