Top NPL Prize Withheld After Player Suspension, Grosvenor Confirms

Thomas Clack topped the NPL leaderboard with a commanding 423.48 points, but was later disqualified from receiving the top prize. (Image: Grosvenor Poker / PokerNews)

The 2025 National Poker League (NPL) season ended in controversy after Grosvenor Poker confirmed that the league’s top-ranked player was suspended from the iPoker network and deemed ineligible for the competition’s headline prize.

In a statement released shortly after the season wrapped, Grosvenor revealed that the player, widely reported to be leaderboard topper Thomas Clack, had been suspended from iPoker, the platform powering Grosvenor’s online poker operations. The incident meant Clack no longer met eligibility requirements under Clause 46 of the NPL 2025 Terms and Conditions.

As a result, Grosvenor has withheld the £40,000 sponsored player pro package, originally earmarked for the season’s champion.

“After the conclusion of the 2025 National Poker League (NPL), we were informed by the iPoker network that one of our players had been suspended from their online platform,” Grosvenor said in a statement.

“As a result, the player… no longer met the criteria… and therefore could not be awarded the full prize.”

The operator added that investigations are ongoing and that “payment of any remaining prizes” will proceed in due course.

What the NPL 2025 Results Look Like Now

_{Thomas Clack received a suspension. (Image; Thomas Clack/Linkedin)}

Despite the suspension, Thomas Clack still officially topped the leaderboard with 423.48 points, racking up 36 cashes and 15 final tables throughout the year. His performances, including a deep run at the Goliath festival, had made him a standout across the UK circuit.

The NPL, run in conjunction with Grosvenor Poker and the GUKPT, awarded points throughout the year based on finishes in marquee events like the UK Poker League and Goliath. Prizes were tiered according to leaderboard placement, with the top 10 players all set to receive live tournament credit or sponsorship packages.

Here’s how the final NPL 2025 standings played out:

A Tense End to a Breakout Year

Clack had a career-best season in 2025, earning over £430,000 in live tournament winnings, including standout performances at the Goliath and GUKPT Main Events. His dominant run earned him recognition as a breakout star on the UK poker scene, but the suspension has clouded what should have been a career-defining milestone.

Grosvenor declined to comment further, citing player privacy and ongoing internal processes.

“We recognise that this outcome may be disappointing for some; however, the integrity of Grosvenor Poker and the events we put on for our valued players is extremely important to us and must be upheld.”

The company concluded its statement by looking ahead to the next season: “We wish you all a fantastic 2026 poker season and look forward to seeing you at our events, both in venue and online.”

What This Means for UK Poker

The iPoker suspension and its impact on the NPL serve as a reminder that platform integrity and rule compliance remain central to prize eligibility in hybrid live-online formats. With more major poker tours relying on online qualifiers and leaderboard tracking, players are held to both digital and in-venue standards.

For now, all eyes turn to the 2026 NPL season, and whether Clack, or another rising star, can climb back to the top.