What do you get when a poker veteran, online icon, and football fanatic convene under one roof? You get the latest PokerStars Ambassador Meet-Up Game.
I wasn’t one of the aforementioned luminaries, but I did have the pleasure of meeting them at UKIPT London. PokerStars’ PR team was kind enough to let me put my slightly below-average poker skills to the test, but not before I spoke to three of its UK ambassadors.
That, of course, is one of the main reasons for hosting meet-up games. PokerStars gives amateurs the chance to rub shoulders with seasoned pros on and off the felt. Online icon and all-around nice guy Sam Grafton is well aware of this.
PokerStars Ambassadors embrace the social side of poker
He was on top form all night, providing tableside commentary, high-fives, and, for those at his table, a ton of tough decisions. Prior to the tournament, he told me that these events are vital for poker.
“Poker isn’t like other sports. You can go toe-to-toe with the best and have a chance of winning. The feeling people get when they win a tournament is absolutely sensational and will make them want to play for life,” Sam Grafton said.
That sentiment was echoed by the ever-convivial Rory Jennings (pictured below). The part-time player and full-time Chelsea supporter has been living his poker dream since cashing in a €220 side event at UKIPT Dublin 2022.
Despite being a relative newcomer to the poker scene, Jennings has an old-school mentality. He thrives off the social element of the game, which is why his presence at UKIPT London embodies what PokerStars is trying to achieve.
“These events are always fantastic. At a previous Ambassador game, a friend of mine won it. The scenes were the same as when Manchester United beat Manchester City, and the camera panned to the crowd going wild. It was the same as that,” said Rory Jennings.
Rounding out my series of meet ups before the action got underway was Barny Boatman. At this point, he’s unquestionably a legend of the game. Boatman has been around for decades and, as he proved in Paris, he can still compete with the best.
Legends assemble for PokerStars Ambassador Meet-Up Game
Fun fact, Mr. Boatman, along with his fellow Hendon Mobsters, were among the first people I ever interviewed. More than a decade has passed, but Boatman is as fresh as ever. I watched him work the room in his typically laid-back manner before sitting down for a chat with me.
You can see what we talked about in an upcoming feature article on CardsChat.com. What he did tell me, however, was that the challenge of trying to win keeps him young in the game.
“I enjoy the challenge of the game. You never stop learning. It keeps me mentally agile, and I love the social element of poker. To be frank, I also love the prospect of winning,” said Barny Boatman.
With the interviews over, I made my way to the tournament floor, where the Hippodrome had provided a seemingly endless stream of platters. Naturally, I didn’t want to be rude, so I consumed as many mini-burgers and nibbles as possible.
In fact, I was so consumed with the food that I forgot to get my seat number. That proved to be a mistake as the registration line quickly snaked its way out of the tournament area. Looking back, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that the Ambassador Meet-Up Game was an overwhelming success.
Not only had PokerStars assembled a stellar cast of Ambassadors for people to play against, they were giving away food, drink vouchers, and, best of all, mystery bounties. Every elimination was worth £100, but Ambassadors also had Power Passes worth up to $2,500 in their pockets.
Hospitality and Happy Players at the Hippodrome
If the pull of picking up scalps and bounties wasn’t enough, the winner was set to receive a free seat in November’s £1,100 UKIPT Nottingham Main Event as well as the lion’s share of what turned out to be a £58,300 prizepool.
A total of 265 hopefuls contributed to that prizepool, including me. However, owing to my overconsumption of free food, I missed the opening two levels. Such was the popularity of the £220 tournament that the organizers were forced to create an alternate list.
That, for me, shows that the hunger for these events is at an all-time high. PokerStars has created an atmosphere that’s as attractive to circuit regulars like the eventual winner Nikolay Ponomarev as recreational players.
Now that I’ve ruined any sort of suspense, I can confirm that I didn’t win. In fact, I didn’t even make the money. I started at a disadvantage and couldn’t recover. Eventually, I jammed with A-K against a raise from Niall Farrell (pictured above).
One player behind called behind with pocket nines, as did Farrell with A-Q. Things were looking good when I hit a king on the flop. However, runner-runner diamonds gave Farrell a flush and the rest of my chips.
UKIPT London Meet-Up Game Result
- Nikolay Ponomarev – £5,010
- Jack McDermott – £3,120
- Juan Manuel Avila – £2,230
- Vygintas Zemonis – £1,710
- Nick Walsh – £1,320
Was I upset? Not really. PokerStars’ Ambassador Meet-Up Game was as much about the social side of poker as the prizes on offer. In the end, Ponomarev defeated Jack McDermott to scoop the top prize, but everyone I spoke to walked away with a smile.
PokerStars, as ever, showed that poker is a game for everyone. That’s what makes poker appealing to the masses. When amateurs can bag bounties and bragging rights while enjoying an evening with poker’s finest, everyone wins.
