Australian teacher wins record poker prize
17th December, 2007
A 28-year-old teacher has won a record AUS$1 million (£400,000) at Sydney's first ever Asia Pacific Poker Tour Championships.
Grant Levy beat off 561 other poker players at the Star City Casino to take home the mammoth prize money to the delight of his wife and brother who were watching from the sidelines.
The tournament represented the third live match he had ever taken part in and he claimed he honed his card skills though spending hours playing online poker.
He said of the game: "I enjoy it more in person but it's easier for me to play online poker because it's so convenient."
After winning the prize money Mr Levy added: "It's disbelief, I don't think it will sink in.
"To be honest I am still taking it all in, but it's unbelievable to think that I have taken on some of the world's greats and come out on top."
Poker has become hugely popular in the last few years thanks in part to Aussie Joe Hachem's World Series of Poker win in 2005 where he scooped $10 million (£4.9 million).
