A TRIO of poker players enjoyed home advantage to scoop more than £50,000 in prize money at a major tournament.

Professional player James Dempsey took the top title at the two-day Grand Prix Poker Tour event, taking home £30,500 and the winner's trophy.

James, 33, from Brighton has won more than £2 million since he started playing full-time 14 years ago.

More than 2,000 players took part in the Texas hold‘em tournament with a prize pool of more than $250,000 at the American Express Community Stadium.

James is a massive Brighton and Hove Albion fan and said it helped to play at the home of his beloved Seagulls.

He said: "It's incredible that the event was played out just a few feet from where my season ticket in in the West Stand.

“I usually only ever play poker tournaments in casinos - I hope Brighton will have had similar success in nine months time."

Taking third place and £12,000 was Seth Webber, 35, another full-time player, who was cheered on by his partner, 26-year-old bar manager Mirka Beresova. The couple live in Hove.

But the biggest smile of the day was on the youthful face of 25-year-old James Alsop from Portslade who took home almost £10,000 after entering the tournament for free.

Most competitors paid the £83 buy-in to compete for the guaranteed $250,000 pot, but James took advantage of a promotional offer being held at a qualifying tournament.

Playing online on Friday evening, he found organisers partypoker had refunded his entry fee.

The youngster, who works for the DVLA, and lives with his poker-playing partner, Shana Casaletto, 42, said he was ecstatic about the biggest win of his life.

"It's fantastic. It hasn't cost me a penny to take part and I am going home with more than £9,000. What a result! he said.

Tom Waters, boss of partypoker, said: "All three players did brilliantly to finish in the top slots against a strong field of players. It was fantastic to see them turn their £83 entry tickets into big money paydays."