888poker LIVE is heading back to Glasgow this March, bringing with it a packed schedule and a headline-grabbing £250,000 guaranteed Main Event. From March 12-22, the Grosvenor Casino Merchant City will once again become the center of the UK poker scene as the second stop of the 2026 tour rolls into town.
While Edinburgh has traditionally hosted Scotland’s biggest poker festivals, Glasgow proved more than capable of stealing the spotlight in 2025. After a hugely successful debut last year—where nearly every event surpassed its guarantee—888poker LIVE is returning for a second consecutive year. The 2025 Main Event alone generated a £309,320 prize pool, smashing its advertised £250,000 guarantee by £59,320.
A Festival Packed With Action
The 2026 edition kicks off at noon on March 12 with Day 1a of the £250 No-Limit Hold’em Crazy 8 Opening Event, which carries a £50,000 guarantee. Four starting flights give players multiple chances to build a stack. In 2025, Majid Iqbal outlasted a 227-entry field to claim £10,130 from a £52,630 prize pool—another example of Glasgow players turning out in force.
The festival schedule offers something for every bankroll and playing style. Highlights include:
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£250 Mini Main Event (£100,000 GTD) – March 15-17
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£1,500 High Roller (£100,000 GTD) – March 18-19
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£340 Dragon Event (£30,000 GTD) – March 21-22
Satellites run throughout the series, both live at the venue and online at 888poker, giving players affordable pathways into the bigger buy-in tournaments.
The £888 Main Event Takes Center Stage
Undoubtedly the jewel in the crown is the £888 buy-in Main Event, boasting a £250,000 guaranteed prize pool. Players can qualify through numerous live and online satellites, offering a more budget-friendly route into the headline tournament.
The Main Event features four starting flights:
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Day 1a: March 19 at 1:00 p.m. GMT
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Day 1b: March 20 at 12:00 p.m. GMT
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Day 1c (Turbo): March 20 at 8:00 p.m. GMT
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Day 1d (Turbo): March 21 at 11:00 a.m. GMT
Late registration remains open until the start of Day 2 (5:00 p.m. GMT on March 21), giving players maximum flexibility.
Day 1a and 1b play with 40-minute blind levels, while turbo flights run with 20-minute levels. Unlimited re-entries are allowed during the first 14 levels. Day 2 continues with 40-minute blinds, and Day 3 ramps up to 60-minute levels as the finalists battle for the title.
A Look Back at 2025
Last year’s Main Event attracted 407 entries, producing a £309,320 prize pool shared by the top 50 finishers. Familiar names such as Robbie Bull, Matthew Davenport, Mariusz Czech, 888poker ambassador Vivian Saliba, and Bryan Taylor all cashed but fell short of the final table.
Dean Lyall ultimately claimed the trophy after defeating Daniel Johnson heads-up, securing the £58,130 top prize. Each of the nine finalists earned at least £5,780, with six players walking away with five-figure payouts.
The broader 2025 festival also delivered impressive numbers:
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£1,650 High Roller: 72 entries, £102,590 prize pool
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£250 Mini Main: 493 entries, £103,030 prize pool
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£250 Crazy 8 Opening: 227 entries, £52,630 prize pool
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£330 The Dragon: 149 entries, £42,470 prize pool
With such strong participation and multiple guarantees crushed last year, expectations are high for an even bigger turnout in 2026.
Glasgow Ready to Deliver Again
Given the overwhelming response to last year’s stop, the 2026 888poker LIVE Glasgow festival is poised to build on that momentum. A diverse schedule, generous guarantees, and the electric atmosphere of Grosvenor Casino Merchant City combine to make this one of the UK poker calendar’s standout events.
