A WREXHAM man who runs a successful poker league has scooped a top award.

And Steve Bellis nearly didn’t get the award thanks to some confusion getting the train to London.

He and his friend were waiting for a train to Marylebone at Ruabon but the train did not stop there.

“We had to drive over to Chirk with seconds to spare,” said the business entrepreneur who appeared on Dragon’s Den in 2006.

“Luckily the train was running 20 minutes late so we were ok.”

Steve, of Bersham, made it to the swanky do The Kensington Close Hotel in plenty of time and was delighted when his business – The Nuts Poker League – was branded Best Poker League.

Voted for by the public more than 3000 votes had been cast over the previous few weeks online at the official British Poker Awards website.

The awards kicked off presented by world renowned American professional Poker player and magician Antonio Esfandiari who had jetted in from Helsinki.

Steve Bellis, who runs the business at Bersham Enterprise Park, said “I am very proud to receive the award for Best Poker League.

“I was so delighted to win the award that after the TV interview I ran around the room with the trophy aloft and was later told by Bluff Europe Editor and awards organiser Michael Caselli that I was the happiest recipient on the night.”

Steve went on Dragon’s Den in 2006 and was the first entrepreneur to be offered more investment than he asked for.

He continued: “This award reflects all of the hard work by everyone involved in our poker community and is dedicated to our players, organisers and the venues’ effort put into making our league a friendly night out for our players, who return week in, week out as they enjoy the community spirit we create and also have the chance to win major prizes at our regional and national finals.”

The Nuts Poker League was the first to bring live poker to the masses and now boasts over 500 pubs and clubs who host events.

Players play in their local pub or club for points and the top players get to play in larger regional events, which then lead on to national events where large cash prizes are on offer.