Screenshot Saved in 2019 Delivers $1.17M Jackpot for Park Hill Resident 

By Val Matthias. Updated 12:09 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

A Park Hill man’s decision to hold onto a screenshot of lotto numbers from 2019 has finally paid off, earning him a EC$1.17 million jackpot from the National Lotteries Authority (NLA). 

Giovanni Blake, who has played the same set of numbers for years, said his winning sequence 1, 8, 9, 16, and 17, was first spotted during a draw in September 2019. He took a screenshot of the numbers at the time and committed to playing them consistently. 

“From then on, I have been playing them,” Blake explained at the cheque handover ceremony held at the NLA compound. “It’s been a long while, so now it’s my turn. It’s my blessing.” 

Blake, who purchased just two tickets on the winning night for EC$4, described his reaction to the life‑changing win as calm. “Feeling normal, I’m humbled,” he said, adding that he intends to remain grounded despite the magnitude of the prize. 

NLA Chairperson Luann Hadaway congratulated Blake, praising his humility and urging him to make thoughtful decisions about his newfound wealth. “Winning a million dollars is not a simple part of your life. It’s going to change your life drastically,” she said, encouraging him to invest wisely in education and property. 

The ceremony also recognized retailer Joy Samuel of Samuel Tool Rentals and Hardware, whose business sold the winning ticket, with a bonus of EC$17,550. 

Officials noted that Blake’s win is the second jackpot in the country’s lotto history to surpass the million‑dollar mark, following a record payout in 2020 of jackpot $1,685,000.

For Blake, persistence and a single screenshot from 2019 have now delivered a reward that will reshape his future.

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