Cush Berlyn scored a brilliant victory at the GUKPT Leeds Main Event 2026

The GUKPT 2026 stop in Leeds has concluded: Cush Berlyn made an impressive comeback and became the Main Event champion, surpassing some of the strongest players.

The penultimate stop of the prestigious Grosvenor UK Poker Tour 2026 (GUKPT) has wrapped up in Leeds, bringing together the UK’s top players along with international guests. Over two action-packed weeks, Grosvenor Leeds played host to a series of exciting tournaments, culminating in three marquee finals: the Main Event, High Roller, and Closer. Each of these events delivered dramatic comebacks, record-setting performances, and surprise victories that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Cush Berlyn’s Triumph in the GUKPT Leeds Main Event The standout player of the festival was British regular Cush Berlyn, who captured the GUKPT Leeds Main Event title despite starting the final table in a tough spot. The £1,250 buy-in tournament drew 250 entries, generating a hefty prize pool and fierce competition throughout. Berlyn began the final day with the eighth-shortest stack out of the nine remaining players and was considered a long shot, with Grosvenor Leeds bookmakers giving him 12-to-1 odds to win. Nevertheless, he managed to turn the tables, ultimately taking down the Main Event and securing the biggest payday of his career — £43,490. According to The Hendon Mob, this marks his best-ever result in live poker tournaments. On his way to the title, Berlyn outlasted a tough field, including recent GUKPT Luton Main Event champion Renee Xie. Xie finished ninth, notching her 25th cash in a GUKPT Main Event. She earned £4,250 for her run and moved up to fourth place in the Grosvenor rankings for most Main Event ITM (In The Money) finishes. When play reached three-handed, the finalists agreed to a deal, splitting the bulk of the prize pool. Berlyn then eliminated James Shaw, entering heads-up play against Niall Duffy with a 2-to-1 chip lead. In the final showdown, Berlyn made the most of his advantage to claim the trophy — the coveted glass GUKPT Main Event winner’s statuette. GUKPT Leeds Main Event 2026 Final Table Results 1st place: Cush Berlyn — £43,490* 2nd place: Niall Duffy — £38,000* 3rd place: James Shaw — £36,000* 4th place: Jamie Nixon — £16,000 5th place: Jamie O’Connor — £10,300 6th place: Chris Maguire — £7,900 7th place: James Williams — £6,200 8th place: Peter Charalambous — £5,100 9th place: Renee Xie — £4,250 * — amounts reflect a three-way deal between Berlyn, Duffy, and Shaw Chris Balmforth Wins the High Roller and Earns Main Event Seat Chris Balmforth also made headlines with his victory in the festival’s biggest buy-in event — the GUKPT Leeds High Roller. The £1,500 buy-in tournament, which featured a £100,000 guarantee, attracted 50 entries. Balmforth took home the top prize of £31,060 — the largest score of his career. It was a truly memorable day for Balmforth: in addition to the win and the trophy, he was selected by GGPoker in a special Golden Draw, earning him a seat in the GUKPT Main Event. Balmforth made the most of this opportunity, finishing Day 1 of the Main Event with a commanding stack worth 86 big blinds, which set him up nicely for Day 2. The High Roller final table was stacked with big names. Among Balmforth’s opponents were 2023 Irish Open champion David Docherty, WSOP Europe Main Event finalist Brandon Sheils, and future Main Event winner Cush Berlyn. Despite the tough competition, Balmforth outlasted them all to claim the title. GUKPT Leeds High Roller 2026 Final Table Results 1st place: Chris Balmforth — £31,060 2nd place: David Docherty — £21,800 3rd place: Brandon Sheils — £13,800 4th place: Cush Berlyn — £9,750 5th place: Jamie Nixon — £7,400 6th place: James Williams — £6,000 7th place: Jamie O’Connor — £5,000 Liam Rose-Black Extends His Hot Streak with Closer Victory The final event of the festival, the GUKPT Leeds Closer, was won by Liam Rose-Black, who is also known as a PokerNews editor. This result continued his impressive run on the live circuit — it was his second tournament win in the past month, following his victory in the media event at EPT Barcelona. In the Closer, Rose-Black claimed the top prize of £3,360, which propelled him significantly up The Hendon Mob’s global prize money rankings — from 772,673rd place. This was only his second live tournament win, making the achievement all the more special. According to PokerNews, Rose-Black dedicated the victory to his wife Kylie, whom he recently married. GUKPT Leeds Closer 2026 Final Table Results 1st place: Liam Rose-Black — £3,360 2nd place: John Smith — £2,250 3rd place: Emily Jones — £1,600 4th place: Michael Brown — £1,200 5th place: Sarah Green — £900 6th place: Tom White — £700 7th place: David Black — £550 8th place: Rachel Adams — £450 Background: What is the GUKPT and the Grosvenor Leeds Venue? The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) is one of the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious poker series, drawing the country’s top talent and international players each year. Every stop features multiple tournaments with a range of buy-ins, with the Main Event, High Roller, and Closer receiving special attention. The Grosvenor Leeds venue is traditionally considered one of the series’ key locations, attracting both seasoned pros and passionate amateurs. This year, the Leeds stop was the penultimate event on the GUKPT 2026 calendar, adding extra intrigue as many players battled not just for prize money, but also for valuable points in the overall series leaderboard. With its generous prize pools, top-notch organization, and strong fields, GUKPT Leeds stands out as a highlight of the UK poker calendar. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players The results from GUKPT Leeds 2026 offer several valuable lessons for PPPoker club members. First, Cush Berlyn’s story shows that even when you start with a short stack and aren’t the favorite, you can achieve the best possible result through smart strategy and mental resilience. For online club players, it’s a reminder of the importance of discipline and the ability to adapt to changing situations at the table. Second, Chris Balmforth’s success in the High Roller demonstrates how taking part in satellites and special promotions (like GGPoker’s Golden Draw) can open doors to major tournaments. Similar qualifiers are regularly held in the PPPoker ecosystem, and players should take advantage of them to build their bankrolls and gain experience against tough competition. Finally, Liam Rose-Black’s example is inspiring for both pros and recreational players: even those without extensive live experience can find success if they’re willing to try new things and get involved in a variety of events. For PPPoker club members, it’s a great reason to register for more club tournaments and seize every opportunity to showcase their skills.