Sam Grafton wins the Coin Rivet Invitational

The UK Pro is $5.5 million better off after winning the event with an equal split of pros and recreational players.

The Pro-Am format appears to be a winner, as the $200,000 Coin Rivet Invitational was a huge success. 131 entries in total (90 unique players) for the $200k buy-in event where professionals had to be invited by a rich recreational player to attend. 

The 'VIP' players all played together on Day 1 and the professionals all did the same. The two player pools were then brought together for Day 2 and beyond. 

UK PokerStars Pro Sam Grafton was the eventual champion when he defeated Linus Loeliger heads-up for the title and $5.5 million first prize. 

“It was so much fun,” Grafton said after the win. “Playing against some of the most remarkable entrepreneurs and businesspeople in the world…It was played with a special spirit. On the day the two lanes merged, players were smiling like it was Christmas or their birthday. Everyone had a skip in their steps."

Only two recreational players - Karl Chappe-Gatien and Elias Talvitie - made the final table but it was an equal number of professionals and 'VIPs' who made the money. 

One of the professionals, Ebony Kenney, almost made history. She finished 5th for $1.7 million, but had her Jacks held against the pocket nines of Chappe-Gatien and she finished one place higher she would have broke the record for the largest single prize won by a female player. That record is held by Annette Obrestad and her 2007 WSOPE Main Event win of $2,013,733. 

The Triton Series continues with the $100,000 No Limit Main Event, which you can watch live here. 

Did you enjoy the event? Let us know in the comments: