Wednesday, July 27, 2005
POKER-FACED Peter Norris is hoping a big win is on the cards.
The 27-year-old lawyer has won a place at the table to take on all comers from around the world in a multi-million-pound poker tournament.
Peter, of King William Walk, Greenwich, beat 10,000 contestants to win a place at the World Poker Exchange next month.
As one of 10 winners of online heats, Peter has been given a $12,000 entry stake into the tournament.
And he will be playing a variation of the game, called no-limit Texas hold'em, for the ultimate prize of $2million - just over £1million.
Although he has only been playing the game for just over a year, he clearly fancies his chances.
"I reckon I've won about £6,000 since I started playing," he said.
"I back myself to win and will put it all on the line. You have got to play to win otherwise there is no point going into these things.
"I've been playing a bit for practice and won a few hundred dollars so I'm confident."
And Peter might have to cope with a few familiar faces staring at him across the table.
He said: "They have got some celebrity players in. There is John McCririck from Channel 4 Racing, the comedian Dave Gorman and an actress called Jennifer Tilly.
"I'm not worried about John McCririck because I've seen him play on television and he's rubbish but Jennifer Tilly is quite a good player.
"She's just played in the World Series and won a women's competition."
Peter will take on hundreds of gamblers at the four-day knockout event at Old Billingsgate Market in August.
The high stakes game has a $2million guaranteed prize pool and will be broadcast live on television.
