Temple Hills resident Kurshad Alam is all smiles after taking home a $50,000 Powerball prize from the Aug. 12 drawing.
A Prince George’s County man was so close to hitting the $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot on Aug. 12, but is still very excited about the prize he did win: a third-tier $50,000 windfall.
Kurshad Alam was on his way to work earlier this month when he realized he had not played Powerball. The jackpot had grown to just over $1 billion and he had to make sure he was in the game, so he stopped at the Discount Tobacco Zone in Temple Hills and purchased one $2 quick pick Powerball ticket. Satisfied with his purchase, Kurshad headed to his job at a nearby mall.
The Powerball jackpot was hit that night. But, Kurshad found out about it the next day and to his surprise, he was part of the history-making moment. He checked his ticket at a Lottery retailer and realized he was one of 86 players who matched four white balls and the red Powerball winning a $50,000 third-tier prize. And, even more astonishing, he was the only Marylander to do so.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Kurshad. “I had to take a picture of the message on my phone.”
It was a picture he was excited to show Lottery officials when he claimed the prize on Aug. 26. It said, “Congratulations… $50,000 Winner.”
As the conversation with Lottery officials continued, the big winner said he has no initial plans for his windfall and will put his newfound wealth into savings until it’s needed.
Discount Tobacco Zone in Temple Hills, which sold the ticket, is at 3905 Branch Avenue.
During that recent Powerball jackpot run, the top prize grew to $1.04 billion before being hit in Illinois on Aug. 12. It was the eighth largest jackpot in Powerball history.
