TimesPool: Two loyal Sunday Times readers split $170,000 jackpot

Two loyal readers of The Sunday Times are the latest lucky winners of TimesPool and will split a whopping $170,000 jackpot between them.

Damien Hawkins and Vic Hawkins (unrelated) were informed of their win on Friday. Both are long-term subscribers and entered the competition online, meaning they received an additional $7000.

Vic — who has been a subscriber for two years — says he has been playing Timespool “since its inception”.

“I’ve been playing since the ’80s,” he said. “I’m on a pension so it will come in handy for something . . . I might fix up the house.”

Damien — who has been playing for “10 to 15 years” — said he and his wife were “excited”.

“We have no idea what we want to do with the money yet, possibly a holiday to Europe,” he said.

“I haven’t been to Europe for a few years so that would be nice.”

Their advice on how to win? Stick with the same letters.

“We’ve stuck with the same letters the whole time, so eventually your letters will come up,” Damien said.

Vic said he had been playing the same letters “week after week”.

“I’ll change up the letters now because they won’t come up again,” he said.

It comes almost exactly two years since last TimesPool jackpot was drawn.

In November 2022, a 74-year-old Hazelmere resident pocked $52,000 after diligently trying his luck for nearly 40 years.

Punters can try their luck in TimesPool by entering the competition each week in The Sunday Times.

Participants need to choose six letters and write them in alphabetical order, before choosing seventh “Super Seven Bonus” letter.