From the Scene: Strip Poker

Aug. 20 - World's first ever strip poker championship took place in London's Cafe Royal.

Up to 200 strip poker players competed on Saturday to see who would lose their shirts -- and more -- and who would scoop 10,000 pounds by retaining their clothes and modesty.

The event was organised by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.

Aside from strict rules governing the poker play, there are clear guidelines on the stripping element -- most importantly that each player starts the match by wearing five items of clothing supplied by the organisers.

Each contestant has been given a towel to sit on and to cover themselves when naked, but only after they have stripped completely.

The competition was won by John Young.

Reuters reporter Emmy Dexel sends this from London.

SOUNDBITE: PADDY POWER, ORGANISER, SAYING (English):
"It started off as an April Fool's joke. On April 1st, every year we send out a press release saying that we're gonna do something crazy. Like sometimes we're gonna paint a horse green in the Grand National but this year we pretended that we're gonna have a strip poker tournament and suddenly we were inundated with people calling in and asking how do we play, when is it on, how do we register and so we said we better do this for real. So four months later, here we are."

SOUNDBITE: ANDREW, CONTESTANT, SAYING (English):
"Uhm, not too good actually in the strip poker stakes." HOW DID THIS HAPPEN "I think a run of cockiness, excuse the pun, and just a bad run of cards."

SOUNDBITE: OLIVER, CONTESTANT, SAYING (English):
"Yeah, strip poker, yeah a little bit of strip poker here and there, but never on such a scale." (Q: How did that start, at parties?) "At parties, a few drinks and then get the poker going get the ladies round and then you know, it all happens from there."

SOUNDBITE: JOHN, THE WINNER, SAYING (English):
"It's brilliant, I can't believe I'm in the Guinness Book of Records, I'm probably the hairiest poker player as well in the Guinness Book of Records."