Alistair Fowler, from Mosstodloch, has raised £5,000 so he can enter the World Series Poker Europe tournament held in the Empire Casino in London's Leicester Square later this month and win the £250,000 jackpot.

Mr Fowler, known affectionately as Ironside because he uses a wheelchair, runs a poker website and as a prank placed a notice on the site offering shares in himself for sale.

He said: "It started off as a joke really, but people wanted to buy shares and it's just crazy.

"This is a dream of mine and people have the opportunity of sharing that dream."

A bank manager friend set up an account and Mr Fowler has now sold 65% of his shares; he is keeping the other 35% for himself.

A 1% share costs £35 but people have been paying from £7.50 to £375 for a chance to win a slice of the prize. If successful, a £75 stake will see a return of around £2,500.

Mr Fowler regularly plays at the poker club in the Foundry and the Seaforth Club in Elgin, and travels to the International Casino in Aberdeen three or four times a week. The Aberdeen casino is funding his travel to the tournament and is also negotiating accommodation for him there.

Looking to play his cards right is Alistair Fowler from Mosstodloch, who is aiming to scoop a £250,000 jackpot at poker. Eric Cormack (NS)

Mr Fowler will be trying to keep a poker face when he pits his skills against some of the best players in the world in what is the biggest tournament of its kind ever held in Europe.

He will be playing Omaha poker, similar to Texas hold 'em. Players are dealt four cards and have to use two of their own and three of the five community cards from the table to make the best hand.

Mr Fowler had his army career cut short after he broke his back in a motor bike accident 10 years ago, but the 38-year-old has a positive attitude to life.

He said: "I fell down the stairs at my brother's wedding and broke my neck, so I'm quite fortunate really. Lucky is my middle name, that's why I play poker."

h.lawson@northern-scot.co.uk

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---