Sonny Dean Beats JaackMaate to First Hendon Mob Cash at 888poker LIVE London

Anyone who follows 888poker‘s social media channels will no doubt have seen YouTuber sensation Jack “JaackMaate” Dean flying the 888poker flag. In many of the videos and docuseries, Jack’s cousin Sonny is also playing. The two have a friendly rivalry that they use to needle each other and to push each other on when the chips are down.

Both Jack and Sonny have competed in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, at 888poker LIVE Barcelona, and in pub poker tournaments closer to home. Both have been racing to become the first member of the Dean family to have an entry on The Hendon Mob Database. Sonny has won that race.

“It feels good because, like, believe it or not, like, that is what we’ve been aiming for, a Hendom Mob. We’ve said it before the World Series Main Event, before Barcelona, we just want a Hendon Mob. When we’re playing in the pubs locally, say we want a Hendon Mob; it’s a bit of a big deal to us. So to be the first one, I can’t lie, I thought I would be the first one, mate.”

Sonny has achieved his first goal in only his third live event of his fledgling career. He puts this early success down to hanging around with 888poker ambassadors, particularly former teacher and Irish Open champion Ian Simpson.

“This is only my third tournament I’ve ever played. Just being around people like Ian, who’s given us a lot of time and is such a nice guy, being around him and then being in big tournaments like Barcelona has definitely helped. I was still nervous here in London, but I’ve more experience. I still get very nervous, but like the first level, I can settle in now. I can understand, take your time, be patient. And yeah, it’s good. So the experience of playing in 888 tournaments and the WSOP Main Event has definitely helped.

Sonny Dean enjoyed an incredible Day 1a in the £1,250 Main Event at 888poker LIVE London, bagging up 300,500 chips, enough for second place on the night and third place at the start of Day 2. Things didn’t start too well for Dean, and he looked to be heading for the exits before the money bubble, but then recovered and surged back up the chip counts and progressed through the bubble with relative ease.

“I think I got down to about 65,000, so I was expecting to go out, but I had a couple of good hands here. So yeah, it’s good. I had a brilliant day one. I come into Day 2 with 300K. I’ve got up to about 355K, but I’ve just been struggling since. So it’s nice I won a couple of hands around the bubble.”

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Sonny got lucky before the last scheduled break, three-bet shoving for 101,000 with pocket sixes and getting called by the initial raiser’s pocket eights. A six on the flop gifted Sonny a set, which held to melt his opponent’s snowmen.

Cracking overpairs and feeling more comfortable, does that mean Sonny can win this event?

“Can I? Cashing was the thing, I’ve got that cash, so you never know, do you?”

Before Sonny went back to the grind, he had this message for his cousin.

“Mate, don’t ever leave me. Don’t we come together, we should leave together. Don’t leave no man behind.”

See if Sonny can get the job done here in London by following PokerNews‘ live updates from the 888poker LIVE London Main Event.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the poker industry since 2008, and worked for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he became the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from live reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his role of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.