A former public school boy has won a cool £140,000 in a major tournament at the biggest poker venue in Europe.

On Sunday night Ben Warrington, 27, a former Epsom College student, was one of just two people left in at the final table from the 350 gamblers who started the week-long, £1m Texas hold 'em, World Poker Tour Main Event in Nottingham.

In the end he was piped at the post. Mr Warrington said: "It really felt like it was my time to shine. There was a lot of pressure on me to maximise on this opportunity.

"Unfortunately on the last night I couldn’t quite finish the job, but I’m pleased to have come second and I hope to build on this result."

He said the tough competition was "quite a marathon".

His family home is here in Epsom, but he said: "My life consists of travelling around the world playing poker at poker events."

Mr Warrington said that he played poker recreationally at university but he never thought he would make a career of it.

But later on he said: "I realised I'm winning a lot of money here. Seasoned professionals took me under their wing and I have never looked back."

Mr Warrington is now getting ready to jet off to a tournament in Prague where he won £200,000 two years ago.

Rob Yong, who owns the venue Dusk Till Dawn in Nottingham, said: "It's a fantastic result for Ben. He played a brilliant tournament and thoroughly deserved to be among the major prize money."