A MAN from York has won the chance to compete for millions of dollars in a Las Vegas poker tournament, after beating off competition including an international cricket star.

Jon Laud, of Poppleton, beat 120 contestants including Australian spin bowler Shane Warne, in an online match to win a seat at the World Series of Poker, worth $10,000.

Now, if he plays his cards right in Vegas, he could become a multi-millionaire and live a life of luxury.

“I was totally stunned when I beat Shane. It was 2am and I just stared at my PC screen not really believing what I had done,” said Jon, 39.

“I went to bed and couldn’t sleep all night. I’m a big Leeds united fan, and won this prize the day after we got promoted – it was a tremendous weekend!”

Jon, who is an account manager at a recruitment agency, has played online poker for two years, and his biggest win prior to the tournament seat was £5,000. His prize, part of 888poker’s Everyman promotion, covers his flights to Las Vegas and accommodation in a the Palazzo hotel Last year’s winner of the tournament went home with a prize of $8.5 million – about £5.7 million – and Jon already has plans for his winnings, should he be equally successful.

“If I win big in Vegas, the wife and I have already agreed that we’ll pay off the mortgage, have a few spectacular holidays, and buy ourselves a gleaming Aston Martin,” said Jon. “I’d like to take a 12-month holiday really, visit Australia and New Zealand. I never did a lot of travelling before I started work, and I’ve got friends down there too.”