Pena's in pole position

* CLICK TO REFRESH FOR CONTEMPORARY UPDATES* Day 1A has ended* Players 33 of 58 through to Day 2

7:20pm: Pena leads the 33 players who made it through to Day 2

Small but perfectly formed. That sort of summed up Day 1A of UKIPT6 Birmingham. It will have only attracted 58 entries and hence a discounted eight levels of play, but what was missing in quantity was made up by the standard of entrants. It made for a fun day on the felt.

Team PokerStars Pro Chris Moneymaker was never going to overlook the last ever UKIPT and made the adventure over the pond and he was joined by teammate Jake Cody, James Mitchell, Steve Warburton, Yiannis Liperis, Jonathan Gill, Ben Jackson, Sam Grafton, Adam Owen, Joe Hindry, Natalia Breviglieri, Ben Dobson and reigning UKIPT London champion Usman Siddique.

None of those players made it to the highest of the counts after eight levels have been played out. That honour went to Spaniard Breixo Pena who bagged up 112,000. He'll be chased on Day 2 by Teymour Sabet (82,100), Jon Littler (78,100), Ted Spivack (77,100), Konrad Zalewski (77,100), Usman Siddique (76,500), Chris Moneymaker (63,100), Steve Warburton (56,400), Adam Owen (47,200), Sam Grafton (43,600), Ben Jackson (34,900), Joe Hindry (33,300) and Jake Cody (21,000). For an entire list of all 33 players that made it through to Day 2 on Saturday, click here.

There are two flights scheduled for tomorrow, and a minimum of considered one of them promises to be busy. A coach load of players are expected to descend on Birmingham for Day 1B that starts at midday, then there's the second one chance turbo Day 1C that's scheduled for 10pm. It has the similar starting stack but has 20-minute levels and only open to people who has been eliminated already. It'll feature the likes of James Mitchell, Natalia Breviglieri, Ben Dobson, Jonathan Gill and Yucel Eminoglu - all of whom busted today.

That's all from the Genting Casino Star City. See you all tomorrow.

7pm: End of the dayLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

That's the top of Day 1, a wrap of the day's play is at the way. Day 1B starts at midday tomorrow. --NW

6:50pm: Final three handsLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The clock have been paused and they're going to be three more hands before play is completed for the day. --NW

6:45pm: Spencer doubles with quadsLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)Ben Farrell opened to 2,200 and called when Alex Spencer shoved all-in for 13,550. The latter was first to show, he opened A♣A♠ and Farrell showed T♥T♦. The 5♥4♦A♥ flop all but ended proceedings. "Still got a chance," said Farrell, relating to his flush draw. But those chances were extinguished at the A♦ turn as Spencer turned quads.

He doubles up then, while Farrell drops to 17,000. --NW

6:40pm: Siddique going for the doubleLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

There has been four double UKIPT champions within the tour's history and Usman Siddique is the one player within the field today who could take that number to five.

He late reg'd this event but has built his stack as much as 45,000 within the time he's been within the field. He just padded his stack by raising Sam Grafton off a pot at the river. Grafton had bet 3,600 at the river of a 7♣A♦2♣6♠3♣ river but folded when Siddique raised to 11,000. "Seems believable," said Grafton as he folded." --NW

6:35pm: UKIPT memories, with blogger Marc ConveyLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

My favourite UKIPT memory came from some of the events I played and never one who I worked at. Galway is my favourite city in Ireland and, in my opinion, has hosted the superior UKIPTs over time. I did my usual bust on Day 2 before the cash thing so was railing Nick Abou Risk to his second crown along side a couple of other reprobates, after we decided to have a bit sit 'n' go, with a twist.

Myself, Max Silver, Kevin Williams, Jamie Burland, David Vamplew, Owen Robinson and Paul McGovern took over a free table and opened a pack of cards. The buy in was nominal however the game was stuffed with conditions, mostly to do with drink penalties. My memory of the precise details escapes me, but I'm pretty sure that one stipulation was thon the shortest stack on the time purchased a round of shots at the end of each level, and the chip leader was forced to down two as some way of handicapping his future abilities.

"Best game ever!" Max Silver

The plan wasn't really well thought through as we didn't exactly have a protracted clock and after a couple of levels the sport had disintegrated right into a farce, and a noisy one at that. We soon started attracting more attention than the principle Event and had a rail that included Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree and UKIPT host Nick Wealthall. Word even reached Jeese May who was chilling in his room, and before we knew it, we had a dealer and commentator all in one!

