The $1million poker grandad
He’d never bet above £10... but Brit in Vegas will bag £800k – even if he loses!
AN amateur poker-playing grandad from Yorkshire is in the running to scoop a £6million Las Vegas jackpot.
John Hesp, 64, entered the Las Vegas World Series of Poker Main Event as something to tick off his ‘bucket list’.
The retired caravan salesman from Bridlington near Hull had never played a tournament with a buy-in larger than £10 and his biggest win was £785 from his local Napolean’s casino.
Even if he loses the competition in Vegas he is guaranteed to take home $1million – about £766,000.
But if he beats all other 26 players then he will take home £6million.
So far the first-timer has beaten more than 7,000 other competitors – including top poker players – to make it into tomorrow’s nine-player final.
The recreational player, who can often be found shuffling chips on a Sunday at his local casino, barely plays once a month. He decided to fork out the $10,000 fee to enter the Las Vegas competition after accumulating 85million chips – the second-biggest chip stack.
The grandfather of seven admitted: ‘I’m to poker what Donald Trump is to politics, an amateur. I said to my wife about three months ago, “Would you mind if I went and played?” and came with a pal of mine from Bridlington.
‘I’ve never played a big competition. I’ve hardly slept the past couple of nights, I’m running on adrenaline.
‘The money is not important but would be amazing. I’d treat the wife. I’m not nervous for the final at all.’ And his wife Mandy, 56, who will be flying to Vegas for the final, said: ‘It’s unbelievable. I thought he’d be home by now. What has happened is unbelievable. He’s unique. I hope he goes on to win this.’
The World Series of Poker is a series of tournaments sponsored by Caesars Entertainment Corporation.
It generally draws in top professionals, but John is the oldest player. The married father of four from Bridlington – a coastal town off the North Sea – has played poker recreationally with friends for more than 20 years. And if the Yorkshireman wins the tournament, he would be the oldest main event champion since 1974. Mr Hesp has become well-known for his over-the-top attire – borrowed from a friend back home.
He told Poker News that the multipatterned jacket, bright shirts and a Panama hat ‘so far have brought me very good luck’.
There is one other Brit in the final, Jack Sinclair, a 26-year-old online playing professional, who currently stands at eighth in the competition. The final game will end on Saturday.