Brett Parise, a 22-year-old student from Indiana has triumphed in the first leg of the inaugural PokerStars Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) in Manila.
The economics student counted out $179,775 in winnings but still said that although it was a good way to make money, he wasn't considering turning pro as a career choice.
However he might change his mind if he wins big at December's grand final in Sydney, at which he can now claim a seat.
Over 220 poker players from 30 nations took part in the $2,500 buy-i event, which lasted three days and the nine players who reached the final table dipped into a prize pool worth $500,000.
Parise, who studies at the University of California, has been playing poker since he was 18.
For the future, he said: "I'll finish my degree but I don't have any idea what I will do after that. I like poker but it won't be my life."
The next leg of the Asia-Pacific Poker Tour will take place in Seoul in September and after it will move to two other Asian venues before the grand final.
It may be that the first ever APPT will see a great deal of drama, as Parise always looked unlikely to be a winner. He was the youngest player at the final table, joining it with the second lowest chip stack, ad it was a miracle he was even able to contend as the student only received his passport two hours before his flight to Manila.
Brett Parise, a 22-year-old student from Indiana has triumphed in the first leg of the inaugural PokerStars Asia-Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) in Manila.