It was two years and 9 months ago that Lawrence Gosney - "Gossa" to his mates - had his first taste of tournament poker, and a baptism of fire it was. Playing at the homely Napoleon's Casino in Leeds, Lawrence was humiliated in his first competition by a gentleman called Ali Mallu, who just happens to be one of England's finest players.
Last week in Las Vegas, Gosney's place in poker history was confirmed when he won a coveted WSOP Bracelet, beating off 1,071 opponents in the $2,000 No Limit Hold 'Em, earning himself $483,152. The lad has come a long way in less than three years!
But let's not jump ahead. After he found himself hooked by poker but lacking some of the necessary skills, Lawrence set about making himself proficient at the game by testing himself against the best. He was not particularly welcomed by the poker community initially. Lawrence, a true Yorkshireman, who lives in Leeds, tends, shall we say, to speak his mind, as Tykes generally do. But that all changed when folks got to understand him better, and as respect for his game grew amongst wiser counsel.
Within 4 short months, Gossa earned his first major victory at Salford in Manchester, and eight months later he made the first of 9 trips to the USA to hone his game against the world's best. This resulted in a major final at the Five Diamonds Classic, and this was followed a victory in Sheffield in the spring of this year.
Continuing his poker education, he decided to play a few events in this year's WSOP, and two weeks ago came a result that shocked the poker world, when Lawrence became the first Brit to secure an outright victory in this year's renewal. It would be an understatement to say that his victory was well received - his result was one of the most popular in the history of the WSOP.
And the manner of his victory said so much. In a field populated by the world's finest exponents of No Limit Hold 'Em, Lawrence just battered the Final Table, until just he and one other - Jarl Lindholt - were heads-up. Then he really showed his class by sealing the victory comfortably and quickly.
Lawrence's style of play could in no way be described as conventional. He calls and even raises with cards many of us would muck without a second thought, and has an uncanny ability to place opponents precisely on hands. Aggressive early, he is prepared to gamble to accumulate a deep stack from the outset, enabling him to assume the position he is most comfortable with - Table Captain. 3-4, 9-7, J-9, these are the range of hands Lawrence could easily be holding when he takes a flop. Or KK or AA, because even lairy players pick up nice hands sometimes, and his "loose as a goose" policy ensures he generally gets callers, and is handsomely paid.
His brusque manner and blunt comments hide a shrewd tactical brain, and he carefully sizes up his table companions, before selecting those most likely to pay him off.
And his Bracelet and near $400,000 was accompanied by another honour, that of the William Hill Poker European Player of the Month for June.
A week after his victory, Gossa played the World Championship, and hopes of another bracelet were dashed early, when he busted out on Day One. It's the nature of his game that he gambles big, and he gambles early, so this often means an early exit. So after busting out of the World Series Main Event, he drove across town to play in a 262 runner competition at The Bellagio. Lo and behold, he won that too, beating a Final Table which included three Bracelet winners, amongst them being the world famous T J Cloutier. That earned him another $65,000, to add to his now considerable Poker Bankroll.
After his WSOP victory, there was an impromptu party in his room, with the bar bill exceeding $9,000! And it's long odds on that when he returns home, another party is likely.
Lawrence is of stocky build, with dark hair, and favour's wearing rugby shirts. A family man, he runs a Plant Hire and Construction business, and he is also a property developer.
Perhaps oddly, Gossa is not driven by the financial rewards that a career at the top in poker can bring to the gifted few. He lives comfortably already, thanks to his business interests. But what he really wants is the respect of the poker community, and he sure as heck has that now. He has always been a regular in the £10 and £20 competitions that take place almost daily in the UK, playing mainly in Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham. These games are tough to win, believe me, yet he continues to do well in them. Rarely a week goes by without he wins a competition somewhere. He's super quick to spot collusion, and readily brings attention to any soft play or malpractice at the table. He plays to the spirit and letter of the rules, and is a fascinating, but formidable, table companion.
The future? Well his feet remain firmly planted to the ground, and he will continue to play the £20 and £30 comps at his local venues. But he will still be seen giving his all, whether the first prize is £800, or £800,000.
So there you have it. From bottom of the pile to winner of one of the toughest competitions in the world, held at the home of Poker - Las Vegas - in less than three years. He is an inspiration to all budding poker pros, and proof indeed that if you have the necessary skills, and most of all, an ability to learn quickly, then the poker world is your oyster.
