Online Poker's First Millionaire Crowned in Paradise
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NEW YORK -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- After battling 3,900 opponents online, Lee Biddulph, a 28 year old chef from Blackpool, England has walked away with $1 million dollars, the winner of ParadisePoker.com's first Million Dollar Free online poker tournament. This is the world's largest online poker tournament prize ever, and it was free to participate.

The final table, which was played out in a mystery tropical location, was made up of nine amateurs, eight from the U.S. who beat out almost four thousand players at ParadisePoker.com. In the end, it came down to a showdown between Biddulph and Mike Darweesh, a software engineer who processes images from Mars, and lives in Tempe, Arizona.

After seven hours of play at the final table, Biddulph revealed the tension. "Even my teeth are shaking," he said as he played the final hand.

On the second to last hand minutes before, both players checked right through to the river, facing a board with four diamonds. Darweesh led with a bet of US$200,000. Biddulph thought for a moment before reraising it up to US$600,000. Darweesh called, and flipped over a 9 of diamonds. Biddulph turned over the 10 of diamonds and took the pot with a higher flush.

Darweesh rose to his feet as the final hand caused an eruption from the previously silent crowd. Both players were all in before the flop, and as they revealed their hole cards the crowd saw that Darweesh had queen/nine and Biddulph had the dominant ace/ten. The first card from the deck was an ace, which sent the crowd into a further frenzy. The remaining cards on the flop were a 6 and 3. The turn card produced an 8 - sending Biddulph into shock and sending tears streaming down his girlfriend Debbie's face. The river showed another 6, and it was over.

"ParadisePoker.com is a great experience at the best of times, but throw $1 million in to the pot and make it a freeroll for amateurs and you discover a whole new crowd able to challenge the best of the pros", said Bruce Stubbs, marketing director, ParadisePoker.com. "Lee played brilliantly, he started the final table with less chips -- US$1.58 million to Mike's US$2.72 million and came out a winner.

"In the end - the US$1 Million Freeroll Tournament has been a historic event, lots of fun and ample opportunity for online poker players who want to try out their skills with the best of amateurs. Our second US$1 Million Freeroll Tournament is already in progress," Stubbs added.

All finalists received an all expenses paid weekend to a five star resort in Costa Rica for themselves and a guest, as well as receiving US$10, 000 just for making it to the final table.

About ParadisePoker.com

ParadisePoker.com is one of the original Online Poker Rooms offering the safest and most secure entertaining environment for customers. Established in 1999, ParadisePoker.com joined forces with Sportingbet PLC in 2004, (LSE: SBT). Sportingbet is headquartered in London, England and is the world's largest publicly traded online betting, gambling and gaming company.