The Manchester leg of the UK Poker League organized by 888poker and Grosvenor Casinos is in the books. It was another successful stop for the popular UKPL, but one player in particular came back from Manchester with some great memories.
The player in question is none other than Ian Simpson, one of 888poker’s most prominent ambassadors. Simpson came to Manchester ready to play, and he left the city with two new titles to his name and £54,000 in prize money.
The UK pro started off by winning the UKPL High Roller event, triumphing in a relatively small field of just 49 players. As it turned out, Simpson was just warming up, as he then proceeded to take the throne in the Main Event, topping the field of 345 players.
A Run to Remember
When it comes to live results, 2026 hasn’t been a particularly good year for the 888poker ambassador. His best recorded score came back in February, when he took third place in the High Roller event during the 888poker LIVE Glasgow festival.
It was high time for the cards to start falling Simpson’s way, and that’s exactly what happened last week, as he brought out an absolutely dominant performance in Manchester.
Ian kicked things off by taking down the £1,100 High Roller event, which netted him £16,620 in cash as well as a seat in the £560 Main Event. The High Roller featured a field of 49 players, so it wasn’t a massive tournament, but the win certainly helped Simpson’s confidence.
He then entered the Main Event and proceeded to dominate the tournament over the course of the next few days. The tournament saw 345 entries, and Simpson was the last man standing, pocketing an additional £38,000.
In total, he walked away with two titles and over £54,000 in prize money.
UKPL Manchester Main Event Final Standings
| Rank | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ian Simpson | £38,000 |
| 2 | Ali Mallu | £25,400 |
| 3 | Lewis Spencer | £16,700 |
| 4 | Ronnie Marland | £11,000 |
| 5 | Tom Cazaletz | £7,500 |
| 6 | Callum Morgan | £5,400 |
| 7 | Gaoyang Yang | £4,200 |
| 8 | Mohammed Ifzail | £3,400 |
| 9 | Colin Myott | £2,840 |
What’s Next for Simpson?
Capturing a couple of wins after a long stretch with no significant results is always a great feeling. Professional tournament players like Simpson are used to it, but it is still a nice confidence (and bankroll) boost that serves as a reminder that they still have it.
Talking to PokerNews after his run, Ian said that he had a couple of events lined up for the remainder of the year. He plans to play in the UKPL Coventry and the season-ending 888poker LIVE London festival.
Back in 2025, the UK pro started the year by winning the season-opening Madrid event. Ending 2026 with a big score in London would be a noteworthy finish, especially coming on the heels of his latest Manchester results.
There is no telling what poker gods have in store for Simpson, and large-field tournaments are the most volatile of all poker formats out there, but it is clear the 888poker ambassador is determined to continue improving and to keep the grind going. And that’s really all you can do as a poker player!
