According to a statement
by Paddypower Poker,
John Young of Slough,
London, was declared
the world’s first
strip Poker champion in
a world record breaking
tournament in London.

Young, a 32-year-old freelance
writer, secured victory after
an eight hour competition and beat 194 Paddypower Poker other hopefuls, from twelve countries, at the World Strip Poker Championships in London’s Café Royal.

Young walked away with £10,000, a specially commissioned Golden Fig Leaf trophy and entry to the Paddypower Poker Irish Open where up to €2 million will be up for grabs. In addition the sponsor Paddypower promised to donate a further £10,000 to the charity of the winners choice, Cancer Research, after Young sportingly revealed all to the crowd.

The tournament reportedly started at 1pm as 195 hopefuls from over 12 countries struggled to keep their clothes on and carve themselves a place in history as part of a new official Guinness world record for the biggest Strip Poker Tournament ever.

“It’s brilliant; I can’t believe I’m in the Guinness Book of Records, I’m probably the hairiest Poker player as well in the Guinness Book of Records,” Young said, towel in tow.

Young, who emerged as the winner after eight hours at the Poker table, had a hard time bluffing.

“It was quite hard to bluff in the buff but luckily I kept my pocket aces hidden away,” Young said. “This was easily the most fun I’ve had at a Poker table,” he added.

Laura Barnett, who is one of the last standing women was from Stirling, Scotland, went out in a blaze of towel waving glory after a valiant effort at the table.

Originally, the said event was supposed to be an April Fools Day Story but after Paddypower Poker received several requests from Poker players all over the world, asking if they can take part, Paddypower Poker decided to run the tournament for real.

Reports said that aside from strict rules governing the Poker play, there were clear guidelines on the stripping element — organizers supplied each player with five items of clothing, which they used to buy chips – as they lost their chips they cashed in their clothes for more. Some even opted to strip from the bottom up and sat playing naked except for a cap covering who knows.

Paddy Power was thankful that the event was a success and is looking forward to another year of stripping.

“Sometimes I just love coming into work, the event was an amazing success considering it grew originally from an April Fools story,” Paddy Power said. “I’ve never seen so many people so eager to lose the shirt off their backs. Hopefully next year we’ll break our own record,” he added.