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Some couples dream of vacations or fancy dinners, but for Matthew and Sinéad Davenport, it’s all about chasing poker glory together.

Matthew, a seasoned pro with years of success under his belt, and Sinéad, a former nurse who embraced poker full-time in 2024, are a power couple in the UK poker scene who took the last year by storm.

Banner Year for the Davenports

Both Davenports had their best year yet on the live felt. Matthew added $448,639 to his Hendon Mob earnings, surpassing the $2 million mark, while Sinéad’s $241,834 in payouts in 2024 and $29,460 in cashes already in 2025 brought her Hendon Mob total to $391,712.

As a duo, they’ve become an even more formidable force at the tables, with their poker journey taking them around the globe. However, the majority of their play happens on home 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 tours in 2024, topping both the GUKPT National Poker League (NPL) and the UKPL leaderboard.

Sinéad, meanwhile, made history of her own, becoming the first woman to finish in the NPL’s top ten. She also came close to making history in the GUKPT Main Event, finishing an impressive sixth in the £1,100 Blackpool Main Event,just shy of becoming the first woman to win a GUKPT Main Event title.

Sinéad’s breakout year continued with several standout moments. She finished third in the Ladies Championship at the WPT World Championship, earning $45,803. Earlier in 2024, Sinéad bagged her first major trophy, winning the UKPL Luton Opening Voyage event and turned £250 into £17,865. She secured sixth place in the $600 Championship at the Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series in Las Vegas, pocketing $31,635. Back on UK soil, she had a strong showing at the recent GUKPT Coventry, finishing second in The Opener, taking home £22,080 (about $27,403).

Matthew’s NPL victory marked his second triumph, the first coming two years earlier. His reward? A return to Team Grosvenor, securing a £75,000 sponsorship package. His top performance on the UKPL leaderboard also earned him $10,000 in 888poker LIVE packages, plenty of buy-ins already sorted for 2025.

Sinéad Produces Heroics Off the Felt

Despite leaving nursing behind to pursue her passion for poker, Sinéad’s instincts as a former nurse have never left her.

“We were just sitting there playing cards, and then suddenly, all hell broke loose."

Last summer, while on a poker trip to Las Vegas, those instincts kicked in once again, but this time, it wasn’t at a poker table, it was 35,000 feet in the air.

On the flight to Sin City, a passenger suddenly began choking. Without hesitation, Sinéad sprang into action and was first on the scene. She cleared the person’s airway, preventing a potential disaster mid-flight. Her swift response undoubtedly saved a life that day.

“We were just sitting there playing cards, and then suddenly, all hell broke loose. People were screaming for help,” Sinéad recalled. “When you’ve worked in nursing, you know the difference between someone needing help and someone needing help right now. I looked over and saw this guy, and he was grey.

“All the medical equipment the flight had was broken.”

“He had vomit all over him and wasn’t responding. I just jumped over people to get to him and got others to help me lay him on the floor. A couple of chest compressions cleared his airway, and I could see he was starting to come back around.

“But it wasn’t easy. There were a couple of doctors on board, which was good, but all the medical equipment the flight had was broken, an absolute nightmare. We got him stable, but then, two hours later, it happened again.

“I kept looking at my husband, and he was just shaking his head like, ‘There’s no way we can land, we’re in the middle of nowhere.’ It was a bit of a nightmare. But in the end, the guy was okay, and that’s what mattered.”

Sinéad on Embracing the Journey

2024 was a truly transformative year for Sinéad. After leaving nursing to pursue poker full-time, she embraced a new kind of freedom. The freedom to travel, play as much as she wanted, and focus on her growth as a player. She played over 300 tournaments that year, and the sheer volume taught her so much. But it wasn’t just about the hands she played, it was the freedom to compete without worrying about bankrolls or anything else that made all the difference.

Of course, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Sinéad and her husband stuck mainly to the Grosvenor Poker Tour in England, but they made time to travel to places like Cyprus and Las Vegas. Still, they were craving more. “We really wanted to spread our wings and play poker in more places,” she said. There was a sense of excitement about what was to come, and Sinéad was eager to explore even more of the world while doing what she loved.

A big part of her success that year came from having her husband by her side. He understood the grind like no one else, which was huge for Sinéad, especially during tough times. When things weren’t going her way, it was easy to get frustrated, but her husband always knew how to calm her down. “He kept me sane,” she laughed. “He reassured me that we were on the right path and that things would turn around eventually. Our time would come.”

Couldn’t Be Prouder

Before tying the knot in August 2024, Matthew and Sinéad’s poker journey began in the most fitting way possible: over a poker table. “We actually met while I was playing in a tournament,” Matthew said with a smile. “I busted Sinéad out of the tournament in Luton, and that was it, she became part of my life from there. I think you could say the rest is history.”

Since then, they’ve not only become inseparable in life but also an incredibly successful poker duo. “It’s just amazing to have her by my side,” Matthew added. “She’s incredibly talented, and I’m so proud of everything she’s done, especially this year. She’s got this sixth sense for the game, she’s fantastic at reading people, making incredible hero calls, and knowing when to make big folds. Her instincts are spot on, and she’s been so humble about it, but she deserves all the recognition.”

While Matthew has always supported Sinéad’s success, she has been equally supportive of his. “She’s been my absolute rock this year,” Matthew said. “I couldn’t have done it without her. We’ve faced a lot of challenges together, and having her by my side through it all, especially during the grind of the National Poker League, made all the difference.”

After reaching his personal milestone of $2 million in career earnings, Matthew is equally excited about his return to Team Grosvenor. “Being back on the team is just incredible. Grosvenor has always been my favorite, and I’m proud to represent them again,” he said. “I’m looking forward to wearing the patch once more and doing everything I can to bring more results and promote the brand internationally. It’s an honor, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.”

Being part of Team Grosvenor is more than just a sponsorship to Matthew; it’s a source of pride. “It’s something I’ve always wanted,” he added. “I’m excited to continue pushing forward, and having Sinéad by my side through all of it makes it even more special.”

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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