Damon Birch-Hyson wins record-breaking Goliath 2026 tournament

In 2026, the Goliath tournament broke all records for the number of participants and prize pool. The winner was Damon Birch-Hyson, who received £365,520.

On August 2, 2026, the largest Goliath tournament in history concluded at the Grosvenor venue. The winner was Damon Burch-Hyson, who received an impressive £365,520 for his victory, turning a £200 buy-in into a truly life-changing win. The tournament broke all records for number of entries and prize pool size, and the final table was remembered for its spectacular battles and unexpected outcomes. Goliath 2026: Records for Entries and Prize Pool The Goliath series traditionally attracts huge fields, but in 2026 a new record was set: including re-entries, the tournament registered 14,663 participants. That’s 1,702 more players than last year. Despite the affordable £200 buy-in, the total prize pool reached a colossal £2,228,780. Such a sum was made possible thanks to massive interest and the tournament’s accessibility to a wide audience. Goliath is held at Grosvenor and is considered one of the largest live tournaments in Europe. This year, the event once again demonstrated its popularity, and the battle for the top prize attracted not only amateurs but also well-known professionals. The Road to the Final Table: Champions’ Battle and Unexpected Exits The third and final day of the tournament began with 36 players remaining. Special interest was drawn by the presence of two former Goliath champions: Alex Todd, the 2023 winner, and reigning champion Paul Worsley. Both had a chance to make history by claiming a second title, something no one had achieved before. However, they were unable to repeat their success: Paul Worsley was eliminated in 27th place, and Alex Todd finished in 25th. Thus, the dream of a “double” remained unfulfilled, despite the support of numerous fans. When Nicholas Fellone exited in 10th place, earning £22,000, the final table of nine players was set. Each of them was already guaranteed at least £26,000, but the first-place prize of £365,000 was still up for grabs, motivating everyone to fight to the end. The Final Table: Key Hands and the Climax The first to leave the final table was National Poker League (NPL) leader Bryan Taylor from Scotland. He went all-in with pocket jacks (JJ) for 14 big blinds, but ran into Damon Burch-Hyson’s pocket aces (AA). The board brought no miracles, and Taylor headed to the cashier. This tournament was a breakthrough for Nittin Sonawane: before Goliath, his biggest win was £2,700 for a cash at the GUKPT London Main Event in April. Here, he earned £31,500, busting after his ace-three (A3) couldn’t beat Lewis Aikman’s dominating ace-queen (AQ). The key moment came with a double elimination that dramatically changed the course of the final table. In one hand, Wai Lun Lam was all-in with ace-jack (AJ), Lorenc Boci with ace-king (AK), and Damon Burch-Hyson with queens (QQ). The queens held, sending Lam out in 7th place (£37,890) and Boci in 6th (£50,000). The only woman at the final table, Reema Bodalia, finished in fifth place. Down to four big blinds, she went all-in with king-queen (KQ) against Jonny Elworthy’s jack-four (J4). A jack on the flop put Elworthy ahead, but a king on the turn gave Bodalia a shot at doubling up. However, the river brought Elworthy trip jacks, and Bodalia exited the tournament with £71,500 — the biggest win of her career. Deal Among the Final Four and Tournament Conclusion After Bodalia’s elimination, four players remained and decided to pause play to discuss a deal. After lengthy negotiations, a new payout structure was agreed upon, with £88,520 left to play for among the remaining players. The first to bust after the deal was Dayle Gallagher. His previous best result was an £810 cash, but this time he earned much more. Gallagher went all-in with ace-eight (A8) against Aikman’s ace-queen (AQ), but the board brought no eight, and he finished fourth. Damon Burch-Hyson became the Goliath 2026 champion, clinching victory thanks to another double knockout. A few hands earlier, Jonny Elworthy had lost most of his stack to Burch-Hyson and was left with 4.5 big blinds. In the decisive hand, Elworthy was all-in with queen-nine (Q9), Aikman with ace-five (A5), and Burch-Hyson with ace-eight (A8). The board ran out twice, but ace-eight remained the best hand, eliminating both opponents: Elworthy finished third, Aikman second. Final Prizes and Special Bonuses Jonny Elworthy received £167,330 for third place. However, because he used a GGPoker account to enter the tournament, under a special agreement between Grosvenor and GGPoker, his prize was increased by 20% — he received an additional £33,466 bonus. Lewis Aikman, whose previous best result was €18,500, now added £173,700 to his bankroll for second place. Damon Burch-Hyson became the Goliath 2026 champion and received £365,520 — £20 more than the originally planned first-place prize. Goliath 2026 Final Table Results (including the four-way deal): 1st place: Damon Burch-Hyson — £365,520 2nd place: Lewis Aikman — £173,700 3rd place: Jonny Elworthy — £167,330 (+ £33,466 bonus for entering via GGPoker) 4th place: Dayle Gallagher — amount per deal (exact sum not specified in the original) 5th place: Reema Bodalia — £71,500 6th place: Lorenc Boci — £50,000 7th place: Wai Lun Lam — £37,890 8th place: Nittin Sonawane — £31,500 9th place: Bryan Taylor — amount not specified (minimum £26,000) 10th place: Nicholas Fellone — £22,000 Other Highlights from the Goliath Festival In addition to the main event, the Goliath festival featured other major tournaments. Dean Hutchison won the GUKPT Main Event with a £1,250 buy-in, earning £163,280. Michael Donofrio took down the GGPoker Cup with a £550 buy-in, collecting £65,600. Overall, the festival once again confirmed its status as one of the largest poker series in the UK, attracting both professionals and enthusiasts from various countries. Looking Ahead: GUKPT Glasgow and Online Satellites The next major event from Grosvenor is the GUKPT Glasgow stop, which will take place from August 16 to 23, 2026. Satellites are available on Grosvenor Poker and GGPoker for those wishing to qualify. This is a great opportunity for players with different bankroll levels to try to reach a prestigious live event through online qualifiers. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Damon Burch-Hyson’s victory in Goliath 2026 and the record number of participants clearly show that even tournaments with small buy-ins can generate huge prize pools and attract thousands of players. For PPPoker club members, this serves as excellent motivation: regular practice in large online fields can prepare you for performing at live festivals of this scale. Pay attention to the importance of proper bankroll management and tournament selection. As the Goliath finalists demonstrated, even players with little live experience can achieve outstanding results — the main thing is not to be afraid to participate and to use all available qualification opportunities, including satellites. Moreover, cooperation between major platforms like Grosvenor and GGPoker opens up additional bonuses for players registered through partner programs. Keep an eye out for such promotions and don’t miss your chance to boost your winnings, just as Jonny Elworthy did. For PPPoker club members, this is another reason to stay active and seek new ways to grow and develop in poker.