While Cal Morreale has been officially announced as the 2023 Grosvenor Player of the Year, it was also an amazing year for serial NPL package winner John Bousfield.
Despite the fact that Bousfield has five kids and a full-time job running his family’s timber firm, he managed to rank in the NPL top ten for the fifth year in a row. The 47-year-old from Stockton-on-Tees cashed 26 times this year and his five final tables included a third-place finish in the GUKPT Blackpool Mini Main for £12,940.
His achievements secured him ninth place in this year’s NPL and a £10k Diamond Package. He also now holds the record for the total number of GUKPT cashes with a staggering 62 wins under his belt.
As Grosvenor Poker noted on its Facebook page, “If we did a half-decade table, he would be top by some distance!”
Bousfield first took up poker some 20 years ago, in small £10 and £20 rebuy tournaments at his local casino. He now has a very busy home and work life but still manages to find the time to compete at Grosvenor tournaments. He said: “The start times of a lot of the tournaments are at night which allows me to work on the business during the day. I just set up a makeshift office in hotel rooms. To be honest, I think I have played more than most pros over the last few years!!”
Bousfield loved the addition of the UK Poker Open in 2023 and that event is top of his list for 2024. He added: “The UK Poker Open will probably be the biggest prize pool in the UK next year and I’m hoping to go a few spots better than my 22nd place. I also love the vibe of the Goliath. It’s buzzing with lots of grassroots players from all over the UK hoping to turn into a small investment into a big return but still having fun along the way. Goliath also has such a good mix of events on the schedule – that there is something for everyone, from relative newbies to the most seasoned professional.”
But top of Bousfield’s bucket list is to take down a GUKPT Main Event. He has made a few final tables over the years but would love to get a winner’s trophy – especially if it was in Blackpool, the first place he travelled to when he started touring the circuit.
When he is not playing poker or running his company, Smithfield Timber, John also enjoys playing table tennis and is a trustee of the charity, Remembering Rebecca, which helps families who suffer from neurological disorders.
Grosvenor Ambassador Katie Swift was among the first to congratulate Bousfield. She wrote: “Well done to one of my besties! Absolutely top player & bloke. Amazing consistency not just this year, but throughout the 5 years of NPL. Congratulations mate.”
Exciting Grosvenor calendar for 2024
MainEventTravel.com is Grosvenor’s Official Travel Partner and wishes all those who won packages in this year’s National Poker League good luck for 2024. All the players will be able to put their packages to good use from in the very first week of next year with GUKPT London starting on January 4.
A huge number of tournaments are involved in Grosvenor’s National Poker League – and the Player of the Year prize has been bumped up to £75,000 for next year. Eligible events in 2024 include the UK Poker Open event starting February 22 in Coventry and the flagship Goliath in July plus all ten GUKPT stops, 888poker LIVE London and Coventry along with a whole load of 25/50 tournaments held right across the country. You can start your planning right now on MainEventTravel.com!