Could a modest Finn with a winning name be the next champion?
Tuesday 30th March 2004
Those of you who appreciated the poetry of an unknown outsider named Moneymaker walking away with the top prize at last year’s World Series might want to keep your eyes on 26-year-old, Finnish factory worker, Voitto Rintala, this year. Voitto is the Finnish for ‘victory’ and since he vanquished all competitors last week at PokerWorld to win a coveted place in Las Vegas, Voitto feels as if his dreams have come true.
It would certainly have a fairy tale feel to it if the modest Finn from the remote village of Heinola, who says he started playing poker after seeing the film ‘Rounders,’ could convert his $39 dollar stake into $2.5 million in the Nevada Desert.
'My hands were shaking the whole time I played the last five players. I still remember the hand that I won with,” said Voitto. “I've played it over and over in my mind. I'd won before, but never anything big like this.' And PokerWorld is backing him all the way. 'What's truly remarkable about Voitto's victory is that he had to beat only 105 players to grab the grand prize. That's exceptional odds for a prize of this magnitude,” said a spokesperson. We're very excited about the attention our World Series of Poker Giveaway has garnered with poker players around the globe. It's truly the ultimate prize for the ultimate competitors.'
Those of you who appreciated the poetry of an unknown outsider named Moneymaker walking away with the top prize at last year’s World Series might want to keep your eyes on 26-year-old, Finnish factory worker, Voitto Rintala, this year. Voitto is the Finnish for ‘victory’ and since he vanquished all competitors last week at PokerWorld to win a coveted place in Las Vegas, Voitto feels as if his dreams have come true.