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Bryn Mawr cashes in at Vegas poker

Is Bryn Mawr the poker capital of Pennsylvania? For the second straight year, the ritzy Main Line suburb has produced a big money winner at the Las Vegas World Series of Poker.

Is Bryn Mawr the poker capital of Pennsylvania?

For the second straight year, the ritzy Main Line suburb has produced a big money winner at the Las Vegas World Series of Poker.

Businessman Eric Brooks, a founder and former director of the financial titan Susquehanna International Group, won $415,856 playing seven-card stud Monday after starting with a $10,000 ante and beating a host of big-name poker stars. Brooks was named a World Series of Poker winner.

Last year, Beth Shak of Bryn Mawr took home $328,683 by coming in second in a no-limit hold 'em event.

Brooks said he will give away his winnings to the Decision Education Foundation, a charity that says it tries to "improve the lives of young people by teaching them how to make better decisions." It sponsors workshops to train teachers and mentors.

Brooks is a board member. So is Annie Duke, the former Penn doctoral student turned high-rolling poker champ.

Unless he also donates it, Brooks gets to keep the gold World Series of Poker event winner's bracelet.Contact staff writer Derrick Nunnally at 610-313-8212 or dnunnally@phillynews.com.