Poker-Playing UK Chef $1m Richer

A chef is due to fly in to Manchester Airport almost $1m (£567,419) richer after beating about 4,000 hopefuls in an amateur poker tournament.

Lee Biddulph, of Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool, beat eight US opponents in the final in Costa Rica, despite having never won more than £28 before.

"Even my teeth are shaking," he said as he played the winning hand.

Mr Biddulph, 28, who has been playing Texas Hold-Em poker since 2002, was one of 39,000 to enter an online contest.

Players were whittled down during heats until just nine remained who were eligible for a seat at the $1m final, held in Costa Rica.

Mr Biddulph faced off against eight other men, all from the US, before a showdown with Mike Darweesh, a software engineer from Arizona.

Bruce Stubbs, marketing director of paradisepoker.com, said: "Lee played brilliantly, he started the final table with less chips - $1.58m to Mike's $2.72m - and came out a winner."

Both players emerged with a flush - five cards of the same suit - on their final hand, but Mr Biddulph took the pot with a higher card among his five.