The UKPL Reading South festival is set to kick off tomorrow, September 23rd, and Cardplayer Lifestyle will be on hand to cover the festivities in person! First introduced in January 2024, the all-new 888poker-powered UK Poker League will have boasted more than a half dozen stops at Grosvenor Casinos throughout the UK: Coventry, Edinburgh, Luton, Manchester, Leeds, and Reading South, with a “grand finale” stop back in Coventry once again.
UKPL Reading South 2024 Schedule (September 23-29)
In all, there will be eight unique poker tournaments (satellites excluded); each hosted at the Grosvenor Casino Reading South venue this week: two “Opening Voyages”, PLO, Seniors, Big Shot, Closer, High Roller, and of course the Main Event.
Action begins tomorrow (September 23) with a £90 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold’em tournament that will allow players to “cash out” at various stages throughout the Main Event satellite.
Things will really heat up on Tuesday, September 24, as the £250 buy-in NLHE Opening Voyage events starts its Day 1A activities at 3pm local time. A few hours later the £150 4-5-6 Card Pot Limit Omaha tournament will commence.
Wednesday, September 25, will see a continuation of Day 1 for the Opening Voyage tournament, along with a separate cash out satellite that is scheduled to start at 9pm.
Thursday, September 26, will be “High Roller” Day for the UKPL Reading South tour stop. The £1,100 High Roller event will coincide with large buy-in satellite tournaments as the UKPL Reading South £560 buy-in NLHE Main Event begins with Day 1A action.
The weekend begins Friday, September 27, as the High Roller and Main Event continue their journey to the final table.
On Saturday, September 28, there will be a separate £400 “Big Shot” tournament, with Sunday witnessing the conclusion of the Main Event and crowing a champion.
There will be two extra poker tournaments that will start and finish on Sunday, September 29: the £150 Seniors Event and the £200 Closer tournament.
Upcoming Coverage of UKPL Reading South
This site’s founder, Robbie Strazynski, will be on hand throughout the UKPL Reading South festival to provide updates, snap photos, conduct player interviews, and of course hand out Cardplayer Lifestyle patches 🙂 .
Many UK poker players who took part in the UKPL Edinburgh stop back in February will already be familiar with our style of coverage, and you can expect more of the same in Reading.
I'll be there to cover this event for @PokerLifeMedia.
Haven't been to the UK in 22 years (since my honeymoon). Should be a fun one!
Who do I know that'll be there?
Where are my UK peeps? 😃 https://t.co/QCCsmxyKYG
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) September 3, 2024
Qualify Online for Future UKPL Poker Tournament Series
While online qualifiers via 888poker into the Grosvenor Reading South tour stop have concluded, players on the popular online poker site can still enter satellites to win a seat into the grand finale UKPL event in Coventry, which will take place from October 10-21.
Online tickets into UKPL events that are won do not expire, which allows winners to choose their most convenient poker destination within the United Kingdom.
Plus, as mentioned above, there will be multiple live satellite events that will be hosted in-person at the Grosvenor Reading South venue.
Grosvenor Reading South Poker Room FAQs
Is the Grosvenor Reading South venue open 24 hours?
Yes. Aside from the poker room, players will find a variety of table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, and others) at the venue to enjoy as well as slot machines.
Is the Grosvenor Reading South poker room open 24 hours?
Not usually, although hours of operation will be extended for the UKPL tour stop. The poker room itself is typically cordoned between the hours of 6:00am and 11:00am — and is open for the remaining hours of each day.
Will there be cash games in the poker room while the UKPL tour stop is in action?
Yes, depending on the amount of physical gaming space available at any given time. You might even find Robbie playing in them on occasion while he’s there.
Does Grosvenor Reading South offer overnight accommodations?
No. If you are unfamiliar with the immediate area, your best bet is will probably be to Google the “Top 10 Hotels near Grosvenor Reading South Casino.” This will allow you to choose from a diverse list of both budget and luxury hotels that are nearby.
Are there any tourist activities in the Reading area?
Reading is only a 30-minute ride from London; via the Elizabeth Line train. Round trip ticket fares for same-day transportation from Reading to London (and back) cost approximately £30 per person. You can visit the official Transport for London government site for more details.
As for Reading itself, Robbie will be exploring the city’s sights while there, and Cardplayer Lifestyle readers can expect a write-up of his adventures in Reading away from the felt.
