South Carolina priest Andrew Trapp has sensationally won up to a quarter of a million dollars after playing in the PokerStars.com Million Dollar challenge. The assistant pastor was one of 10,000 players in the tournament and courtesy of finishing in the top ten he now has the chance to win $1 million in the grand final in December.

Rev. Trapp is not playing for personal gain however, the $25,000 already banked will be donated to St MichaelÂ's Catholic Church where he is based. The church needs to raise $100,000 for major a building project and Trapp has assured them that he will deliver the money should he win it in the next stage of the competition.

Understandably the priest was well supported, with the locals turning up sporting custom mad t-shirts that read "We're cheering for the poker-playing priest". They were particularly impressed to see Trapp outlast several big stars to win at the finale.

Poker heavyweight Daniel Negreanu, a familiar name to followers of the game was also playing in the Million Dollar Challenge, but was unable to outlast his less illustrious opponent. Trapp personally knocked him out after Negreanu missed his straight draw and Trapp capitalised with top pair.

Negreanu has now been pencilled in to coach Trapp through to the PokerStars.com finale in December to give him better chance of taking home the grand prize, and presumably making a lot of South Carolina Church goers very happy.

Dan Stephens