UGA Freshman Wins $1 Million Poker Tourney

A 19-year-old freshman from the University of Georgia has won more than $1 million and the top spot in the European Poker Tour’s Grand Final.

The nearly 300-player tournament, which included 38 other Americans, began Wednesday. Jeff Williams of Dunwoody, Ga., started play in third place Saturday, the final day of the tournament in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Williams earned more than $1 million (900,000 Euros) for the victory.
On the final hand of the tournament, which came shortly before 5 p.m. EST, Williams put all of his chips at risk with an ace and a ten, dominating an ace and an eight held by second-place finisher Arshad Hussain of Great Britain, according to the website. Neither player made a pair with any of the five shared “community cards” that followed.

He outlasted three World Series of Poker world champions, including American Greg Raymer and last year’s winner, Joseph Hachem of Australia. Marcel “The Flying Dutchman” Luske, the final table’s most well-known professional player, was eliminated in seventh place.