In a battle that went down to the final hand, a Florida player edged out two New Jersey veterans -- including last September's defending champion -- to win Royal Caribbean's Spring Invitational Blackjack Tournament aboard Explorer of the Seas.

The first-prize winner, Milt B., was among the 21 participants -- chosen from the top players in the First Invitational Tournament aboard Navigator of the Seas and joined by a dozen newcomers selected from VIP players aboard other Royal Caribbean ships -- invited to take part in the spring tournament.

Top prize in Royal Caribbean's Spring Invitational Tournament started out at $7,500. But when tough cards turned the early qualifying rounds on May 1st into a near-total wipeout, with Milt B. on top after three rounds despite an anemic score of 1,800, a number of the invitees decided to buy tickets for a second bid to qualify for the final round, driving the posted first-prize money up to $10,750.

Seven of the 21 made it into the finals with the high qualifying score posted by Anthony R. Alonso of Fairfield, NJ, who walked away with the top prize of $12,730 in the 1st Annual Royal Caribbean Blackjack Invitational Tournament last September.

In the championship round on May 5th, Anthony jumped out to an early lead. But late in the battle, Milt B. and A.J. Cosimano slipped past him, setting up a three-way showdown. On the final hand, A.J. made a bold bid for the lead. But the cards weren't with him, and Milt B. held on for first, with A.J. finishing second and Anthony placing third.

Participants in the tournament -- who had a chance to get to know each other during evening play after fighting it out in the first round (photos at left and below) -- seemed unanimous in hoping to be invited back to the next Royal Caribbean Invitational Blackjack Tournament slated to be held on Mariner of the Seas in October.

All 21 members of the Royal Caribbean VIP players club cruised this week as the line's expense-paid guests.

In addition to putting in a lot of hours at the blackjack tables, tournament participants and their guests had a chance to swap casino war stories at several private receptions hosted by Explorer's Casino Royale.

During non-casino hours, there was also the opportunity to partake in a variety of activities on Explorer's port calls in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Maarten; St. Thomas; and Nassau, Bahamas.