Steve Billirakis provided a record-breaking start to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) when he became the youngest player ever to triumph in the tournament.
It is the fourth year in a row that the record has been broken for the youngest winner, showing that action around the card tables is forever hotting up.
Billirakis, who is just 21 years and ten days old, has won not only the title of a record-breaker but also $536,287 and a Corum watch in the mixed $5,000 buy-in WSOP Hold'em event.
But Billirakis always had a youthful confidence about him, predicting the win even before he had taken his seat at the final table.
After an intriguing heads-up, Billirakis beat Greg 'FBT' Mueller into second place with a two pair, although FBT still walked away $328,554 richer.
Despite concerns that the WSOP would be less well attended than in recent years, due to the new US laws, the first $1,500 buy-in event saw nearly 4,000 players attempting to try their hands. Three thousand of those secured seats while 800 are in the wings waiting for other players to fold.
Billirakis' event alone drew 451 contestants, bringing the prize pool up to $2,119,700 in total.
Steve Billirakis provided a record-breaking start to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) when he became the youngest player ever to triumph in the tournament.