Blue chip trip to Vegas for poker player Richard
A STEELWORKER from Bridgend is one of a group of amateur poker players heading to Las Vegas to try and make their fortunes.
The group from Wales will test their skills in the game’s ultimate arena later this month.
The VEGAS100 tournament is made up of the winners of various poker competition winners throughout the UK.
The top 100 of 200,000 amateurs go through to the final competition in America.
Run by Redtooth poker, which holds poker leagues throughout the country, the Vegas competition takes place on May 25 and includes a prize pool of £25,000.
The winner will receive a £5,000 sponsorship deal for the next year - allow- ing them to enter tournaments and further their poker careers.
Among the players is Tata steelworker Richard Webb. The 31-year-old from Bridgend started playing the game in local pubs.
He said: “I started going down every week to play poker and there would be a whole group of us.
“At first, I found it hard to qualify for tournaments because I couldn’t play every week with my shifts but I managed to win two regional events on the bounce.
“I am absolutely chuffed to qualify because it shows I can really play the game.
“You have to have some skill with it and it shows I do know what I’m doing.
“To play in Vegas when you love poker is high up on the bucket list.”
He added: “Week in, week out, it’s more of a social thing and it’s fun because you get to meet up with friends and have a laugh with them.
“When I play properly you get to meet new people and new characters.
“It’s hard to explain, it’s one of those games you love and hate.
“It can be so frustrating but it’s brilliant when it goes your way.”
Another qualifier, Jason Phillips, 42, from Barry, started playing poker online 15 years ago online and discovered he was good at it.
The car park attendant said: “I’m really excited about playing Las Vegas.
“I have played hundreds of players many, many times and beaten them and I feel this will be the first time I have played where everybody on the table is good so it’s going to be a test.
“I like poker because I love winning money and I regularly win money.
“Lots of people play solitaire on the computer and I play poker.
“I constantly win every month and it give me some spending money.”
Gary Rosser, in his fifties, from Pontprennau, Cardiff, will be playing in Las Vegas for a second time and is one of six players to have qualified for the tournament from the Hollybush pub in Cyncoed, in recent years.
Retiree Gary said: “Playing in Las Vegas was a wonderful experience I suppose and I will continue the legacy of the Hollybush pub.”