21 YEAR OLD IS THE NEW BORGATA POKER CHAMP

(489) (21-September-2006)

$1.5 million pay packet for young North Carolinan

With a starting field of 540 ambitious and skilled poker players it was never going to be easy to win through and claim a $1.5 million grand prize payday, but that's exactly what Mark Newhouse (21) did this week to become the World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open champion.

Newhouse was the chip leader going into a final table that included David Sklansky, Chris McCormack, Chris Bell, Blaise Ingoglia, and Anthony Argila. When it came down to heads-up play it was Newhouse against McCormack , with the latter holding the chip advantage and most favoured to win.

However, the game of poker is famously fickle and at times downright volatile, and Newhouse managed to fight his way back into contention, doubling up his pot at one point to take over the chip lead, and then wiping his adversary out with a full house. Second place still paid $802 895, so McCormack had a generous consolation prize.

Aside from that juicy $1.5 million cheque, Newhouse also receives a $25 000 buy-in to the World Poker Tour Championships and the chance for further fame and fortune.

With a large prizepool, big money payouts were common at the final table - 6th placed Blaise Ingoglia took home $261 901!