A SOUTHEND poker ace is celebrating in style after finishing fourth in a major poker tournament and winning £12,000.

Jordan Jenkins, 30, chalked up his biggest success in the opening event of the 888poker Live London Festival, against 887 other players.

Jordan only took up playing Texas Hold ‘Em four years ago and in the past his winnings have been between £1,000 and £1,500.

Jordan, who lives on the seafront, says he fell in love with the strategy and the challenge of the game and was thrilled by the fourth place finish.

Jordan said: “It was an incredible experience.

“Getting such a great result hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“I was running on adrenalin.

“Players who had made the second day of the tournament started playing at 1pm on Sunday and it didn’t finish until just after 3am on Monday morning.

“I was unbelievably tired but with so much at stake I somehow managed to keep concentrating. It was amazing considering before we even got to the money stage of the top 90 players I had very few chips.”