Derrick Law

In December 2018, the online poker Live London Festival Main Event was held at Aspers Casino in Stratford, London, spanning three days and attracting 656 entrants. Derrick Law, 59, entered the final table as an amateur, defeating several world-class players along the way. He eventually lost heads-up to full-time poker player James Williams, finishing as runner-up for £85,000 (approximately $108,630). After the tournament, he said: "I believe I played the best poker of my life, but you also need a little luck. Reaching the final table was already a huge achievement; everything after that was a bonus." His wife Traci, feeling nervous, left when there were six players left, at which point his chip stack was not dominant, yet he dramatically finished second.

Law's poker career began in local events. His previous best result was winning £12,870 in a tournament in Luton in December 2007. In March 2018, he won £710 in another online poker event. These cashes were far smaller than his Main Event breakthrough, but showed his long-term consistent participation.

Derrick Law describes himself as a recreational player, known for his steady and patient style, skilled at controlling the pot in deep-stacked phases. His amateur status and humble demeanor earned him the "amateur legend" label, with local media like HertsLive calling him "the decorator from Sawbridgeworth." He planned to play in the next online poker Live London Festival in February 2019. His story inspired many non-professional poker enthusiasts, proving that amateur players can achieve brilliant results in top-tier events.

In February 2019, Law participated in the next online poker Live London Festival as planned. Although he did not make another final table, his performance further solidified his status as an amateur legend. Additionally, he accumulated cashes in other live events in 2019, including an online satellite win in 2020. These smaller results demonstrated his continued passion.