LANSING, April 20, 2000 — Mark Smith of Detroit is celebrating in a big way after winning a top prize in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game! He matched the first five numbers in the April 14 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 2, 17, 24, 39, 40 and the Big Money Ball number was 29.

"I picked up a winning number report from the store and checked my tickets while standing there at the store," Smith said. "I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I was so surprised! I tried not to be noticeably excited because I didn’t want everyone at the store to know what I had won."

When not playing chess, the Detroit man said he enjoys playing Michigan Lottery games. He added that he has been playing Lottery games for the past 27 years, and he truly enjoys the wide variety of games offered. Smith purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Italian Village Market, 26755 Van Dyke Ave., in Center Line.

The lucky man said he plans to use his winnings to make home improvements and buy new vehicles for himself and his wife.

Smith offered the following words of wisdom to other Lottery hopefuls: "Just keep the faith and be patient. Chances happen to all of us at one time or another, and I feel fortunate chance came upon me!"

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets can be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is Friday, April 21, with an estimated jackpot of $66 million.

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