Easter Monday Payday

Published: Thursday, April 20, 2006 Online-Casinos.com

EASTER MONDAY PAYDAY

Dublin player takes the Irish Open Poker title

With the Euro 350 000 winner's cheque in his pocket, Dubliner Vincent Melinn was on top of the world this week after being crowned the current Irish Open Poker champion.

Live on Sky Sports television, Melinn (54) beat the 6-player final table at the Royal Dublin Society. The champ is an accountant who had only played one live tournament before, and he fought his way through to the final table against a field of 350 players, including a number of top pros, at the sold out event which was sponsored by Paddy Power Poker (see previous Online-Casinos.com reports).

The final table consisted of Melinn, Ian Woodley, Brendan Ruane of Ireland, Jon Wong from the UK and Conor Smyth and Paul Daly - both Irish players.

For Melinn it was the title more than the money: "It's not about the money for me, it's about the title. I've only ever played one tournament before and went out in that in my first hand, but I knew from the early stages of this game I had a chance and I'm really so proud to have my name on the trophy."

Englishman Ian Woodley, who hails from South London took home the second place prize of Euro 182 000.

With a Euro 1 million guaranteed prize pool, this 25th annual Irish Open poker tournament took place over Easter Weekend at Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel in Dublin. Known as one of the richest events on the international poker circuit, the tournament boasted an additional Euro 50 000 in sponsorship money and a Euro 3 200 buy-in.