Some {couples} dream of holidays or fancy dinners, however for Matthew and Sinéad Davenport, it is all about chasing poker glory collectively.
Matthew, a seasoned professional with years of success beneath his belt, and Sinéad, a former nurse who embraced poker full-time in 2024, are an influence couple within the UK poker scene who took the final yr by storm.
Banner 12 months for the Davenports
Each Davenports had their finest yr but on the reside felt. Matthew added $448,639 to his Hendon Mob earnings, surpassing the $2 million mark, whereas Sinéad’s $241,834 in payouts in 2024 and $29,460 in cashes already in 2025 introduced her Hendon Mob whole to $391,712.
As a duo, they’ve grow to be an much more formidable pressure on the tables, with their poker journey taking them across the globe. Nonetheless, nearly all of their play occurs on dwelling turf, grinding it out on the Grosvenor United Kingdom Poker Tour (GUKPT) and 888poker’s UK Poker League (UKPL).
Matthew was the standout performer on these excursions in 2024, topping each the GUKPT Nationwide Poker League (NPL) and the UKPL leaderboard.
Sinéad, in the meantime, made historical past of her personal, changing into the primary lady to complete within the NPL’s prime ten. She additionally got here shut to creating historical past within the GUKPT Predominant Occasion, ending a powerful sixth within the £1,100 Blackpool Main Event,simply shy of changing into the primary lady to win a GUKPT Predominant Occasion title.
Sinéad’s breakout yr continued with a number of standout moments. She completed third within the Girls Championship on the WPT World Championship, incomes $45,803. Earlier in 2024, Sinéad bagged her first main trophy, profitable the UKPL Luton Opening Voyage occasion and turned £250 into £17,865. She secured sixth place within the $600 Championship on the Golden Nugget Grand Poker Sequence in Las Vegas, pocketing $31,635. Again on UK soil, she had a robust displaying on the latest GUKPT Coventry, ending second in The Opener, taking dwelling £22,080 (about $27,403).
Matthew’s NPL victory marked his second triumph, the primary coming two years earlier. His reward? A return to Crew Grosvenor, securing a £75,000 sponsorship package deal. His prime efficiency on the UKPL leaderboard additionally earned him $10,000 in 888poker LIVE packages, loads of buy-ins already sorted for 2025.
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Sinéad Produces Heroics Off the Felt
Regardless of leaving nursing behind to pursue her ardour for poker, Sinéad’s instincts as a former nurse have by no means left her.
“We had been simply sitting there taking part in playing cards, after which instantly, all hell broke unfastened.”
Final summer time, whereas on a poker journey to Las Vegas, these instincts kicked in as soon as once more, however this time, it wasn’t at a poker desk, it was 35,000 ft within the air.
On the flight to Sin Metropolis, a passenger instantly started choking. With out hesitation, Sinéad sprang into motion and was first on the scene. She cleared the particular person’s airway, stopping a possible catastrophe mid-flight. Her swift response undoubtedly saved a life that day.
“We had been simply sitting there taking part in playing cards, after which instantly, all hell broke unfastened. Folks had been screaming for assist,” Sinéad recalled. “Whenever you’ve labored in nursing, you already know the distinction between somebody needing assist and somebody needing assist proper now. I regarded over and noticed this man, and he was gray.
“All of the medical gear the flight had was damaged.”
“He had vomit throughout him and wasn’t responding. I simply jumped over folks to get to him and received others to assist me lay him on the ground. A few chest compressions cleared his airway, and I may see he was beginning to come again round.
“But it surely wasn’t simple. There have been a few docs on board, which was good, however all of the medical gear the flight had was damaged, an absolute nightmare. We received him steady, however then, two hours later, it occurred once more.
“I saved taking a look at my husband, and he was simply shaking his head like, ‘There’s no means we are able to land, we’re in the course of nowhere.’ It was a little bit of a nightmare. However in the long run, the man was okay, and that’s what mattered.”
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Sinéad on Embracing the Journey
2024 was a very transformative yr for Sinéad. After leaving nursing to pursue poker full-time, she embraced a brand new type of freedom. The liberty to journey, play as a lot as she wished, and give attention to her progress as a participant. She performed over 300 tournaments that yr, and the sheer quantity taught her a lot. But it surely wasn’t simply concerning the palms she performed, it was the liberty to compete with out worrying about bankrolls or anything that made all of the distinction.
After all, the journey wasn’t with out its challenges. Sinéad and her husband caught primarily to the Grosvenor Poker Tour in England, however they made time to journey to locations like Cyprus and Las Vegas. Nonetheless, they had been craving extra. “We actually wished to unfold our wings and play poker in additional locations,” she stated. There was a way of pleasure about what was to return, and Sinéad was desperate to discover much more of the world whereas doing what she liked.
A giant a part of her success that yr got here from having her husband by her facet. He understood the grind like nobody else, which was big for Sinéad, particularly throughout robust occasions. When issues weren’t going her means, it was simple to get annoyed, however her husband all the time knew find out how to calm her down. “He saved me sane,” she laughed. “He reassured me that we had been on the appropriate path and that issues would flip round ultimately. Our time would come.”
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Could not Be Prouder
Earlier than tying the knot in August 2024, Matthew and Sinéad’s poker journey started in probably the most becoming means potential: over a poker desk. “We really met whereas I used to be taking part in in a event,” Matthew stated with a smile. “I busted Sinéad out of the event in Luton, and that was it, she turned a part of my life from there. I believe you can say the remaining is historical past.”
Since then, they’ve not solely grow to be inseparable in life but additionally an extremely profitable poker duo. “It’s simply superb to have her by my facet,” Matthew added. “She’s extremely gifted, and I’m so pleased with every part she’s performed, particularly this yr. She’s received this sixth sense for the sport, she’s unbelievable at studying folks, making unbelievable hero calls, and figuring out when to make huge folds. Her instincts are spot on, and he or she’s been so humble about it, however she deserves all the popularity.”
Whereas Matthew has all the time supported Sinéad’s success, she has been equally supportive of his. “She’s been my absolute rock this yr,” Matthew stated. “I couldn’t have performed it with out her. We’ve confronted plenty of challenges collectively, and having her by my facet via all of it, particularly throughout the grind of the Nationwide Poker League, made all of the distinction.”
After reaching his private milestone of $2 million in profession earnings, Matthew is equally enthusiastic about his return to Crew Grosvenor. “Being again on the workforce is simply unbelievable. Grosvenor has all the time been my favourite, and I’m proud to signify them once more,” he stated. “I’m trying ahead to carrying the patch as soon as extra and doing every part I can to deliver extra outcomes and promote the model internationally. It’s an honor, and I’m really grateful for the chance.”
Being a part of Crew Grosvenor is greater than only a sponsorship to Matthew; it’s a supply of delight. “It’s one thing I’ve all the time wished,” he added. “I’m excited to proceed pushing ahead, and having Sinéad by my facet via all of it makes it much more particular.”
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