We were clearly having an excessive amount of fun for TD Toby Stone though, and he gave us a telling off for being too loud and moved us to the far corner of the room where we continued until Kevin booked a win. Well, I FEEL he did anyway. I DO NOT remember much past the fifth shot. The party continued into the bar and went on late into the night.

Most folks are still good friends to this day, but would never have met if it wasn't for poker, and specifically the UKIPT. That's what's made this tour special for me: strangers that were friends I USED TO BE yet to satisfy. And shots, a lot of shots.

6:15pm: Pena in pole positionLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

With lower than an hour to head on Day 1A Breixo Pena has unfolded a large lead at the chasing pack. The chip leaders as we enter the last level of the night are;

Breixo Pena - 113,000John Littler - 82,000Ted Spivack - 75,000Teymour Sabet - 68,000Konrad Zalewski - 61,000Daniel Stanway - 60,000

6:09pm: That's just plain bullyingLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Man, you have to feel for Christopher Gatley. All he was seeking to do was secure a small double up after he moved all-in, but three players rounded on him and made the call.

In the docks were Joe Hindry, Anthony Kennedy and Miguel Riera Suarez. All three checked it all the way down to the river where Suarez bet 2,300 and Hindry called.

"I should've bet!" said Kennedy before flashing K♣J♦. He was right as both his opponents had small aces that they hit at the turn. They chopped the pot up and sent Gately on his way after his T♥9♦ was no good. -- MC

6:05pm: Out but not out outLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

The rate of departures has gone up a notch during level seven with Yiannis Liperis, George Chapman, Christopher Gatley, Robertas Vaitkevicius, Miguel Riera Suarez and Christopher Johnson all taking their leave of the tournament.

However they're only out for now as they may be able to decide to re-enter the turbo Day 1C that begins tomorrow at 10pm. That flight has 20 minute levels and is solely open to players who've exited Day 1A or B.

Indeed a few of those individuals can have entered the £100 + £10 satellite to the primary Event that has just begun. Late reg in that one is open until roughly 7.20pm. --NW

5:45pm: Hit and run from JacksonLevel 6 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

Ben Jackson did a success and run on Robin Nielsen, but to be fair, he only ran afterwards as their table broke.

The two players had amassed a 13,000 pot by the point the board rested as 3♠8♥9♥3♥7♦. Neilsen checked to stand a 10,000 bet that he called after giving it a few minute's thought. Jackson opened A♠A♦ and Neilsen mucked and went to go away. He was called back though as he was left with just 225 to take to his new table. --MC

5:20pm: Break timeLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Six down, two to head. It is time for a break. --NW

5:15pm: The Moneymaker effectLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Chris Moneymaker has an effect on most tables he sits at, and especially in tournaments akin to the UKIPT. The effect at his table thus far have been for the yankee to draw more chips to his stack. He's as much as 39,500 and was last seen betting 4,000 to prize Steve Warburton off whatever hand he was holding. Warburton's on Moneymaker's direct right and has a stack of 43,000. --NW

Quickly out the traps, no wonder Moneymaker is smiling

5:05pm: UKIPT Memories, with Dara O'KearneyLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

A couple of rough Dara O'Kearney UKIPT stats:

Number of cashes - 11 (joint second with Jake Cody)Number of UKIPT packages/seats won online - too many to count.Number of ice creams bought for him after busting - one who we all know of (read below).

"Edinburgh 2015. It is the fifth time I've made the last two tables of a UKIPT main event and it's looking good for me to finally convert one to my first final table. Unfortunately things go pear shaped fast and at the FT bubble, with ten left I LOCATE myself sub ten blinds, an overly distant 10/10. A5s within the cutoff is a shove in that spot, so I DO NOT hesitate. My friend Dode Eliot hesitates somewhat within the big blind before making the decision with pocket eights. I turn a gutshot and a flush draw but after bricking the river I shake hands with Dode and depart for the rail, where I'M consoled by Dode's brother Willie.

Doke at his first UKIPT final table last month

"Part and parcel of poker is the truth that we frequently deal pain or no less than disappointment on our friends, and as he whisks me away for consolatory ice cream, Willie remarks that Dode might be feeling worse about my knockout than I'M. I fully believe this. The truth that Willie was willing to take day without work from railing his brother at the FT to console me says it all.

