Ollerton pub poker player to compete in Vegas competition

Nathan Matthews won a East Midlands regional poker tournament

A pub poker player has won a trip to Las Vegas to take part in a national competition after winning an East Midlands qualifier.

Nathan Matthews, who has only been playing poker for a year, won the free-to-play competition on Sunday.

The 26-year-old was representing The Plough Pub in Ollerton where he plays every week.

If he wins the VEGAS100 competition, which is in May 2024, Mr Matthews will be crowned UK Pub Poker Champion.

While on a week-long stay at the MGM Grand, he will take on the UK's 100 best pub poker players for a £8,000 cash prize.

Nathan Matthews gets to stay at the MGM Grand for a week

"Poker's a good around game. You can have fun or you can be serious," said Mr Matthews.

"I'd say I'm a risk-taker. Especially in the game of poker, you have to take risks to win.

"It's still a bit surreal really. I'm always thinking there must be a catch somewhere."

The competition's top 20 players will win a share of a £25,000 prize fund, with the winner taking home the cash prize alongside a sponsorship deal worth £5,000.

The games involve players competing for points, rather than staking their own money.

"It's a one in 100 chance to win - I've had worse odds," he said.

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