Retired NY Cop Wins Fox $1M Challenge

A retired officer from the New York City Police Department has won Fox TV's Poker Stars Million Dollar Challenge after beating some of the world's best players at the final table.

Although the season finale will not go to air until this coming Sunday, Mike Kosowski's victory over poker pro Daniel Negreanu was leaked to the New York Post, whose editors were more than happy to publish the news of the local's surprise victory.

Kosowski, 53, began playing poker online after retiring from service due to wounds sustained in the 9/11 terror attacks on New York City. Kosowski had received burns and injuries to his neck and back after the South Tower collapsed while he was helping evacuate survivors from the building.

But things have clearly taken a turn for the better for Kosowski, who said he was on an emotional high every day after beating four-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Negreanu.

"I said this guy's a pro, if he gets a chance to read me he's going to pick me off," Kosowski told the New York Post following the upset win. "So being a detective sergeant, I knew I couldn't let that happen."

The Million Dollar Challenge premiered on October 11, and featured such contestants as American football champion Jerome Bettis, former Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole (picture below), and South Carolina priest Andrew Trapp - who was playing for the noble cause of raising money to build a church for his congregation.