(OCT 25) Poland’s top television journalist and former light welterweight female world champion Agnieszka Rylik has stunned the world of poker by finishing runner-up in her opening heat of the world famous Party Poker Late Night Poker TV tournament. As well as being a massive achievement for someone who was a beginner at the game, it is also the first time a Pole has achieved so much in a major tournament.

Aga only learned poker very recently, after lessons with world famous poker ambassador Mike Sexton in Las Vegas and wasn’t expected to do very well in a field that featured the world's best players who have won tens of millions of dollars between them. Aga's stunning finish means she enters the semi- final of PartyPoker Late Night Poker on Friday in Cardiff, UK. The tournament will be broadcast on major broadcaster Channel 4 in the UK and will be shown on travels around the world so millions will see Aga's brilliant performance.

The UK's Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott was one of Aga's victims. The Devilfish held pocket Aces with Aga holding Ace-Six but Poland's finest hit a straight on the river to send Europe's most famous poker player to the rail. Devilfish is one of the toughest, hardest and intimidating players in the world but Aga put him on the canvas.

If Aga goes through to the final from the semi-final she is guaranteed a share of $325,000, which is amazing in her first poker game.

Aga said: “I’m thrilled but I think I should have really won my heat as I was in a strong position but I made some errors. I am very happy with my performance though and look forward to trying to win my way into the final. I certainly wasn’t scared of any of these top poker players even though they tried to talk me into making mistakes.”

A PartyPoker spokesman said: "Aga's achievement is fantastic. Not only did she beat the top professionals as a beginner she is also the first Pole to punch above her weight in such a big tournament."

"PartyPoker Late Night Poker was the first television programme to use under the table cameras and is the show that started the poker boom around the world."

Despite her stunning success at a new field, Rylik did not forget about boxing. She says she will return to the ring next year, as soon as she heals a knee injury.

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