A former IT director has won an all expenses paid trip to Las Vegas after seeing off more than 450 challengers to win a national Texas Holdem poker tournament.
Father of five Len Stanley, 58, of Whittlesey, played for 12 and half hours to win the Live Pub Poker League’s UK Poker Pub Championship in Southport.
He will fly out to Las Vegas on June 4, where he will take part in a private 20 player Texas Holdem Poker game, with the winner entered into a $1million event.
Mr Stanley only started playing at the New Crown pub in Whittlesey two and a half years and says he did not expect to win.
He said: “It’s pretty awesome. My family and friends are very pleased. I’m not a brilliant player. I went there not expecting anything other than to have a good time.
“I started playing at 11am, got down to the final table at 4.30pm and got down to the final two at 7pm.
“I was not doing that well but suddenly I had a couple of lucky breaks, doubled up, doubled up again then took him out. The game finished at 11.30pm.
“I normally find it hard to concentrate but once I got down to the final table I concentrated as hard as I could.”
Mr Stanley was joined at the tournament by New Crown playing partner Andy Tierney, who will accompany him to Las Vegas in June.
He said: “I’ve never been to Las Vegas before. I expect it will be lots of lights and glitz, and I’m sure I’ll have a good time.”
The New Crown, which is run by Chris and Rose Black, holds poker nights on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday evenings. For more information call 01733 205134
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