Rene Si — the first female GUKPT champion: a historic victory in Luton

Rene Si became the first woman to win the GUKPT Main Event in the history of the series, outlasting 395 opponents and claiming £35,435 in Luton.

A landmark event has taken place in the history of British poker: for the first time in twenty seasons of the Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT), a woman has won the Main Event. Renee Xie became the champion of the GUKPT Luton Main Event 2026, outlasting 395 opponents and taking home the top prize of £35,435. This victory not only brought her the biggest win of her career, but also made Renee the first woman ever to win a GUKPT Main Event. Renee Xie's Path to a Historic Victory The GUKPT Luton 2026 Main Event had a £560 buy-in and attracted 396 entries, creating a prize pool of £188,100. On the final day, nine of the tournament's strongest players met at the table. For Renee Xie, this win was especially meaningful, as she had previously come close to the title: in 2017, she finished second at GUKPT Leeds and won £33,000 — at the time, her best live tournament result. After her victory, Renee admitted that this was a huge moment for her: “It means the world to me. I can't even find the words to describe how I feel.” The Final Table: Key Moments and Hands The top 50 players in the tournament made the money, including well-known names such as Charlie Waters, last year's GUKPT Luton finalist; Adam Wilkinson; John Bousfield; Lorenc Boci; Yucel Eminoglu; Paul Romain; Sinead and Matthew Davenport; and Keith Littlewood. The first to leave the final table was Yifei Dong, finishing ninth for £3,120. Dong was already known for his successes in the Grosvenor series: in 2025, he won the £300 No-Limit Hold’em at the Behemoth (£51,229), and in February 2026, he finished second in the G300 Coventry (£26,800). Timothy Chung, champion of GUKPT London 2022, finished eighth and added £3,790 to his bankroll. Next out was Jay Samani — seventh place (£6,100). Joseph Phillips, for whom this was the third biggest win of his career, took sixth place (£6,110). Fifth place and £8,480 went to Ciaran McCullagh, who previously made a deep run in the WSOP 2024 Main Event, winning $140,000. Gary Nordigian finished fourth: he went all-in with 11 big blinds and ten-five of hearts, but ran into Renee Xie's pocket aces. Nordigian made two pair on the turn, but Xie hit a set on the river, sending her opponent to the rail. ICM Deal Three-Handed and the Final Heads-Up When three players remained, they agreed to an ICM deal (a model that takes into account stack sizes and the probability of finishing in each position). £9,100 was left to play for the future champion. As a result, Christopher Gallagher, who finished third, received £26,930 — much more than the standard third-place payout of £18,600. In heads-up, Renee Xie faced Sanjay Ranchhoddas, for whom this was one of his first major successes in live poker. The decisive hand came at blinds 60,000/120,000: Ranchhoddas, holding ace-three of hearts, raised to 300,000, leaving himself with less than a million chips behind. Xie called with ten-eight. The flop came ten-nine-nine. Xie checked, Ranchhoddas bet 375,000, and quickly called Xie's all-in. The turn and river — a seven and a queen — did not improve Ranchhoddas, and he finished second (£28,545), while Renee Xie became the champion (£35,435). GUKPT Luton Main Event 2026 Final Table Payouts Payouts reflect the ICM deal made three-handed 1st place: Renee Xie — £35,435 2nd place: Sanjay Ranchhoddas — £28,545 3rd place: Christopher Gallagher — £26,930 4th place: Gary Nordigian — £12,300 5th place: Ciaran McCullagh — £8,480 6th place: Joseph Phillips — £6,110 7th place: Jay Samani — £6,100 8th place: Timothy Chung — £3,790 9th place: Yifei Dong — £3,120 Side Event Wins: Big Prizes and Regulars' Successes Alongside the Main Event, other tournaments in the GUKPT Luton series also offered impressive prize pools. Ciaran McCullagh, in addition to his fifth place in the Main and £8,480, won the £1,000 High Roller, adding £16,620 to his bankroll. In the Mini Main Event (£250 Mini Main), the winner was Reza Moghaddam, who took home £19,250. Series regular Mariusz Czech won the GUKPT Cup with a £340 buy-in and took £9,665. Keith Littlewood, another frequent GUKPT casher, won the Closer tournament (£200) and received £2,600. Discussion of the Victory and Community Reaction Renee Xie's historic victory sparked widespread discussion in the poker community. Social media reactions were mixed: some players congratulated Renee on her achievement, while others raised complaints — one participant claimed that Xie owed him £15,000, and there were also accusations of backing deal violations dating back nearly ten years. Nevertheless, from a tournament results perspective, Renee Xie's win remains a unique event for British poker. Looking Ahead: The Next GUKPT Stop — Leeds After the Luton stop, the GUKPT series continues its tour of the UK, with the seventh stage of the season — GUKPT Leeds — starting in just three weeks. The tournament week will run from September 24 to October 4, 2026. The Main Event will feature a £1,000 buy-in and a £200,000 guarantee. Last year in Leeds, Keith Littlewood won the Main Event, defeating 246 opponents and earning £40,440 for first place. Context: The GUKPT Series and Its Heroes The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) is the oldest and one of the most prestigious poker series in the UK, annually attracting the country's and Europe's top players. The tournament schedule includes the Main Event, High Roller, Mini Main, Cup, and Closer, allowing players with different bankrolls to try their hand at live poker. Among the regular participants are names such as Adam Wilkinson, Arun Sood, Bryan Taylor, Charlie Waters, Christopher Gallagher, Ciaran McCullagh, Gary Nordigian, Jay Samani, John Bousfield, Joseph Phillips, Keith Littlewood, Renee Xie, Reza Moghaddam, Sanjay Ranchhoddas, and Thomas Baggaley. The series is known for its deep structures, professional organization, and the opportunity for players to prove themselves on a national level. For many winners, the GUKPT is a springboard to international success. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how regular practice in online tournaments and club games can lead to success in live series. Renee Xie has shown that persistence and years of experience can deliver outstanding results even in the most prestigious offline tournaments. Poker clubs on the PPPoker platform offer the chance not only to improve strategy and gain tournament experience, but also to learn bankroll management, work with different payout structures, and prepare for ICM decisions — just like in the GUKPT Luton three-handed deal. These skills are directly in demand in live series, where smart decisions determine the final outcome. Moreover, the success of players like Renee Xie inspires others not to be afraid to set ambitious goals, regardless of gender or experience. PPPoker clubs are an excellent place to take your first steps, build confidence, and one day try your hand at major live tournaments, where anyone can make their mark in poker history.