Octopus nets £500,000
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ByEurosport
Updated 12/07/2010 at 09:23 GMT
Bookies were left counting the cost of Octopus Paul's eighth successive correct match prediction at the World Cup, with William Hill estimating that the mollusc's claimed psychic powers had cost them £500,000.
octopus paul
Image credit: Imago
The octopus correctly tipped the outcome of all seven of Germany's matches at the World Cup, as well as the final between Spain and the Netherlands.
Punters backing each of his calls with a £10 bet would have won £200 over the course of the tournament - and £3,000 if they had re-invested the winnings with each successive gamble.
"Picking all of Germany's victories, their two defeats, and Spain's World Cup final triumph was one of the finest tipping feats ever," said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Paddy Power reported that punters favoured the Dutch in pre-match betting on the final - up until Paul made his prediction from the Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium on Friday, after which betting slid in favour of the Spanish.
The octopus has become an international celebrity following his run of successful predictions, with a pair of Spanish businessmen reported to have offered £25,000 to buy him.
"We can but hope Paul has gone to a rest home for retired octopi by the time the next World Cup gets under way," added Sharpe.
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