British poker player says he was assaulted after game

Sam Trickett, the British poker player who won $10.1 million as runner-up in the World Series of Poker's "Big One for One Drop" event, was reportedly assaulted outside of a Las Vegas club Wednesday morning, hours after the game ended.

"Was having a great day until 6 guys did this to me. Seriously WTF? Couldn't be more angry #cowards." Trickett, 26, posted on Twitter, along with a photo of his face showing cuts, bruises and a bloody gash across his nose.

Trickett was out celebrating his second-place finish in the $1 million buy-in event with a friend, Natasha Sandhu. As they were leaving a club he didn't identify, six men assaulted them, he said.

Later, Trickett wrote on Twitter, "Is this what happens if you're successful? Literally beat the s*** out of me and spit in Natasha's face all over nothing."

Sandhu wrote on her Twitter account, "It wasn't a mugging or anything just over nothing. Sam is fine ... gonna spend some quality time together now."

Las Vegas Police spokesman Bill Cassell said that as of Friday morning Trickett had not filed a police report. Cassell said the department had received "a number of media inquiries" about the incident, but nothing has shown up in Metro's system.

Trickett could not be reached for comment Friday.

Trickett, who has cashed 11 times in the World Series of Poker, was runner-up to Antonio Esfandiari in the event that drew 48 players who paid the $1 million buy-in. Eleven percent of the proceeds went to the One Drop water conservation and awareness charity.

Trickett is a former plumber from Nottingham, England, who was also a professional soccer player until a knee injury derailed his career. He has been playing poker since 2005.

Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.