IMAGINE winning a trip of a lifetime to Las Vegas playing the game you love, well that was the case for a Bradford poker player.

Carl Wright, who plays at the Halfway House pub in Birkenshaw, astonishingly came through a field of over 150 competitors to win a tournament at the Grosvenor Casino in Leeds which qualifies him for a prestigious event stateside.

The Redtooth poker's 'Vegas100' national final event is the culmination of a twelve month search to find the best pub poker players from around the UK and pit them against each other to find the best of the best.

Wright will be aiming to become UK Pub Poker champion and claim the £13,000 cash prize when he travels over to the competition held at the Orleans Hotel & Casino.

The 52-year-old only took up the game as a pass time half a decade ago and now regularly enters tournaments across the country.

Speaking firstly on how he got into the sport, Wright said: "It was about five years ago. I played with friends at first.

"We play in a league and the top four in the league went to a final in Leeds. There were 184 people there and I ended up finishing first.

"It was brilliant. I just couldn’t go wrong. I wish I had been playing on a cash table, I would have been a billionaire.

"I have got a week in Vegas and I play in a competition which lasts 2-3 days. There should be a fair few people there because the hotel we are staying in is a massive room."

Asked whether he has a chance of winning, Wright added: "I will see what it is like in Vegas because there will be a lot of pressure.You always have to be confident."

Eileen Geater and husband John have owned the Halfway House since August 2016 and have backed Wright all the way.

Eileen explains how the poker nights first began in her pub before speaking about the effect the Bradfordian has had on the area.

She said: "Carl came into the pub before we took over and he is a valued member of the community.

"A few of them came up to us when we first took over asking to host a poker night on Tuesday nights. We said yes and have not looked back. 15-20 people come play religiously every week and we put on a supper for them.

"We are all proud of him here at the Halfway House and can't wait to see how he gets on in Vegas."

Wright credits the support he has received and wants to help promote the game to a wider audience.

He said: "The Halfway House have been superb for me giving me great support. When I came back (from the Leeds final) there were loads of people waiting for me. I got a big cheer when I walked into the pub.

"People have been asking me how to play. I think it is one of the best games ever."

So what is the key to Wright's success: "Trying to read people, a lot of luck and learning how to bluff."

It will be interesting to see how the Bradfordian gets on in the gambling capital of the world.