A YORK man has beaten the odds to win an amateur poker game in the home of gambling, Las Vegas.

Craig Thompson, who lives in Hamilton Drive, Acomb, was crowned the Poker In The Pub champion after a battle on ESPN at the World Series of Poker at the Rio Hotel and casino.

Craig, 24, said: “Las Vegas is an incredible place, massive, one of the most impressive places I’ve ever been.

“I won’t stay in a nicer hotel than The Palazzo, it had three TVs in our room. I’ve never quite been anywhere like it. I was so happy to win and can’t believe I actually did. It was such an amazing experience.”

Craig’s trip to Las Vegas started with a Texas Hold ’Em Poker In The Pub game at his local pub, The Puss ‘n’ Boots, Holgate.

After winning the regional championships, Craig took on the nationals, and won his seat at the ESPN table.

But his victory was only won with a turn of luck on the communal cards, or flop, when he gained a second ace, to win with a pair.

Craig, who won an engraved silver bracelet in the competition, said: “It’s the equivalent of an amateur tennis player playing at Wimbledon or an amateur footballer playing at Wembley.

“We were picked up by limo, which we weren’t expecting, we got to walk down the red carpet into the biggest poker room you’ll see and then play on that table. We got a behind-the-scenes look at how a televised poker event works. Just unbelievable.”

Craig, who works at CPP, is a business studies graduate and is set to start training in accountancy this September.

He said: “It was incredible to think that it all happened from going to my local and playing poker with some mates.”

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