After Madrid, Manchester turned into another key stop for the PartyPoker Tour Live. The schedule is packed, catering to recreational players, regular grinders, and recognizable faces from the local poker scene. Right from the start, player interest was palpable. The £150 Mini Main Event exceeded its £50,000 guarantee, creating a prize pool of £84,000, setting the stage perfectly for the festival's main attraction – the £500 Main Event.
A total of 668 entries were recorded, and organizers were pleased not only with the numbers but also with how the final unfolded. The decisive day kicked off with the last ten players, with the largest stack held by Nim Rattan, the only woman among the finalists.
However, her dream of making history was cut short as she exited in sixth place for £2,500. Her exit came at the hands of Anwar Kanj, who slowly climbed to the top throughout the final.
Joining Kanj in the final three were Imran Primohamed and Kye Hamilton. Hamilton ultimately finished third for £7,000 when his A c 7 s couldn’t beat Primohamed’s pocket nines. The heads-up showdown set Primohamed against Kanj, after a long final day full of massive pots and dramatic all-ins.
Primohamed repeatedly held the edge in heads-up. In one of the biggest pots, he held A s Q d against Kanj's A c J d and nearly closed out the tournament. The flop Q s J c 3 c put him in a great position, but a river J s brought Kanj trips and a huge double-up. This was a game-changer. Although Primohamed regained the lead, momentum gradually shifted toward Kanj.
The decisive hand came with blinds at 400,000/800,000. Primohamed limp-called an all-in for 12,500,000 with A h 3 c, while Kanj held the dominant A h J s. The flop J d 8 d 7 s secured Kanj’s position, and although the turn 3 d gave Primohamed some hope, the river 5 c sealed the win. Anwar Kanj was crowned the champion of the £150 Mini Main Event, earning the trophy and £15,500. Imran Primohamed took home £10,000 for second place.
Final Table Results of £150 Mini Main Event:
| Position | Player Name | Country | Winnings |
| 1. | Anwar Kanj | England | £15,500 |
| 2. | Imran Primohamed | England | £10,000 |
| 3. | Kye Hamilton | Scotland | £7,000 |
| 4. | Andrew Mathews | England | £5,000 |
| 5. | Matthew Archer | England | £3,500 |
| 6. | Nim Rattan | England | £2,500 |
| 7. | Antony Horn | England | £1,890 |
| 8. | Daniel Ryder | United Kingdom | £1,400 |
| 9. | David Greenough | England | £1,100 |
Famous Faces Fall Before the Final
The event also attracted famous faces from the PartyPoker community. Ambassadors like Barry Carter and Rebecca Hardisty participated, alongside brothers Jaime and Matt Staples. Jaime Staples made it in the money, finishing 90th for £300, while Matt Staples went deeper, securing 26th place for £500. Barry Carter lasted until the final three tables before finishing 19th for £550.
With the Mini Main Event champion crowned, the biggest story of the PartyPoker Tour Manchester is about to unfold. The festival will culminate in the £500 Main Event, boasting a £100,000 guarantee, running from June 18 to 21.
The Main Event features a £500 buy-in, a starting stack of 50,000 chips, and multiple starting flights. Day 1A began on Thursday, June 18 at 2:00 PM, Day 1B continued on Friday, June 19 at 12:00 PM, with a turbo flight Day 1C set for 8:00 PM. The final chance to join is the hyper turbo flight Day 1D, scheduled for June 20 at 11:00 AM.
