GUKPT lights up Blackpool with record breaking festival of poker
Media Release: Tuesday 12th November 2019
The illuminations maybe have been switched off earlier in the month, but Blackpool was shining bright this past week as the 2019 GUKPT attracted record breaking numbers in both the GUKPT Mini Main and the Main Event – 14 more entries than the previous biggest GUKPT Blackpool back in its debut year in 2007!
A massive 367 entries to the £200,000 guaranteed Main Event meant the prizepool stood at an epic £367,000 with top spot walking away with £98,550. There could only be one winner and this year it was Grosvenorpoker.com satellite winner, Matt Eardley, earning himself the much sought after trophy, 1st place prize money and the ultimate bragging rights for topping the biggest ever GUKPT Blackpool ever.
GUKPT Blackpool always pulls in the crowds and Grosvenor Casinos was ecstatic to welcome many big names to the tournament with the likes of Jamie O’Connor, Tom Middleton, Steve Warburton, Father and Son Paul and Ben Jackson and 2018 GUKPT Blackpool winner, Yiannis Liperis, all in attendance.
Although none of these players ultimately made a deep run in the Main Event, Matt still had his work cut out for him as he faced off against London’s Terry Jordon who started the final with an overwhelming chip lead. After a brilliant final table performance from Matt, coupled with a fair share of premium hands, Matt eventually pipped Jordan to the post to emerge victorious.
1st – £84,550 Matt Eardley
2nd – £79,550 Terry Jordon
3rd – £39,950 Richard Kellett
4th – £25,150 Luke Marsh
5th – £16,900 Will McMurray
6th – £12,250 John Bousfield
7th – £9,350 Terry Owens
8th – £7,900 Jonjo Lawrence
9th – £6,450 Craig Smith
10th – £5,750 Andrew Haygarth
There were many stand out stories from Blackpool but none quite like the one of Richard Kellett. Many who have followed the tour this year will have undoubtedly heard about this young man’s spectacular performance, constantly running deep in many Grosvenor Casino events, now with 7 GUKPT Main Event final table performances under his belt. There is still a week to go before The National League concludes but Richard Kellett’s point lead can not be touched meaning Richard is crowned this year’s National League Player of the Year, earning himself the first ever trophy and a 2020 Diamond GUKPT Package worth over £11,000.
The National League top spot may be out of reach but there are many seats to the National League Play Off which are still up for grabs. The remaining qualifying events include 25/25 Edinburgh and Coventry, Manchester and the Thanet Deepstack taking place this week. The final National League Leaderboard will be updated on 18th November.
The end of GUKPT Blackpool always means one thing, the GUKPT Grand Final is less than a week away and Grosvenor Casinos is ecstatic to bring a 2 week line up of events to London’s iconic cardroom, The Poker Room. There really is something for everyone with Seniors, Omaha, Bounties, Satellites, £30,000 GUKPT Mini Main, £50,000 25/50, the all new £10,000+300 High Roller and of course the £500,000 Guaranteed GUKPT Main Event. Grosvenor Casinos and The Poker Room, London are gearing up to make even more poker history to top off the year and with events for everyone and many satellites still on offer, there’s a chance to be a part of it.
