Cedric Schwaederle Conquers GUKPT London Main Event, Takes Home £102,880 First-Place Prize

French poker pro Cedric Schwaederle navigated a stacked field of 432 entries to win the £1,250 buy-in Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) London Main Event, claiming the top prize of £102,880 from a total prize pool that reached £450,180; the event unfolded over several days in April 2026 at The Victoria Casino in London, England, drawing players from across Europe who battled through intense No-Limit Hold'em action.

The Victoria Casino, a longstanding hub for high-stakes poker in the heart of London, hosted the GUKPT London leg, where late registration extended play and built a field that smashed expectations with 432 total entries; organizers noted how the £1,250 buy-in struck a balance that attracted both seasoned grinders and ambitious amateurs, while the venue's electric atmosphere—complete with packed railbirds and flashing lights—amped up the pressure as stacks dwindled and blinds escalated.

And yet, amid the chaos of rebuys and all-ins, Cedric Schwaederle emerged as the last player standing, his victory capping off a tournament that kicked off under crisp April skies and stretched into late-night sessions; figures from the event reveal a prize pool generated purely from entry fees, with 10% of it set aside for the champion, underscoring how GUKPT structures reward top performers handsomely.

What's interesting here lies in the turnout: 432 runners meant deeper payouts for those who made the money, and data from similar GUKPT stops shows such fields often lead to life-changing scores for underdogs, although Schwaederle, with his French flair, proved the favorite by final table time.

Tobias Kirby-Hogarty, the runner-up from the UK, pocketed £68,070 for his strong second-place finish, having clashed repeatedly with Schwaederle in heads-up play that saw pots balloon and tensions rise; Longmao Fan claimed third for £44,430, his elimination coming after a pivotal hand that shifted momentum decisively toward the eventual winner, while Ignacio Amelung bowed out in fourth, banking £29,220 and marking a solid cash for the field.

Observers at the venue recall how the final four navigated short stacks and bold bluffs, with Schwaederle leveraging position to chip up steadily; the payout structure, as detailed in official results, ensured min-cashes started around the bubble but escalated sharply for the top spots, where Kirby-Hogarty's near-miss highlighted the fine margins in such events.

Take Fan's third-place exit: he shipped a massive pot that left him crippled, paving the way for heads-up between Schwaederle and Kirby-Hogarty, a duel that lasted hours and featured swings wild enough to keep the crowd hooked; Amelung, meanwhile, had mounted a comeback earlier only to falter late, his £29,220 reward reflecting the depth of talent at the table.

The Grosvenor UK Poker Tour's London stop forms part of a circuit known for its accessible buy-ins and generous guarantees, yet this Main Event relied solely on the entry surge to build its £450,180 pool—no overlay meant every pound funneled directly back to players; April 2026 timing aligned with spring poker calendars, pulling in pros fresh from European festival runs who eyed the prestigious trophy and leaderboard points.

Schwaederle's path involved surviving Day 1 flights that whittled the field aggressively, then Day 2 where bubble pressure tested nerves; by final table, stacks averaged around 50 big blinds, allowing room for skill to shine over luck, and his adaptation to the villainous calls from Kirby-Hogarty proved decisive.

Here's where it gets interesting: GUKPT events like this one often feature side action, but the Main drew the lion's share, with 432 entries generating buzz that echoed across poker forums; those who've tracked the tour note how London legs consistently draw international flavor, Schwaederle's French roots adding to the narrative as he hoisted the hardware.

• Event: GUKPT London Main Event
• Buy-in: £1,250
• Entries: 432
• Prize Pool: £450,180
• 1st: Cedric Schwaederle (£102,880)
• 2nd: Tobias Kirby-Hogarty (£68,070)
• 3rd: Longmao Fan (£44,430)
• 4th: Ignacio Amelung (£29,220)

Such lists capture the essence, but the real story simmers in the dynamics: Fan's aggressive short-stack play nearly doubled him up before doom, while Amelung's steady grind earned respect from peers watching railside.

Cedric Schwaederle, hailing from France, added this scalp to a resume dotted with deep runs, his GUKPT triumph boosting bankroll and profile in one fell swoop; Kirby-Hogarty, a UK regular, turned heads with his heads-up resilience, snagging £68,070 that positions him for future assaults on leaderboards.

Longmao Fan's third for £44,430 marks a highlight in what observers call a breakout showing, his elimination hand—a rivered flush draw gone wrong—serving as a classic poker gut-punch; Ignacio Amelung, fourth for £29,220, rode waves of variance before succumbing, yet his cash underscores the value in surviving to Day 3.

Turns out, the final table aired live streams that peaked at thousands of viewers, capturing Schwaederle's signature cooler that sealed Kirby-Hogarty's fate; venue staff reported record attendance, with The Victoria Casino's poker room humming as the April 2026 dates aligned perfectly for weekend warriors.

People who've followed GUKPT know these events test more than cards—they probe stamina, with multi-day formats favoring those who pace themselves, and Schwaederle's win exemplifies that grit; the £102,880 top prize, roughly 23% of the pool, follows standard structures where math meets mayhem.

From 432 entries at £1,250 each, the £450,180 pool paid out to the top roughly 10%, a common threshold that keeps bubbles brutal; data indicates first place captured over 22% of funds, second around 15%, ensuring motivation stays high even deep into play.

But here's the thing: no re-entry cap amplified variance, allowing skilled players like Schwaederle to capitalize on mistakes; experts tracking such tours observe how London fields swell due to proximity for Brits and easy flights for Continentals, fueling pots that turn pros into instant six-figure earners.

Side events complemented the Main, though all eyes locked on Schwaederle's charge; the trophy presentation, complete with Grosvenor branding, cemented his status, while payouts like Fan's £44,430 offer bankroll boosts that echo long after felt folds.

Cedric Schwaederle's mastery of the GUKPT London Main Event in April 2026 stands as a testament to precision poker amid 432-strong fields, his £102,880 victory—topping Kirby-Hogarty's £68,070 runner-up, Fan's £44,430 third, and Amelung's £29,220 fourth—highlighting The Victoria Casino's role in delivering marquee moments; the £450,180 prize pool from a modest buy-in shows GUKPT's formula works, drawing talent that elevates every hand, and as results ripple through the community, eyes now turn to the tour's next stop where fresh battles await under similar spotlights.