A man who quit semi-professional football to focus on poker is returning to Las Vegas for a tournament where the winner bags $10 million.

Billy Chattaway, 28, is a former Ravens Wood School pupil who has earned thousands of pounds from his bedroom.

He spends most nights playing online poker on US time and can earn up to £10,000 per month.

Billy used to be a footballer for Sutton United and at one time worked in a bank in Liverpool Street before chucking it in.

"It got to the point where poker was taking away from football," Billy told News Shopper.

"I was having late nights, being up at unsociable hours and playing football three times a week."

Billy’s life changed when he was 25 and won his biggest single payday to date - £260,000.

"I was in my mum’s basement," he laughed. "It was day two of the tournament and I said to mum and dad I’m going to be in this room all day and don’t talk to me."

The whole family was watching by the end as Billy scooped the life-changing money.

He said he proved to his family, who once questioned his career choice, that he could invest wisely by buying a house in Keston.

His reputation skyrocketed last year after Team UK, a group of three players including Billy, won an international tournament.

In the individual competition of World Series of Poker Main Event he finished 652nd of 7,000 and made it to day four of the gruelling seven-day game.

"I cashed $21,750 for that after originally investing 109 dollars through 888poker," Billy said. "When you get knocked out there is always that feeling you could have done better though."

News Shopper:

Billy intends to go further in the competition this July and his success with Team England has ensured that his flights and accommodation are all paid for.

However, the poker player warned others hoping to make money quickly that you can go up to six months without earning a penny.

He said: "It is a lot of time and effort. What they say is that it takes a day to learn and a lifetime to master.

"I’ve been doing it well over 10 years and besides playing 10 hours a day you also have to study for two hours a few times a week too."

Billy said he had no plans of retiring from poker any time soon.

"I have no plans of quitting. As I get older I would like to invest time and energy elsewhere and maybe play a bit more sociably.

"But I will always play. It’s not like a professional sportsmen whose legs give up at 35. Players wer playing at a very high level at 80."

Billy will be in Vegas for the 50th anniversary of the World Series Of Poker Main Event.