Poker pals flushed with success as £3,600 raised for Bridgnorth's 'Mad' Marty
A poker legend's pals laid their cards on the table by turning out in force to raise cash to support him in his cancer battle.
More than 170 players attended a benefit tournament for Bridgnorth's 'Mad' Marty Wilson, which raised nearly £3,500.
Players came from as far as Ireland to support 62-year-old Marty, who has pancreatic cancer, at the competition at Walsall's Grosvenor Casino.
Originally from Wolverhampton, Marty has earned a reputation as a hilarious raconteur. As well as being a regular on the Late Night Poker TV series, he has also done after dinner speaking for Manchester United.
He won several top tournaments over the years including a Carnival of Poker in Rio, where he won $171,000, and he has taught celebrities including Tom Cruise, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Helen Chamberlain and Michael Greco to play the game.
Brilliant
His friend of nearly 30 years Frank Deeming, who helped organise the tournament, said: "Marty is a very well known character and they were all there to support him.
"He's a big name on the poker scene. He's done a lot of work with Barry Hearn. He's such a popular fella and a brilliant storyteller, Barry set him up doing after dinner speaking for Manchester United and others.
"It's been a massive boost to Marty to know that so many people are behind him."
A Go Fund Me page has also set been up for Marty with an initial target of £5,000, but the online fundraiser has already attracted £8,000 in donations including one of £1,000 from multiple World Series winner Phil Hellmuth from America.
Adam Evans, manager at Grosvenor Casino, said: "It was a fantastic event, I only wish we had a bigger venue. Everyone in there had some encounter with Marty before. It was all good spirits. You can tell Marty is well loved and admired in the poker fraternity."
