Poker is a game traditionally associated with gangsters sitting around a table in a cigar-filled back room.

But it has come out of the casinos and on to television screens as 36 players battle it out in the Poker Millions Masters.

Bruce Atkinson beat five other players on Friday night in a nail-biting match to win his heat and make it to the finals of the competition shown on Sky.

Mr Atkinson of Ditchling Road, Brighton, will play against Tony Bloom, grandson of the late vice chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion, Harry Bloom and snooker player Steve Davis.

Snooker player Jimmy White is also taking part in the competition for a top prize of $150,000 to mark the game's American roots.

Everyone who has made it to the final has already won $20,000 after staking $10,000 - about £6,500 - each to enter.

Mr Atkinson, 57, who owns Atkinson Chartered Accountants in Hove, is known as Elvis Senior in the city's poker circles and will occasionally dress up for games to raise money for charity.

On Friday night however, he wore a sleek blazer and his trademark shades.

Mr Atkinson started playing poker ten years ago with friends. Hooked, he began to get involved in tournaments and progressed to national and international levels.

His wins have run into thousand of pounds. As runner-up in the European championships in 1997 he scooped £23,000 and last year he won £13,700 in the Northern Lights Championships.

He said: "It is keeping the mind occupied as it involves calculating the odds. As soon as the card is turned over the odds are different.

"In some tournaments you have more than 100 players. To beat 99 players gives me a buzz. I like to be competitive.

"My wife Sally shares my excitement but she doesn't like to be a gambler's moll."

The final will be screened on March 14 at 8pm live on Sky Sports One. A heat is being shown each Friday evening up until the final on the channel.