Greg Merson, an A student who dropped out of the University of Maryland and beat a drug addiction has also now beaten the table to win the World Series of Poker, outlasting eight other players to win $8.5 million.

His parents, who had traveled to Las Vegas from Laurel, Maryland to witness the finals which started on Monday, rushed the table to hug and congratulate him as confetti flowed from above.

(READ the story from the Washington Post)