"What made the UKIPT unique down the seasons was the incredible camaraderie and friendships it fostered between players. It broke down all of the barriers between Brits and Irish, recreational players and pro, old and young, male and female."

4:55pm: Gill gives Polak more breathing spaceLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Jonathan Gill was the early chip leader but had dropped back into the pack (37,000) after he doubled up Adam Polak.

Breixo Pena opened to 1,200 from the cutoff before Polak three-bet to 2,700 from the following seat. While Gill was tanking within the big blind, Pena made the decision. He was allowed to take then chips back and fold though after Gill four-bet to 6,800. Polak wasn't folding though and moved all-in for 12,250. Call.

Gill: 9♣9♥Pena: A♣A♥

The board ran 6♥Q♣J♥4♥K♦ to overlook both players. -- MC

4:40pm: A VISIT down memory lane with Grafton and CodyLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

We've been asking players for his or her favourite UKIPT memories, which we'll be dropping in to the blog over the following four days. Well Sam Grafton just gave us one for free, although it's definitely not his favourite memory.

Jake Cody and he were having a visit down memory lane, both have had a variety of near misses in this tour, with their best results coming in Marbella. Cody finished 8th in Marbella in 2014, the similar year Grafton was 9th. A year later Grafton did final table, busting in sixth. In all Grafton has seven UKIPT Main Event cashes, including his first ever UKIPT, by which he finished 14th in Coventry in Season 1.

"I was telling Ben Dobson that he busted me out of my first ever UKIPT," said Grafton to Cody. He said it loud enough that Dobson, who's on an adjacent table but wearing headphones, circled to look what was happening. "I four-bet jammed with 9-3 and Dobson called with kings," said Grafton finishing the story.

Cody also cashed that event and has 11 cashes in UKIPT Main Events. "Thomas Ward's first, he's got yet one more than me," said Cody to Grafton. Can he tie the record this week? --NW

Can Cody catch Ward?

4:30pm: Cody and Moneymaker arriveLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Fashionably late the Team PokerStars Pros have arrived, enter stage left Chris Moneymaker and Jake Cody.

The latter has joined 'Table Grafton' and he and Sam just tangled in a pot. Cody was within the big blind and had evidently defended to a late position raise from Grafton. Both players checked the T♣8♥6♥ flop and the 2♦ landed at the turn. Cody fired out of venture of 2,000 and Grafton picked up the calling chips, set them go into reverse again, before picking them up another time and placing them over the betting line.

The Q♣ fell at the river, Cody checked the action to Grafton and folded when faced with of venture of 5,300. "Good hand Jake. Five years ago, in Season 1, he wins that pot," said Grafton to the table. "Now he doesn't know where he is," he continued. It was all in good nature and Grafton is now as much as 48,000. --NW

4:25pm: Warburton rises more while a batch are out of dateLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Steve Warburton has a kind of faces that may pull expressions leaving you in indisputably what he's thinking. Worried. That was the emotion that came into our minds when he cold four-bet and needed to wait before he saw if it got through or not.

Konrad Zalewski had opened to 1,000 before Brandon Sheils three-bet to 2,600 from the cutoff. Warburton was at the button and raised to 5,800. Adam Owen appeared like he was going to do something from the small blind, but folded, and the large blind did something similar. Zalewki quickly folded but Sheils said, "I DID NOT plan on folding but...." He said a pair more things after which folded as well.

Sheils left himself with 9,275 greater than: James Crawley-Boevey, Nathan Watson, Daniel Blake, Edward Trotter, Harish Sahnan and David Longmate. --MC

Does this man look worried to you?

4:05pm: Count 'em upLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

We're now over halfway through Day 1A and large stacks are turning out to be built because the blind and antes force action. The player who's built his tower the tallest so far is Jonathan Gill as he's as much as 76,000. He leads from Ted Spivack (54,800) and Daniel Stanway (51,800). --NW

3:55pm: Grafton's no Mad TurkLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

James Mitchell never recovered from that bad beat earlier, and his seat was taken by the chatty Yucel "Mad Turk" Eminoglu. It's rare that any man beats Grafton in talking stakes, but Eminoglu isn't any normal man. Grafton still got the simpler of his opponent in a hand though.

