Putting winnings to good use

Ladbrokes Poker internet player James Sudworth aka James666 is putting to good use the GBP 25 000 he won in the recently completed LEOCOP series of poker competitions, where he finished top of the leader board. The 22-year-old from Kent, who has won over GBP 200 000 playing online poker and could win up to GBP 1 Million in the gambling firm's Poker Million series in December, is using some of his wealth to put his mother through a speech therapy course at a local university.

The youthful professional player is typical of the many smart and skilled young guns appearing - and winning - in major poker tournaments all over the world. Earlier this month another 22-year-old, Peter Eastlake from Denmark, became the youngest player ever to win the World Series of Poker main event, pocketing $9.1 million by beating his 23-year-old heads up opponent, who took home over $5 million.

Sudworth opted out of A level media studies to become a bar manager, where he was introduced to the game and found he had a talent for it. His past wins have included a Caribbean poker cruise with Ladbrokes Poker as well as poker trips to Madrid and Killarney in Ireland after he became a professional player two years ago.

He has a mature approach to the game, and advises novices to always play within their means: "I started around the GBP10 mark,which is cheaper than an average night out which at that time could easily cost around GBP30 - GBP40.

The young player plans to move the United States to develop his poker career further, but handles his winnings with care, investing some in a short film directed by a friend which has been accepted for screening on Channel 4.

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