As we sit in the tranquil pool garden Courtyard at the Venetian, Las Vegas, the warm mid-afternoon sun is making David Benyamine smile. But the surroundings are just the tip of the iceberg as far as his grin is concerned. Benyamine is reputedly the biggest winner from the Big Game in 2006. Of all the success stories to come out of Bobby’s Room in the past 12 months, this guy stands proudly at the top the tree.

Over the two years he has been playing there, perhaps the biggest compliment to Benyamine’s talent is the praise he’s been getting from regulars such as Phil Ivey and Jennifer Harman.