An amateur poker player from Leicester has taken down the Teesside leg of the Gala Casinos British Poker Tour (GCBPT).
Financial adviser Anthony Arlott will head to Bristol for the national final later this year after outlasting a field of 212 to scoop the £30,000 first prize at Gala Casinos Teesside.
The 45-year-old defeated James O'Connell in heads-up play to clinch the title and become the third Leicester-based player to win a GCBPT event this year.
Commenting on his victory in the north-east, Mr Arlott said: "It's very difficult to put into words right now, I think it'll take a while to sink in, but I still feel brilliant.
"It's been a marathon four-day effort at a brilliant tournament with very high standards of play."
Taking place at Gala's flagship Harbourside casino in Bristol from December 1st to 7th, the GCBPT grand final will see regional champions from around the UK battle it out for an estimated prize pool of £400,000.
Last year's inaugural event was won by Joe 'The Elegance' Beevers.