US player wins $10.4 million poker title after marathon session

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A professional US player, Greg Merson, became World Series of Poker champion Wednesday after a marathon 13-hour final session, organisers said.

The 24-year-old took home US$8,531,853 (S$10,415,787) and the Series' gold bracelet following an all-night game in Las Vegas involving 400 hands, against fellow finalists Jesse Sylvia and Jake Balsiger.

Merson said he plans to travel to Chinese gambling capital Macau to play in high-stakes cash games, instead of traveling the circuit to compete in grueling tournaments.

"That's what I'm looking forward to doing the most - getting in the biggest cash games in the world," he said, cited by the Las Vegas Sun newspaper, adding: "And not losing all my money."