Eminoglu opened to 700 from the cutoff and was called by Grafton within the next seat, and the large blind. All three checked the 2♦K♠2♣ flop before Eminoglu bet 1,000 and 2,500 at the 6♥8♣ turn and river. Grafton was the one one to name both times.

Eminoglu announced he had an eight after which mucked upon seeing Grafton's K♥T♥.

"You played this hand so good!" said a generous Eminoglu who dropped to 16,000.

Grafton, who moved as much as 37,000, thanked him after which told the blog, "He's played more hands in a single orbit than I'VE all day!" --MC

3:45pm: More bread for WarburtonLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Late registration is open to the beginning of level seven and Steve Warburton is among the players who's taken good thing about that facility. That late arrival hasn't stopped EPT12 Barcelona runner-up from boosting his stack though. As I glided by his table he was busy stacking chips from a pot just won. He looks to be as much as 33,000 now. --NW

3:20pm: All concerning the BenjaminsLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

With over one million dollars in tournament earnings between them Benjamin's Jackson and Dobson know their way around a poker table and today they're sat next to one another. As they returned from the break it's Jackson who holds the higher hand in chips, but Dobson who has position. The previous has upped his stack to 26,475, while the latter is right down to 21,000. --NW

Ben and Ben the poker playing men

3:10pm: UKIPT memories, featuring Tom HallLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Tom Hall wbecause the UKIPT Player of the Year for Season 3, and was a player that grew in stature as the tour grew. The player, who's fourth at the UKIPT most cashes leaderboard with eight, kindly wrote a couple of words for the blog. Check them out:

"PokerStars have been an enormous a part of my life for ~six years. UKIPT helped me move up into the live scene. It helped me make a large number of friends. I NEED to thank all of the dedicated staff who've followed the tour over the seven years, it has been fun.

"My favourite memory could be racing for the UKIPT Leaderboard with my friend Neil Raine. When the brand new point system was announced (Season 3) we discussed it and decided that if we went all out over the season considered one of us would win an enormous percentage of the time.

Tom playing UKIPT6 London

"We both had a big lead with one tournament left (the UKIPT High Roller London), Neil being ahead at that time. I WANTED to complete 8/219 to win and that i ended up 6th. Was a large achievement for me at the moment. It was great fun to compete in something that lasted an entire year and compelled you to focus in every small tournament."

2:45pm: End of the levelLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Level three has come and gone and the players has been sent on a fifteen minute break. --NW

2:35pm: More for Stanway as he moves in frontLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Daniel Stanway looks to be the chip leader as we approach the tip of the third level. He's as much as about 55,000 after winning a multi-way pot. Teymour Sabet was the action catalyst, he opened to 400 and collected four callers! So five to a flop then, one who fell 2♦J♦6♠. Sabet led for 1,200, Natalia Breviglieri, Robertas Vaitkevicius and Stanway decided that was an even price to peer a turn card they usually all looked on because the 9♦ fell on fourth street.

Action was checked to Vaitkevicius, he bet 2,600 and Stanway was the one caller as Sabet and Breviglieri ducked out the best way. The 2♥ rounded off the board and Vaitkevicius bet again, he upped the cost slightly, betting 2,600 a chance that Stanway raised to 7,500. That was too rich for Vaitkevicius and he folded. --NW

2:20pm: More three-betting and the primary eliminationLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Daniel Stanway managed to win a three-bet pot out of position to Christopher Johnson. And while their hand was playing out Martin Hogarty was busy becoming the primary player to be eliminated from UKIPT6 Birmingham.

Stanway opened to 450 from early position and called after Johnson three-bet to 1,500 from the button. The flop fanned A♥J♠7♦ and was checked to the Q♣ turn where Johnson saw his 2,100 bet check-called. The board completed with the 5♣ and both players went back to checking. Stanway opened A♦K♠ and Johnson mucked.

Hogarty could have busted but he can still enter tomorrow night's Day 1C Turbo flight that's only open to people who busted on Day 1A or 1B. --MC

2pm: Mitchell gets the Grafton rub downLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

We're not only standing by Sam Grafton's table, we swear, but it surely is where the action is occurring. Grafton actually missed the massive pot as he was clear of the table chatting to at least one of the tournament staff.

