83-Year-Old Lilian Welch Crowned 888poker UKPL Blackpool Champion

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Matthew Pitt

Senior Editor

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May 11, 2026 3 min read

You will have most likely bumped into Lilian Welch if you have visited the Grosvenor G Casino in Blackpool at any point in the past 14 years. Welch has cashed in 71 tournaments at the venue, racking up more than $50,000 in winnings. Today, at the ripe old age of 83**, Welch can call herself the 888poker UK Poker League (UKPL) Blackpool Main Event champion, an accolade that came with a career-best £31,390.

In an era where GTO dominates the poker landscape and where grinders attempt to push every possible edge, Welch is a breath of fresh air. In her post-victory interview, Welch revealed that she simply loves playing poker for the sheer enjoyment. She often doesn't know how much she's won when she finishes in the money because that's not what drives her. Welch may change her mind now that she has £31,390 and the all-important trophy in her hands.

The £560 buy-in, £100,000 guaranteed 888poker UKPL Blackpool Main Event attracted 318 entrants, which resulted in a £151,050 prize pool. Thirty-eight places were paid. Among those who finished in the money were Brandon Sheils, Alli Mallu, Richard Kellett, 888poker Ambassador Ian Simpson, and Robert Douras, the latter busting in 11th place.

888poker UKPL Blackpool Main Event Final Table Results

RankPlayerPrize

1Lilian Welch£31,390*

2Frankie Mok£21,710*

3Brian Clarke£21,755*

4Paul Orritt£10,455

5Peter Charalambous£7,140

6Bryan Taylor£5,200

7Gaoyang Yang£4,030

8Yucel Eminoglu£3,295

9Chris Flint£2,765

*reflects a three-handed deal

Chris Flint, who, like Welch, is a Blackpool regular, busted in ninth place for £2,765. Flint got his last nine big blinds into the middle of the table holding pocket sixes, but couldn't get there against the pocket queens of Frankie Mok.

The dangerous Yucel "Mad Turk" Eminoglu was the next finalist to vacate the table. He was all-in with king-ten against the ace-queen of Paul Orritt. A queen on the flop left Eminoglu needing to hit one of the three remaining kings; they failed to arrive.

Seventh place and £4,030 went to Gaoyang Yang before the National Poker League (NPL) early pace-setter, Bryan Taylor, bowed out in sixth. Taylor was short-stacked when he jammed with ten-seven, and he was in terrible shape against Brian Clarke's pocket queens. Taylor flopped two pair, but Clarke flopped a set to end yet another deep Taylor run.

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Another veteran of the British poker scene crashed out in fifth. Peter Charalambous has live scores dating back to 2005. He was down to 1.3 big blinds when play was five-handed, and he couldn't recover. This latest result was Charalambous' 97th in-the-money finish, according to the Hendon Mob Database_, and nudged his lifetime winnings ever closer to $1 million.

There was a career-best score for Orritt, who got unlucky against the champion elect, Welch. Down to only three big blinds, Orritt pinned his hopes on jack-three, with Welch calling with ten-nine. Orritt spiked a jack on the flop, Welch turned a straight, and Orritt headed to the cashier's desk to collect the £10,455 fourth-place prize money.

The final three made an ICM-based deal, leaving £7,500 and the trophy to play for. Clarke, who won this event in 2008, fell in third when his pocket queens lost to Welch's ace-king, courtesy of a king on the top.

888poker LIVE Heads to Barcelona For Third Leg of the 2026 Tour

Welch and Mok battled heads-up for the title. Mok lost most of his stack with ace-nine against king-queen before moving all-in with jack-deuce and losing to Welch's dominating jack-ten. Mok, a newcomer to the live poker circuit, banked £21,710 for his runner-up finish, with octogenarian Welch taking home £31,390, the trophy, and the title of UKPL Blackpool champion.

The next UKPL isn't until July, which is when the popular tour heads to Reading. However, those who love playing on the 888poker LIVE tour and who fancy some fun in the sun can head to Barcelona from May 14-24. 888poker LIVE Barcelona features an €888 buy-in Main Event that awarded its champion €70,000 last year.

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