Poker Heads Back to the Seaside
The 2025 Grosvenor UK Poker Tour (GUKPT) is heading back to the English seaside, as the penultimate stop of the season lands in Blackpool. Running November 1–9 at the Grosvenor G Casino on South Promenade, the festival promises nine days of major guarantees, packed fields, and nonstop poker action leading into the London Grand Final later in the month.
Charity Tradition: The Kav Cup Returns
The series kicks off with the 9th edition of the Kav Cup, a beloved charity event that has become a staple of the GUKPT calendar. Created by Rick Gilby in memory of the late Derek “Kav” Kavanagh, the tournament celebrates a figure who left a lasting mark on the UK poker community. Since its inception, the Kav Cup has welcomed over 2,000 players and raised nearly £75,500 for charity.
This year’s event features a £60 buy-in (with £20 donated to charity) and an optional £40 top-up for an extra 10,000 chips. Phil “The Tower” Heald returns as host, with professional dealers provided by Grosvenor Casinos. Prizes include a poker table worth nearly £1,000, generously donated by Andy Booth and Cardroom Direct for the eighth straight year.
In 2024, Karen Tomczak took down the title after outlasting 249 players, making a heads-up deal with Phil Iddon for payouts of £3,630 and £3,500, respectively.
Big Guarantees and Serious Action
Once the charity event wraps up, the tournament grind begins. The £250 Mini Main Event runs November 2–5, carrying a £100,000 guarantee across multiple starting flights. Last year, Abdulkadir Ahmed topped a 553-entry field to win £24,530, marking his best live result.
High-stakes players will then hit the tables for the £1,650 High Roller, taking place November 5–6 with a £50,000 guarantee. Jamie Dale captured last year’s title, earning £33,260 in one of the festival’s toughest events.
£250,000 Main Event to Highlight the Festival
The spotlight event is the £1,250 Main Event, featuring a £250,000 guaranteed prize pool. Three starting flights run from November 6–8, with the new champion crowned on November 9.
In 2024, Ravi Sheth overcame 298 opponents to win £68,580. Sheth is expected to return to defend his title and challenge Thomas Clack for the National Poker League lead — where the top spot comes with a £40,000 sponsorship package for 2026.
Side Events and Online Finale
The schedule includes a full lineup of side events, such as PLO 4-Card, NLHE Turbo, PLO Bounty, and a Seniors (50+) tournament. The action concludes online with the £110 Online Closer, running November 10–11 on Grosvenor Poker, featuring a £20,000 guarantee.
A Longtime Player Favorite
Blackpool has long been one of the GUKPT’s most iconic stops, drawing both recreational players and top UK pros. Past champions include Jamie Clossick, Richard Horton, Yiannis Liperis, and Daniel Corbett. Last year’s Main Event attracted 299 entries and a £314,250 prize pool, proving once again why this stop remains a highlight of the tour.
As the final major stop before the London Grand Final, the Blackpool leg will play a pivotal role in shaping the 2025 season leaderboard — and could crown the next breakout name in British poker.
Recent GUKPT Blackpool Main Event Champions
| Year | Buy-in | Entrants | Prize Pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | £1,250 | 299 | £314,250 | Ravi Sheth | £68,580 |
| 2023 | £1,250 | 347 | £360,430 | Ian Gascoigne | £62,198 |
| 2022 | £1,250 | 543 | £597,300 | Jamie Clossick | £109,000 |
| 2021 | £1,250 | 533 | £574,580 | Richard Horton | £94,150 |
| 2019 | £1,110 | 367 | £367,000 | Matthew Eardley | £84,550 |
| 2018 | £1,110 | 304 | £304,000 | Yiannis Liperis | £84,250 |
Before the tour hits Blackpool, players will first head north for GUKPT Edinburgh (October 9–19), which offers £350,000 in guaranteed prize pools. Once the Scottish stop wraps up, all eyes will turn to the seaside, where the chips will fly and another GUKPT champion will be crowned.
