The Hendon Mob Championship (THMC) has arrived in London, transforming Genting Casino Stratford into the season’s final battleground. Normally held as part of a larger poker series, this one is an independent stop (one of the three in 2025’s calendar) and it gives THMC the full spotlight, a fitting way to round out the year in style.
The festival opened with the £200 THMC Deepstack Opener, a two-day event that welcomed an impressive 175 entries. By Thursday night, the first trophy of the week was already secured as Joseph Saunders captured the title and £7,495 after a heads-up deal.
Also in the books is Day 1A of the £280 THMC Main Event by UDSO, which kicked off at 18:15. With eight total starting flights, including Sunday’s Flip & Go just before the final day commences, players have no shortage of chances to bag chips in this £150,000 guarantee event.
Our on-site reporter, Christoffer Karlén, is following the action live as today brings two more Day 1 flights and the momentum continues to build toward Sunday’s finale.
- Follow the live blog for all updates throughout the Main Event
- Read more: The Hendon Mob Wraps up 2025 Live Poker Season With Standalone London Festival
Joseph Saunders Wins the Opener
The £200 Deepstack Opener began on Wednesday with 133 entries and 39 players advanced to Day 2. At the top of the leaderboard was Kourosh Arshadnejad, who carried a commanding chip lead into Thursday. With late registration still available for a couple of levels, the field grew to 173 entries and £31,500 prize pool, with £8,755 reserved for the eventual winner.
Arshadnejad and Saunders both reached the final table with 36 big blinds, but it was Rudy Hanna who entered the last nine as the biggest stack with 63 big blinds.
The first to fall was Umberan Akhtar, who got ace-five in against Arshadnejad’s ace-nine. The board offered no rescue, sending Akhtar out in ninth place. Soon after, Mohammad Joian open-shoved aces into Arshadnejad’s ace-king, only to watch horror unfold as the flop and turn ran out to give Arshadnejad broadway straight.
Arshadnejad continued to clean up the final table as short-stacked Maksim Belomstnoi was his next victim. Belomstnoi king-jack couldn’t overcome his pocket deuces, ending his run in seventh. In sixth place, Christopher Yong committed most of his chips pre-flop, then moved the last of them in on a king-high flop. Saunders called with two pair and held, knocking Yong out.
Fifth place went to “Mr. X”, as dubbed by our on-site journalist Karlén. Mr. X’s king-eight was slightly ahead pre-flop before Arshadnejad’s heater continued with queen-seven. With two pair already on the turn, Mr. X was drawing dead before the river was dealt.
The next one to exit the final table was Roland Boothby, The Hendon Mob’s Head of Partnership. Boothby pushed all-in with pocket jacks and Saunders called with queen-jack. A queen appeared on the flop, leaving Boothby with just a single out. No miracle this time around and he exited in fourth place.
Saunders regained the chip lead, but it was short-lived. Arshadnejad pushed all-in with ace-deuce suited and Saunders snap called with pocket kings. Moments later, Arshadnejad shoved with ace-deuce suited and Saunders snap-called with pocket kings. It looked as though a Saunders vs. Rudy Hanna heads-up match was inevitable, but the cards had other plans as the dealer brought an ace on the flop, keeping Arshadnejad alive and extending three-handed play.
Arshadnejad’s luck ran out soon after in a blind vs blinds battle against Saunders who pushed all-in with queen-jack, and Arshadnejad called with king-nine suited. It looked good with a top pair of nine and a flush draw on the flop, but the rivered queen eliminated Arshadnejad in third.
Before heads-up, Saunders and Hanna secured a deal – £7,495 for Saunders and £6,300 for Hanna, leaving the trophy still to play for. The duel ended quickly as Hanna’s king-jack lost to Saunders’ ace-five on a paired board, sealing the victory.
2025 THMC London £200 Opener Full Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Joseph Saunders | £7,495 |
| 2 | Rudy Hanna | £6,300 |
| 3 | Kourosh Arshadnejad | £2,865 |
| 4 | Roland Boothby | £2,235 |
| 5 |  Anonymous | £1,920 |
| 6 | Christopher Yong | £1,610 |
| 7 |  Maksim Belomstnoi | £1,225 |
| 8 | Mohammad Joian | £790 |
| 9 | Umberan Akhtar | £600 |
| 10 |  Zhivko Zhivkov | £535 |
| 11 | Michael Brisley | £535 |
| 12 |  Avinash Tauro | £535 |
| 13 | Halil Gecaj | £475 |
| 14 | Preston Makonda | £475 |
| 15 | Halil Gecaj | £475 |
| 16 | Anonymous | £440 |
| 17 |  Marius Condrea | £440 |
| 18 |  Grant Clark | £440 |
| 19 | Beryll Gonzales | £440 |
| 20 | Ben Tate | £440 |
| 21 | Mohamed Mohamed | £410 |
| 22 |  Wai Lam | £410 |
| 23 | Anonymous | £410 |
Friday, December 5 Schedule
With the Opener now complete, attention turns fully to the £280 THMC Main Event by UDSO. Day 1A is already in the bag, and today features two more starting flights as players continue their push toward Sunday’s final day.
Live coverage resumes on poker.pro at 13:15, where Christoffer Karlén will deliver chip counts, key hands, and all the action from Day 1B.
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| December 5 | 11:15 | £30 Satellite to £280 Main Event (Five Seats Guaranteed) |
| 13:15 | £280 THMC Main Event by UDSO Day 1b | |
| 16:15 | £30 Satellite to £280 Main Event (Five Seats Guaranteed) | |
| 18:15 | £280 THMC Main Event by UDSO Day 1c | |
| 20:15 | £150 THMC Friday Night Deepstack |