So he missed James Mitchell betting 2,300 on a 4♦K♠2♠ flop, he was also oblivious to Barry Stansbie three-betting to 8,500 and calling off when Mitchell set him all-in. The Irish Open champion opened A♥A♣ and was seeking to fade the flush draw of Stansbie, who held A♠7♠. No dice though because the T♠ hit the turn giving Stansbie a lock at the hand. The 2♦ completed the board and Stansbie, who was all-in for 15,875 took nearly all of Mitchell's chips because the latter is all the way down to 4,825.

Mitchell and Grafton

As the chips were being shipped around the table Grafton slid back into his seat and addressed Mitchell: "How'd that hand go mate? Win a large pot? I'm sure you played it well though!" A COUPLE OF seconds passed and because the dealer was preparing the deck for the following hand he turned to the remainder of the table. "Listen guys, back in Season 1 (of the UKIPT), five years ago, this guy was among the finest players about."--NW

1:55pm: Zalewski gets his pound of FletcherLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

It's hardly that a player three-bets and receives four callers. Konrad Zalewski did just that, and never with the strongest hand, but still managed to win the pot on showdown.

He made it 1,100 to move from the cutoff after Joe Hindry had opened to 400 from the hijack. Christopher Gatley (button), Arron Fletcher (small blind) and Hindry all called to look a 9♣A♦8♠ flop that was checked throughout the. 4♣ appeared at the turn and Zalewski delayed 2,575 c-bet was only check-called by Fletcher. The J♣ river was checked and Fletcher's T♣T♥ lost out to Zalewski's A♥7♦. --MC

1:40pm: Come for the Grafton, stay for the pokerLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

As a tournament reporter when there isn't so much happening within the early levels of a poker tournament you can not help but gravitate towards Sam Grafton. Partly because this is because you'll be able to clearly hear his voice over the faint hum of riffling chips, but it is also for the reason that man is straight up entertaining, opinionated and frequently engaging his table in conversation.

Today Grafton is sat to the left of James Mitchell and the 2 were discussing the united kingdom poker calendar as a large pot broke out around them. John Littler opened to 400 from middle position and collected three callers. At the 4♠3♣J♠ flop Steven Game led for 700 from the small blind and Littler and James Crawley-Boevey both felt confident enough to make the decision. The 2♦ was the reall action card on this hand as Game checked, Littler bet 1,500, Crawley-Boevey smooth called and Game then check-raised to 5,000. We had a hand right here.

Back on Littler he swiftly called, whilst Crawley-Boevey tanked before releasing his hand. The 5♥ was an enchanting river card because it put four to a straight on board. It didn't slow Game down though, he bet 12,500 and Littler thought for a tight period of time before electing to fold. Good Game for Steven, but not good game for Littler.

After that hand Game is as much as 38,000, Littler drops to 24,000 and Grafton and Mitchell are still deep in conversation. --NW

1:20pm: UKIPT memories, featuring Kelly SaxbyLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

We wrote within the blog earlier that that is the final UKIPT before it's rebranded because the PokerStars Festival. To celebrate its success, we are going to drop in some memories and stories from the tour's seven-year history within the words of the players, dealers, staff and media who helped make the tour among the finest around. First up is PokerStars Live on the Hippodrome Ambassador Kelly Saxby:

"I think the UKIPT players parties are where my most cherished memories were born as they were an effective way to get to satisfy players and the UKIPT team on a social level. I'VE made friendships and poker travel buddies so as to last forever. This actual picture was from the players party at Isle of Man which was so fun we had drinks within the bar downstairs then went as much as the living room with live music and danced and sang the night away.

Kelly and Deborah Worley-Roberts sandwiching UKIPT photographer Mickey May

"So hard to select specific events as I FEEL the entire drinks with Marc, Nick, Mickey, Jen and Dave are always stand out nights, having an enormous jump up at the dance floor in Copperface Jacks in Dublin; playing Would you Rather on the hotel in Isle of man; playing Inbetweenies on the hotel in Nottingham; singing Karoake in Nottingham, calling Nick, Marc (lolol), betting Sin Melin to leap within the pool fully clothed in Marbella; watching the britain game at the beach (also in Marbella); dinners on the Heliot at Hippodrome, being attentive to Deborah Worley-Roberts shout obscenities around the tables to me; standing outside of the hotel in Edinburgh dying of hangover while fire alarm went off; getting told off in Edinburgh for eating pizza from dominoes within the bar; my first profit ME in Bristol 2015; final tabling the London Cup at Hippodrome in 2016, and naturally winning the women's event in London in 2013 and getting my own silver spade!"

