Struggling Poker Player Prepared to Retire Wins Huge Winnings in Game-Transforming Tournament
In a stunning turn of events, Paul Worsley, a poker player from Liverpool, England, has won the 2025 Grosvenor Goliath tournament. The £200 buy-in no-limit hold'em event at Grosvenor Casino Coventry saw Worsley transform a modest starting stake into a life-changing prize of £316,640 (approximately $421,000 USD).
Before this win, Worsley had only about $2,098 in live tournament cashes, and he had been contemplating quitting poker altogether. The Grosvenor Goliath, with its record-breaking attendance of 12,961 entrants—the largest live poker tournament ever outside Las Vegas—was potentially his last chance in poker.
Worsley's journey to the top was fraught with challenges. During the final table, he found himself three-handed and guaranteed at least £144,800. However, in three-handed play, he experienced a major setback. During heads-up play, he managed to turn things around within a half hour, going from having five big blinds to becoming the chip leader.
The final hand of the tournament saw Worsley holding 10♣9♣ and defeating Thomas Clack who had 9♠7♠. Clack finished in second place with a prize of £217,500. Vasilica Luca took third place with a prize of £144,800, and Ben Parkin was eliminated in fourth place with a prize of £100,470.
The board ran out 6♣7♥K♥6♦J♥ giving Clack a winning hand on the river. The final table results saw Worsley outlasting seven other players who also lacked significant live tournament scores.
Worsley's victory has been hailed as a classic underdog story and a dramatic turnaround from near financial hardship to financial freedom through poker. The 2025 Goliath, with its record-breaking attendance and prize pool, was the 16th largest live poker tournament ever held. Worsley’s improbable run and huge payout have made headlines as an inspiring story for struggling poker players worldwide.
[1] The Hendon Mob [2] PokerNews [3] Grosvenor Casinos [4] PokerStrategy [5] Bluff Europe
- "Despite his previous modest earnings, Paul Worsley's victory in the 2025 Grosvenor Goliath tournament, a significant casino-and-gambling event, has now earned him a spot on poker news sites like The Hendon Mob and PokerNews."
- "With his life-changing win, Worsley has become a subject of interest for strategy-focused casino-games platforms such as PokerStrategy and Bluff Europe, inspiring other poker players with similar backgrounds to keep playing and aspire for their own dramatic turns of fortune."
