PokerStars UKIPT Nottingham wrapped up on Monday and, even before Vincent Meli clinched main event gold, David Docherty was named Player of the Year.
Docherty has been on fire this year, cashing in all but one of UKIPT’s seven main events. The Scottish pro took 90th in the recent UKIPT main event in Nottingham and parlayed that form into a first-place finish in the Super High Roller.
The £3,200 tournament attracted 42 players on November 8, 36 of which exercised their right to re-enter. Plenty PokerStars Live regulars made it through to the second and final day on November 9, including Fintan Hand. However, when the dust had settled, it was Docherty who banked the £46,180 ($56,704) top prize.
David Docherty starts strong
The win capped off an impressive year on PokerStars’ UKIPT circuit. Docherty’s run started in the best way possible with a victory in the 2023 Irish Poker Open main event. Winning one of Europe’s biggest tournaments and topping a field of 2,491 entrants earned Docherty his first major title and a career-high payday worth €365,000 ($ 398,780).
David Docherty UKIPT 2023 season results
| Date | Event | Position | Prize (in USD) |
| April | Irish Poker Open Main Event | 1st place | $398,780 |
| June | PokerStars Summer Festival Malta Main Event | 4th place | $57,637 |
| September | UKIPT Brighton Main Event | 26th place | $3,119 |
| September | UKIPT London Main Event | 26th place | $3,223 |
| October | UKIPT Edinburgh Main Evet | 33rd place | $2,082 |
| November | UKIPT Nottingham Main Event | 90th place | $3,109 |
| November | UKIPT Nottingham Super High Roller | 1st place | $56,704 |
| Total | $524,654 |
Flush with confidence, Docherty headed to UKIPT’s Summer Festival in Malta where he placed 4th in the main event for €52,660 ($57,637). Next on the tour was a stop in Blackpool. Docherty failed to cash in any events at UKIPT Blackpool, but he came back strong in Brighton finishing 26th in the main event.
Next up was another 26th place finish in the PokerStars UKPIT London main event before he headed back home to Scotland for UKIPT Edinburgh. A 33rd place finish in the main event netted him £1,720 and more UKIPT Player of the Year leaderboard points.
Glittering end to 2023 PokerStars UKIPT season
The season finale in Nottingham was the last chance for anyone to catch Docherty. In reality, no one was close and, after his 90th place finish in the main event and super high roller victory, it was all over. Docherty’s 2023 UKIPT haul of $524,654 was enough to put him top of the leaderboard and mark his best ever year on the tour.
As well as the honor of being Player of the Year, Docherty got a 2024 PokerStars UKIPT Package, which includes 10 main event tickets worth £1,100 each, plus £4,000 in cash to cover expenses.
