Poker Champion Looks Forward To Las Vegas

Amateur poker player wins trip to Vegas for major poker tournament

Amateur poker player Alan Vinson will travel to Las Vegas to take part in the World Series of Poker next year.

The 59-year-old from Waltham Abbey in Essex earned a spot at poker's most prestigious event by winning the Gala Casinos British Poker Tour (GCBPT) grand final last week.

He also picked up a cash prize of £83,000 at the event in Bristol, which took place at Gala's flagship Harbourside Casino.

Mr Vinson told the Harlow Herald that he felt "completely relieved" to have secured the first major victory of his amateur poker career.

He said: "I've been in a few finals before, but never really finished it off. This more than makes up for all my past disappointments.

"This time everything went well for me - people folded as I bluffed and called when I had big hands."

Mark O'Donnell, head of poker at Gala Coral, described Mr Vinson as "a great player and worthy champion".

Rob Akery, runner-up at the GCBPT grand final, went home with £52,000 and a package to take part in the Aussie Millions event.