A GORSEINON poker player is holding all the aces after "taking out" a table of top pros to bank $120,000.

Roberto Romanello outplayed five fellow players, who had combined winnings of nearly $20 million, at the televised event in Cardiff.

Mr Romanello, aged 33, of High Street, picked up a pile of wad for his troubles and a celebratory bar tab that night.

He said he was delighted to have been invited to participate in the event. The other competitors are unlikely to be sharing his enthusiasm.

And Mr Romanello said it was his ability to see through those competitors' poker faces which helped him win.

"I took the whole table out," said Mr Romanello. "It was winner-takes-all. You don't get anything for second place."

The battle began early in the afternoon and concluded after midnight.

"I knew I could do it," said Mr Romanello. "I was very calm, and didn't flinch. And I knew I was doing well.

"It was pretty special. I had just defeated the best players in the world." Mr Romanello admitted it was hard to always produce his "A game".

But his tournament winnings now amount to $880,000 — not a bad return considering he only started playing poker in 2006 after breaking his leg during a football match for local team Garden Village AFC.

He travels a lot after becoming a full-time player two years ago, but still helps out the family-run Roma Fish Bar in Gorseinon, when he's at home.

He said he'd made a lot of friends on the circuit, but that winning came first when he was at the poker table.

Asked what made him a good player, he said much of it was down to reading competitors' body language.

"If they flinch, or say something — or the way they say something — might make me think they've got nothing, or that they're strong."

Mr Romanello's victory is screened on Channel 4's Poker Lounge show this coming Tuesday.

richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk