The PartyPoker Tour continues its summer swing with another British stop. From July 4 to 12, the festival is hosted by London’s Genting Casino Stratford, a staple venue for this series. London played a key role in the revival of the PartyPoker Tour back in 2025, when the Main Event attracted 491 entries and saw Getnet Kassa take home £38,408. After a successful debut, the tour expanded in 2026 to nine stops across the UK, Spain, and Ireland.
This summer's London edition features more than twenty tournaments. The schedule includes classic NLH events, bounty tournaments, PLO, H.O.R.S.E., Sviten Special, and unique formats like Crazy Pineapple and Tennessee Hold’em. The first major highlight of the festival was the £150 Mini Main Event.
Mini Main Event Smashes Guarantee
The Mini Main Event offered players six starting flights and a £50,000 guarantee, which was massively exceeded. The tournament drew 697 entries, pushing the prize pool to £87,125. A total of 105 players advanced to Day 2, each securing a minimum payout of £300.
By the end of Day 2, only 14 players remained. Leading the pack was PartyPoker Tour Team member Sam Acheampong, followed closely by Timothy Scott, Ayush Gandhi, and well-known ambassador Jaime Staples. Ben Skinner was near the bottom of the leaderboard, entering the final with just five big blinds, suggesting his tournament run was nearing its end.
Skinner Rises from the Ashes
But the local player found the necessary double-up with pocket kings, leading to one of the tournament's most pivotal hands. In a three-way all-in, Skinner faced Jaime Staples and Sam Acheampong. Holding A c J c, Skinner secured the main pot for a massive triple-up. Meanwhile, Acheampong won the side pot against Staples, who had K c Q s, sending the Canadian ambassador out in seventh place with £2,000.
Skinner gained confidence and chips as Mohamed Kader and Ayush Gandhi were eliminated, while the previously dominant Acheampong began to falter. His journey ended at the hands of Carlos Estivill, placing fourth with £5,250. Michael Stanley then lost his final all-in with A h 5 c to Skinner’s Q d J d, leaving just Skinner and Argentine player Carlos Estivill in the game.
Deal and a Two-Hour Heads-Up
Before heads-up play began, the finalists agreed to adjust the payouts. Estivill secured £11,950, while Skinner claimed £11,800. The remaining £2,500 and the trophy were still up for grabs. The final duel lasted almost two hours, initially favoring Estivill. The Argentine took the lead with 24,000,000 to 4,500,000, pushing Skinner close to elimination once again.
The resolution finally came in a preflop all-in. Estivill held 6 h 6 d, while Skinner turned over A c J h. The flop 9 s 9 h 8 s and turn T s didn’t alter the outcome, but the second T h on the river nullified Estivill’s pair. The player who entered the final table with five blinds emerged as the champion. Skinner’s victory earned him £14,300, surpassing his previous live tournament best.
Mini Main Event Final Table Results:
| Position | Player | Country | Winnings |
| 1. | Ben Skinner | England | £14,300* |
| 2. | Carlos Estivill | Argentina | £11,950* |
| 3. | Michael Stanley | England | £7,250 |
| 4. | Sam Acheampong | England | £5,250 |
| 5. | Ayush Gandhi | England | £3,615 |
| 6. | Mohamed Kader | England | £2,600 |
| 7. | Jaime Staples | Canada | £2,000 |
| 8. | Timothy Scott | England | £1,450 |
| 9. | Dimitar Dimitrov | Bulgaria | £1,100 |
All Eyes on the Main Event
Although the Mini Main Event has crowned its champion, the main attraction of the London festival is still ahead. The centerpiece is the £500 Main Event with a £100,000 guarantee. The opening Day 1A recorded 62 entries, continuing with flights Day 1B and the evening hyper-turbo Day 1C on Friday, July 10. The last chance to qualify is Saturday’s Day 1D, after which qualified players will meet at 4:00 PM for Day 2. The Main Event final is set for Sunday, July 12, starting at 3:00 PM.
Find a detailed live report and event photo gallery at our partner Poker.pro here
