Local boy Dr Ganesh Rao won the fifth leg of the UK Poker Tour in Newcastle.

Rao, who hails from Sheffield but now lives on Tyneside, claimed the £57,175 first prize after beating a near 200 strong challenge.

Rao made great ground during the final table as Fraser MacIntyre lost what seemed to be an impregnable position.

The chip count going into the final saw MacIntyre lead with 885,900. James Akenhead (361,900), Ian Farrell (323,300), Mark Dalimore (205,100) and David Allan (186,000) were also ahead of Rao who had a mere 151,700.

Cheryl Routledge (104,500), Michael Hill (100,800) and Alan Vinnicombe (80,900) made up the rear and predictably made swift exits.

Hill won £7,550 for his seventh place finish while Vinnicombe and Routledge claimed £5,675 and £4,725 respectively for their eighth and ninth places.

But incredibly it was MacIntyre who was sixth albeit £9,450 richer. He saw his deep stack whittled away and went All-In against Dalimore who held pocket rockets to eliminate the man who was chip leader just a couple of hours earlier.

Another Scotsman Dave Allan had to settle for fifth after going All-In from the button with Ace-seven to met by a call from Dalimore who held out with a pair of pocket Queens.

Allan took home £12,275 and was to be followed out of the door by his nemesis Dalimore. The Englishman who now lives in the Czech Republic went All-In and was called by Farrell.

Dalimore had a pair of Kings but didn't receive any help from the board and had to settle for a cheque for £16,075.

Rao was trailing Farrell and Akenheand by over 300 thousand chips at the end of level 22 but had burst into the lead with Akenheand struggling by the conclusion of level 23.

And the Londoner eventually departed after going All-In with Farrell who took a massive chip lead with his pair of Queens. Akenhead won £23,625.

Mancunian Farrell, an online qualifier, was playing in his first major tournament but competed admirably in the heads-up against the more experienced Rao who was ninth on the UK Tour in Walsall last year.

The heads-up lasted nearly two hours with the chip lead fluctuating between the pair without anyone able to make the decisive killer blow.

Eventually it did come when Farrell made the gutsy move to go All-In with air, a five and a two to be precise, and Rao's pocket jacks held up to leave Farrell with £33,075 to take back to the North West.

Rao also received free entry to the £3,000 Grand Final in London plus a seat in the Champion of Champions tournament.

Angus MacKenzie / Eurosport