Jonathan stakes claim to £100,000 poker pot

A WEST Cumbrian student will try his hand at winning a £100,000 poker prize this week.

Jonathan McCann, 20, of Little Broughton, Workington, is taking part in a national competition in Manchester.

He is still riding high from his success last Sunday after he won $30,000 in an online poker championship.

Jonathan, who is studying a sports science degree in Liverpool, said: “I have had a few nice wins recently. My biggest win was on Sunday on the Betfair site.

“There was a $500 buy in, but I qualified by playing a $60 game earlier and I ended up winning $30,000.

“I was delighted. I won £3,000 two weeks ago. But Sunday was my biggest win.

“There were about 170 people playing in the online tournament.

“It’s just satisfying. If players are willing to pay that amount of money they are usually better players.

“They play to a higher standard. It was nice to know I can play with the big players.

“I have played big tournaments before that.”

Last year, Jonathan qualified to play in an international poker tournament in Monte Carlo. He got through to day two of the three-day event.

He said he is planning to be sensible with his winnings and invest in his future, adding: “I’m going to save the money.

“I am looking to buy a house in the next year.”

Jonathan is now looking forward to competing in the tournament this weekend, and has already been getting some practice in earlier this week.

“On Monday I played a qualifier for the main event. This week it will be live in Manchester,” he said.

“I don’t normally play live. I have been playing the last few days and now have some confidence. I think I could do really well in this tournament.”

He is currently playing in the UK Poker Tour, at the Grosvenor in Manchester.

He said: “It’s nice to be part of it. There are about 300 people taking part. It will be all over by Sunday. I think I have got a good chance. When I played in Monte Carlo I was playing against the world’s best players.

“I finished my coursework a couple of months ago and have been playing poker.

“There is lots of skill involved.

“It also depends on your concentration and what sort of mood you are in. It can be mentally draining.”

News Added: 28 April, 2008

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