He's hardly likely to get Knighted, but for us he will hitherto become known as Lord Lawrence of Leeds. Quite right, too.
Last week in Las Vegas, Gosney's place in poker history was confirmed when he won a coveted WSOP Bracelet, beating off 1,071 opponents in the $2,000 No Limit Hold 'Em, earning himself $483,152. The lad has come a long way in less than three years!But let's not jump ahead. After he found himself hooked by poker but lacking some of the necessary skills, Lawrence set about making himself proficient at the game by testing himself against the best. He was not particularly welcomed by the poker community initially. Lawrence, a true Yorkshireman, who lives in Leeds, tends, shall we say, to speak his mind, as Tykes generally do. But that all changed when folks got to understand him better, and as respect for his game grew amongst wiser counsel.
Within 4 short months, Gossa earned his first major victory at Salford in Manchester, and eight months later he made the first of 9 trips to the USA to hone his game against the world's best. This resulted in a major final at the Five Diamonds Classic, and this was followed a victory in Sheffield in the spring of this year.
Continuing his poker education, he decided to play a few events in this year's WSOP, and two weeks ago came a result that shocked the poker world, when Lawrence became the first Brit to secure an outright victory in this year's renewal. It would be an understatement to say that his victory was well received - his result was one of the most popular in the history of the WSOP.
And the manner of his victory said so much. In a field populated by the world's finest exponents of No Limit Hold 'Em, Lawrence just battered the Final Table, until just he and one other - Jarl Lindholt - were heads-up. Then he really showed his class by sealing the victory comfortably and quickly.
Lawrence's style of play could in no way be described as conventional. He calls and even raises with cards many of us would muck without a second thought, and has an uncanny ability to place opponents precisely on hands. Aggressive early, he is prepared to gamble to accumulate a deep stack from the outset, enabling him to assume the position he is most comfortable with - Table Captain. 3-4, 9-7, J-9, these are the range of hands Lawrence could easily be holding when he takes a flop. Or KK or AA, because even lairy players pick up nice hands sometimes, and his "loose as a goose" policy ensures he generally gets callers, and is handsomely paid.
His brusque manner and blunt comments hide a shrewd tactical brain, and he carefully sizes up his table companions, before selecting those most likely to pay him off.
And his Bracelet and near $400,000 was accompanied by another honour, that of the William Hill Poker European Player of the Month for June.
A week after his victory, Gossa played the World Championship, and hopes of another bracelet were dashed early, when he busted out on Day One. It's the nature of his game that he gambles big, and he gambles early, so this often means an early exit. So after busting out of the World Series Main Event, he drove across town to play in a 262 runner competition at The Bellagio. Lo and behold, he won that too, beating a Final Table which included three Bracelet winners, amongst them being the world famous T J Cloutier. That earned him another $65,000, to add to his now considerable Poker Bankroll.
After his WSOP victory, there was an impromptu party in his room, with the bar bill exceeding $9,000! And it's long odds on that when he returns home, another party is likely.
Lawrence is of stocky build, with dark hair, and favour's wearing rugby shirts. A family man, he runs a Plant Hire and Construction business, and he is also a property developer.
Perhaps oddly, Gossa is not driven by the financial rewards that a career at the top in poker can bring to the gifted few. He lives comfortably already, thanks to his business interests. But what he really wants is the respect of the poker community, and he sure as heck has that now. He has always been a regular in the £10 and £20 competitions that take place almost daily in the UK, playing mainly in Leeds, Sheffield and Nottingham. These games are tough to win, believe me, yet he continues to do well in them. Rarely a week goes by without he wins a competition somewhere. He's super quick to spot collusion, and readily brings attention to any soft play or malpractice at the table. He plays to the spirit and letter of the rules, and is a fascinating, but formidable, table companion.
The future? Well his feet remain firmly planted to the ground, and he will continue to play the £20 and £30 comps at his local venues. But he will still be seen giving his all, whether the first prize is £800, or £800,000.
So there you have it. From bottom of the pile to winner of one of the toughest competitions in the world, held at the home of Poker - Las Vegas - in less than three years. He is an inspiration to all budding poker pros, and proof indeed that if you have the necessary skills, and most of all, an ability to learn quickly, then the poker world is your oyster.
He's hardly likely to get Knighted, but for us he will hitherto become known as Lord Lawrence of Leeds. Quite right, too.