Former British boxing champ David Haye has traded his gloves for chips in his latest role as Grosvenor Poker ambassador.
David Haye has become an official member of Team Grosvenor Poker, a year after putting on a show at the Goliath. (Image: GUKPT)
The second GUKPT Luton of the year gets underway at the Grosvenor Casino on Thursday. This is Leg 7 of the GUKPT’s 13 th season and features a £200,000 guarantee Main Event along with a £20,000 guarantee Mini Main. The £1,000 + £110 buy-in Main Event takes place October 10-13 with unlimited re-entries. Players get a 20,000 starting stack and 60 minute levels.
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- Jeff Kimber looks back on a successful trip and gives analysis on some unique situations in tournament poker. Sir Alex Ferguson used to call it “squeaky bum time” and while we’re not fighting to be top of poker’s Premier League, the last three events of the GUKPT calendar – GUKPT Luton, GUKPT Blackpool and the Grand Final – do feel like they can make or break your year.
The heavyweight sports star first partnered with Grosvenor in 2018 to take on a mammoth challenge. Despite being a complete novice, Haye sight his sights on winning the Goliath.
After a year of tutelage from Team Grosvenor Poker, he finished 40th out of 9,300 entrants. That result ignited his passion for poker and he’ll now represent Grosvenor in an official capacity.
David Haye Going for GUKPT Knockouts
As part of the deal, Grosvenor Poker will host a series of online MTTs. Known as Hayemaker Bounties, the tournaments will give players a chance to win cash prizes for knocking out the ex-world champion.
The events will also be a chance for Haye to hone his skills before he heads out on the live circuit. Although British casinos are still in a state of lockdown, Grosvenor is also planning ahead. The Goliath will play out online this August, but it hopes to start offering GUKPT events at some point in the coming months.
When the action resume, Haye will be travelling across the country as part of Team Grosvenor Poker. Given his mainstream profile, he’ll be as much of a target as an attraction. With that being the case, Haye need as much practice as he can before competing on the GUKPT circuit.
“When I first took on the [Goliath] challenge, I had no idea of the scale of the game, the skill and strategy involved. In pursuit of success, I travelled the world and played with the best and soon fell in love with the game. I’m excited to continue to grow and test my ability on the circuit,” Haye said in a July 13 press release.
As the training ground for some of today’s top pros, including Sam Trickett, Haye won’t have it easy. However, as a former professional athlete, he’s more than ready for the challenge.
Grosvenor Using Sports Star to Reignite Interest in Poker
The deal is as much of a coup for Grosvenor Poker as Haye. With COVID-19 keeping casinos on lockdown, operators need to return with a bang when live poker resumes.
Signing a mainstream pro like Haye is a tried and tested strategy. Over the last decade, Partypoker and PokerStars have partnered with active and retired sports stars. Haye and Grosvenor will continue this tradition in an effort to attract casuals to poker.
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Recent data has shown that interest in the game hasn’t waned since March. In fact, in the UK where Grosvenor is most active, poker sites have enjoyed an uptick in activity. However, transferring this interest to live games may be a challenge.
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Even as life starts to return to normal, people will be wary of spending too much time in crowded spaces. This could hurt poker tournaments in the short term. But, by partnering with David Haye, Grosvenor’s executives want to smooth the transition and give players a reason to get back to the felt.
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