How Aaron Barone Taught Ian Simpson a Lesson at 888poker LIVE London

In a special Sit & Go tournament for 888poker ambassadors and streamers, Aaron Barone surprised Ian Simpson and other participants, adding intrigue ahead of the series' main event.

On the eve of the main event of the 888poker LIVE London series, an unusual tournament took place—a special Sit & Go for 888poker ambassadors and popular streamers. In this single-table tournament, participants competed not only for prizes but also for bragging rights among their peers. For the streamers, the main prize was a package to 888poker LIVE Madrid , while the ambassadors had the chance to prove their superiority in friendly rivalry. Participants and Tournament Format Six members of Team 888poker took part in the Sit & Go: Ian Simpson , Nick Eastwood , Vivian Saliba , Lucia Navarro , Aaron Barone , and Jack Dean . Facing them at the table were well-known streamers: Inaki Angulo , Becky "bambinobecky" James , and Sophie "Sophie Snazz" Power . The tournament was played in a fast-paced single-table Sit & Go format—one table, all players start with equal stacks, and the battle continues until a single winner is determined. For the streamers, the main incentive was the Madrid series package, while the 888poker ambassadors fought for prestige and their own poker ambitions. The atmosphere at the table was friendly, but the competition was quite serious. Key Moments of the Tournament From the very start, the game moved at a dynamic pace. Vivian Saliba shared strategy tips with newcomers, while Ian Simpson encouraged participants to "slow roll"—a poker move where a player deliberately delays a winning call to tease their opponent. As it turned out, this tactic would come back to haunt him. The first to leave the tournament was Becky "bambinobecky" James , whose short stack couldn't withstand Sophie Snazz . Soon after, Jack Dean followed, moving all-in with queen-eight (Q8) but losing to Inaki Angulo with king-queen (KQ). The next to be eliminated was Nick Eastwood . He went all-in with ace-five (A5), but ran into Angulo 's ace-queen (AQ). A queen came on the flop, drastically reducing Eastwood's chances. The turn brought a five, but the river didn't improve his hand, and he exited the tournament. Lucia Navarro finished in sixth place, losing two hands in a row to Simpson . First, Navarro went all-in with jack-ten (J10) against Simpson's pocket jacks (JJ), and then her queen-ten (Q10) couldn't beat Simpson's pocket kings (KK). Simpson's Domination and the Turning Point After these eliminations, Ian Simpson became the chip leader. He started to actively use his big stack, putting pressure on the remaining opponents and making looser calls. His stack grew even larger after two key hands: first, his six-three suited (6♠3♠) hit trips on the flop and beat Saliba 's ace-nine suited (A♠9♠), and then king-three (K3) also made trips against Sophie Snazz 's ace-king (AK), sending Snazz to fourth place. Despite his confident lead, Simpson couldn't make it to heads-up. In one of the key hands, Aaron Barone doubled up against him by catching an ace on the river. After that, Simpson went all-in with three-deuce (32) on a queen-deuce-ace (Q-2-A) flop. Barone, having made a set of queens (three of a kind), took his time pretending to make a tough decision, putting on a real theatrical performance—the very "slow roll" Simpson had encouraged earlier. In the end, Barone called and showed the winning hand, sending Simpson out in third place. Final: Aaron Barone's Victory In the final heads-up, Aaron Barone faced Inaki Angulo . The duel was very quick. Angulo moved all-in with king-eight (K8), while Barone had seven-six suited (7♠6♠). The flop brought two sixes, and the turn brought a seven, giving Barone a full house. Angulo couldn't recover and finished second, while Barone became the tournament winner, earning not only the victory but also the satisfaction of a successful "slow roll" against Simpson. Final Results Table 1st place — Aaron Barone 2nd place — Inaki Angulo 3rd place — Ian Simpson 4th place — Sophie "Sophie Snazz" Power 5th place — Vivian Saliba 6th place — Lucia Navarro 7th place — Nick Eastwood 8th place — Jack Dean 9th place — Becky "bambinobecky" James The Significance of the Event and Participants' Reactions The tournament was not only an opportunity for ambassadors and streamers to compete in an informal setting, but also a vivid example of how even in friendly games, poker moves can backfire on their initiators. Barone's "slow roll" scene became the highlight of the evening and showed that even professionals can fall into the trap of their own advice. For streamers, participating in such a tournament is a chance to prove themselves on the live stage and get invited to major offline events, while for ambassadors, it's an opportunity to strengthen team spirit and delight fans with spectacular play. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This tournament clearly demonstrates how important psychological aspects and unconventional moves are in poker. PPPoker club players can take note that even in tournaments with a small number of participants, smart strategy and the ability to read opponents can be decisive. Moreover, the example of the "slow roll" is a reminder: be careful with provocative moves, as they can come back like a boomerang. In PPPoker club games, where the same opponents often meet, reputation and psychological play can be just as important as technical skills. Finally, the participation of streamers and ambassadors in such events highlights that poker is not just about competing for prizes, but also about socializing, sharing experiences, and developing the community. PPPoker club players should get more involved in club events and not be afraid to try new formats to improve their skills and enjoy the game.