Thanks to Kelly for these amazing words. Keep a watch out for several more memories over the following few days, and you probably have any UKIPT memories you would like to share, please tweet us at @pokerstarsblog or use the hashtag #UKIPTBirmingham.

1pm: Big JonLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

Nothing happens within the opening level of a poker tournament right? Wrong. How a few 100 big blind pot for starters?

Ted Spivack and Jon Santos were the 2 protagonists. Spivack opened to 225 from the button, Santos three-bet to 725 out of the small blind and Spivack decided to stay around.

A J♦3♠7♦ flop hit the felt, Santos led for 650 and Spivack wasn't budging as a way to the 2♣ turn they went. Santos slowed down, Spivack looked to pounce on that weakness and fired out 1,150. Santos chewed it over and slid out the calling chips, he was 25 light though, the dealer pointed it out and he through within the extra chip.

The 5♣ completed the board, Santos tapped the table but Spivack reached for chips again and elected for of venture of 2,650. The body language of Santos made it clear he wasn't entirely proud of that bet, it was a 'what am i able to beat' form of face. He thought it over for roughly 20 seconds and evidently decided he could beat enough of Spivack's hands to make a decision profitable as he threw out a call.

Spivack grimaced and opened A♠6♣ for a bluff that have been picked off, Santos showed pocket tens and took the pot. --NW

12:45pm: The early onesLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

To be fair they're more just like the on time ones, but within the poker word in case you are on time, it's considered early.

Five tables worth of players was gathered together up to now and contain familiar faces reminiscent of EPT Barcelona third place finisher Adam Owen, Joe Hindry, Natalia Breviglieri, Jonathan Gill and Sam Grafton.

Grafton found kings early on, but only won a small pot with them as a result of a scary ace-high flop. He raised to 300 from under the gun and was only called by Steven Game within the small blind.

"This guy's serious together with his headphones on!" teased Grafton. "Whippersnapper!"

The flop spread 8♠A♣8♥ and Game check-called a 200 c-bet before the J♠2♠ turn and river where checked through. Grafton opened K♣K♥ and Game mucked. -- MC

12:30pm: Shuffle up and dealLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

Action has started. --NW

11:55am: It isn't a wake, it is a celebration

As you will have heard, back in August PokerStars announced that going forward all of its live events will fall under one in every of two tours, the PokerStars Championship and PokerStars Festival.

Whilst that does not mean the top of live events within the UK and Ireland, it does mean that this may be the 48th and final UKIPT Main Event. All of it began in Galway in December 2009 and because then has taken us to Edinburgh, Dublin, London and Marbella to call but a few, but until today not Birmingham.

The first UKIPT champion

Another Irish winner

Nick Abou Risk, the primary of 4 double UKIPT champions whilst Max Silver and David Vamplew (background) even have titles

England's 'second city' would be the host for this poker tournament, and surely one hell of a celebration. The UKIPT have been as much concerning the craic and the cards and they will be heady mixture of the 2 over the following four days.

Ready to enroll in PokerStars? Click here to get an account.

The craic was greatly in evidence last night, the cards get underway at 12:30 and we think the likes of Jake Cody, Adam Owen, Tom Hall, Sam Grafton and Ben Dobson to take a crack at winning their maiden UKIPT Main Event title today. In the event that they fail they'll give you the chance to go into the turbo repechage Day 1C on Friday night.

Cody's won a UKIPT Series but not a first-rate Event

Enough rambling, time for action.

Key UKIPT6 Birmingham information:

- 25,000 starting stack- Blinds starting at 50/100 for 250 big blinds- Levels are 45 minutes on Day 1 and they will be 8 of them. From Level 13 onwards levels increase to 60 minutes.- Day 1A is today, Day 1B happens tomorrow and there is also a turbo Day 1C at 10pm tomorrow. That opening flight is solely open to players who've busted on Day 1A or Day 1B.- The sphere will then combine for the primary time on Saturday. We'll reach the money and hopefully the overall table too. Sunday is where the magic happens and we play to a winner. Cue mad celebrations and swigging of champagne from the trophy (possibly).- Full UKIPT6 Birmingham schedule here.

PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT6 Birmingham: Marc Convey and Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: UKIPT]