By XAVIER SMERDON
A WYNDHAM Vale man has experienced an amazing change of fortune by winning a major poker tournament.
Matthew Kozole, who was born and raised in Altona Meadows but now lives in Wyndham Vale, beat 540 other card sharks to be crowned the winner of the The Main Event poker tournament at Crown Casino and took home $100,000 in cash and prizes.
The three day tournament, held from Friday 28 February to Sunday 2 March, was the 21-year-old’s first major competition.
Mr Kozole told Star that last September his mother passed away suddenly, creating an emotional and financial strain on his family.
“I lost my mum one week after we moved to Wyndham Vale, so it’s been a pretty difficult time for my dad and sister and me,” Mr Kozole said.
“I felt like she was there with me during the competition. This is really life changing money for us.”
Mr Kozole said he planned to use the money to make him debt free by paying off his car and also to support his family.
The money would also go towards a trip to the USA with his girlfriend.
In the end it was a pair of two’s that won the competition for Mr Kozole and he said he could not have been happier with his performance.
“I was really relieved it was over and I was the champion,” he said.
“To play for so long you don’t want to finish second or third.”
Mr Kozole honed his skills by playing at the Tigers Clubhouse and The Brook in Point Cook.
As part of his prize he took home an $8,000 diamond bracelet and a $10,600 seat at Australia’s biggest poker tournament, the Aussie Millions Main Event.
