A Jewish poker player has won almost £1 million at a world tournament in London.

James Bord, from Stanmore, north-west London, picked up £836,000 at the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe championship to become the first British Main Event champion.

He won first prize, beating a player from Monte Carlo in a closely fought game, and was awarded a gold bracelet to mark his success.

Mr Bord, 29, who entered the contest for the second time, is a regular on the WSOP circuit and finished in sixth place at a competition in Las Vegas earlier in 2010.

The former banker, who divides his time between London and Las Vegas, left his job at Citigroup to play poker professionally when he was in his mid-20s. He said he preferred cash games to the big tournaments.

Mr Bord, who described himself as a professional gambler, said he hoped the future would bring "more of the same”. But he won’t be spending his winnings on expensive cars.

The poker player has given his current car - a Mercedes – to his brother because he himself is a “terrible driver”.

He said: “I can’t park it, so I’ve just given it all up.”

Mr Bord said he had not expected to win. “Being so close, you just never know when it’s going to come again. And it’s even more special to win it in my home town.”

He could do worse than emulate the success of Victoria Coren. The writer, daughter of columnist Alan Coren, is estimated to have won more than £1 million from player poker games.