Irish Poker Championship Winner - Jude Ainsworth from Galway takes the crown
The Irish party town of Galway was the setting for the first big poker tourney of 2008, the Irish Poker Championships. 343 runners paid €2,000 buy-in for the main event.
The ambassador of poker, Mike Sexton, made an appearance but was felted rather early on Day 2 when he ran into red-hot Keith McFadden's quad deuces. In fact, Keith had the chip lead since Day 1 and wouldn't relinquish it until about an hour into the final table. He would eventually go out in 6th place and take home €18,000.
Many eyes were on WSOP bracelet winner Ciaran O'Leary, who also looked dangerous heading into the later stages of the competition but he wound up finishing in 13th place, good for €6,000.
Here's how things shaped up heading into the final table:
1. Keith McFadden (Donegal) 698,000 2. Jude Ainsworth (Galway) 527,000 3. Trevor Dineen (Cork) 385,000 4. Tommy Watson (Athlone) 300,000 5. Bernard Brady (Galway) 300,000 6. Michael Moran (London) 296,000 7. Michael McCool (Enniskillen) 249,000 8. Glen McCabe (Lurgan) 150,000
The evening would belong to Ainsworth, who seemed to have the entire town of Galway behind him. It was all over roughly one hour into the heads-up segment when Englishman Michael McCool called Ainsworth's all-in. McCool flipped over pocket fives and Ainsworth would need help from the board with his 8D 10D. He would get it as the flop came 9S JD AD giving Ainsley several outs with both the flush and straight draws. The turn came up QH making the river irrelevant, and a champ was declared. Click here to qualify online now for the Paddypowerpoker Irish Poker Open 2008