888poker Ambassador Ian Simpson has claimed his third live title of 2025. His High Roller win at PokerStars Open Manchester now sits alongside his 888poker LIVE Madrid Main Event win in January and his Main Event UKPL Newcastle win in April 2025.
Simpson took down the £2,200 High Roller title at PokerStars Open Manchester this week, topping a field of 106 entrants to collect £53,140 from a total prize pool of £233,200.
According to PokerNews, Simpson told PokerStars shortly after his win: “You’re meant to have been short at some point, I just wasn’t. I did have to make some calls and bluffs, but I had a series of big hands, and I just had to click the call button. On one bullet too, very nice!”
This latest triumph marks Simpson’s third major live victory of 2025, a run that began in January during the 888poker LIVE Madrid event. Simpson outlasted a field of 403 entries to take the €888 Main Event and its €62,000 first prize.
At the time Simpson stated: “I don’t have words. It’s the best. I’ve always wanted to run deep in a Main Event, and then when it’s like final 20 you’re like, okay, maybe I’ll final table. Then it’s like final 13 or 14 and you’re like, I’m really hoping I don’t get like ninth, 11th. Then you get to the final table, and you’ve got the chip lead. It’s a lot of emotions, and they’re all good ones.”
Then in April, Simpson went on to take down the Main Event at the 888poker sponsored UK Poker League (UKPL) Main Event that took place in Newcastle. He took home £34,800 at the £560 buy-in marquee event.
Simpson also cashed in four Irish Poker Open events back in the spring and five World Series of Poker events over the summer — making it a stand out year for the sponsored pro. And although October is coming to a close, there is still plenty of live poker action to be had.
Firstly, PokerStars Open Manchester still runs through the weekend, with a Super High Roller, Mystery Bounty and Main Event still to come. Then eyes turn to NAPT that takes place in Vegas in November, and the WPT World Championships before EPT Prague and WSOP Paradise closes out the year.
Although 888poker’s marquee events under their LIVE banner have wrapped for 2025, there is still more to come via their sponsored UKPL. The UKPL will play out with its last stop in Coventry between November 11 to 16.
Time Still Left on 888poker’s Half Price Sale
Until the end of the week, 888Poker are running their Sale Week that has buy-ins on popular tournaments slashed in half whilst guarantees remain the same. This popular sale is always a fan-favorite. The sale will conclude on October 27, so there is still time to take advantage of the great value.
There is over $300,000 in guaranteed prize money up for grabs, and there are ten tournaments still set to run. The Mystery Bounty Main Event is a stand out event taking place this Sunday. The $109 buy-in is now sitting at $55 with it’s $100,000 guarantee unchanged.
The most expensive tournament yet to run is The Big Shot, which takes place on Sunday. It is a high-roller event usually priced at $525, however, this time players can enter for $265 and get the usual guarantee of $30,000.
October Sale Week MTT Schedule Remaining
| Date | Event | Buy-In | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 24 | MB Big or Small | $11 | $10,000 |
| Oct 24 | The PKO Rumble 55 | $27.50 | $10,000 |
| Oct 25 | The PKO Rumble 33 | $16.50 | $5,000 |
| Oct 25 | MB Big or Small | $11 | $10,000 |
| Oct 26 | Mystery Bounty Main Event | $55 | $100,000 |
| Oct 26 | Sunday Mystery Bounty 55 | $27.50 | $25,000 |
| Oct 26 | MB Big or Small 22 | $11 | $12,000 |
| Oct 26 | Big Shot 525 | $265 | $30,000 |
| Oct 27 | Daily Gems – Big Shot 215 | $109 | $8,000 |
| Oct 27 | The PKO Rumble 55 | $27.50 | $10,000 |
