Manahawkin Butcher Wins A Million At World Series Of Poker Event

Thomas Pomponio has been playing poker for 10 years. It really paid off recently.

Pomponio, a butcher from Manahawkin, took home $1 million in winnings at a World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas on Wednesday, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal.

“Pretty surreal," he said after the win. "I’m just waiting to wake up from the dream, but I don’t think I’m going to. So, it’s pretty good,” Pomponio said. “I come to every tournament thinking I can win. I know as a poker player it’s not a reality, but I play the best I can, make all the right moves and try to give myself the best chance.”

Pomponio told the ReviewJournal.com he started to think he had a chance to win when he survived the second day of the tournament in sixth place among 41 remaining entrants.

Before Wednesday, Pomponio, who has played poker for 10 years, had amassed $13,628 in career poker winnings. He plays online once or twice a week.

To read the entire story, click here.

Image: World Series of Poker twitter page.