ADELPHI, MD — An Adelphi woman, known only by her alias “Ping Pong Champ,” has joined the ranks of Maryland Lottery millionaires after winning $1 million in the Mega Millions draw on June 6.
The Prince George’s County resident discovered her fortune when checking her lottery tickets at the Aspen Hill Citgo in Silver Spring, where she initially purchased them. Alongside a $3 winning ticket, she found that her quick-pick ticket secured a million-dollar prize. In a practical move, “Ping Pong Champ” cashed out the smaller prize, bought another Mega Millions ticket and a scratch-off, then stowed the million-dollar ticket in a safe place before going about her day.
“Ping Pong Champ,” an avid table tennis enthusiast, regularly plays various Maryland Lottery games without favoring any particular one. She adheres to a strict lottery budget, choosing games on impulse. Her disciplined approach paid off massively with this latest win, which she described as one of the “big ones,” although she remains hopeful for an even bigger future prize.
With her winnings, “Ping Pong Champ” plans to purchase a townhouse to escape the crowded conditions of her current neighborhood in the D.C. suburbs. Despite her newfound wealth, she has no immediate plans to retire, quipping that another win might change her mind.
The lottery retailer will also benefit from this lucky event, receiving a $2,500 bonus for selling the winning ticket — the first $1 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Maryland in 2024. “Ping Pong Champ” and her husband, who were together when she claimed her prize, have kept the news within a close circle, cherishing their privacy as they plan their next steps.