2023 Irish Open

€1,150 Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info

2023 Irish Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k10
Prize
€365,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€1,150
Prize Pool
€2,428,725
Entries
2,491
Level Info
Level
41
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Players Info - Day 4
Entries
16
Players Left
1

€1,150 Main Event

Day 4 Completed

David Docherty Wins €1,150 Irish Open Main Event After Qualifying Online (€365,000)

Level 41 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
David Docherty
David Docherty

The €1,150 Irish Open Main Event, running at the Royal Dublin Society, has now concluded and a winner has been confirmed.

The tournament attracted a total of 2,491 entrants, making for a prize pool of €2,428,475, the biggest Irish Open Main Event and biggest poker tournament ever held in Ireland.

After qualifying for the event online in a PokerStars €109 satellite, David Docherty emerged as the outright winner. To his delight, he walked away with the trophy and €365,000, as well as taking his place in Irish poker history.

Declan Rice came second in the event for €228,700 and in third place was Panagiotis Mavritsakis, who earned €161,500.

€1,150 Irish Open Main Event Final Table Winners

PositionPlayerCountryPrize
1David DochertyUK€365,000
2Declan RiceIreland€228,700
3Panagiotis MavritsakisGreece€161,500
4Tom WatersUK€124,500
5Andy BlackIreland€95,500
6Eugeniu BarbarosMoldova€73,500
7Carl ShawUK€56,500
8Henri OjalaFinland€43,500

Benny Glaser, who won the €5,000 High Roller earlier in the series for €106,980, was among those who made it to the Final Day, crashing out shortly before the final table in 10th place after taking a bad beat against Declan Rice.

Also on the final table was Andy Black. He is second on the all-time money list in Ireland according to Hendon Mob. Had he finished the Main Event in fourth place, he would have moved up to the top spot. In the end, he finished fifth. That top spot may well be his soon, but it won't be tonight.

Docherty started Day 2 as the chip leader and continued to build his stack to make the final table in third position. He faced Irishman Rice in the heads-up battle.

Rice had held the chip lead for most of the Final Day, including the moment the final table kicked off. But by the time it came to heads-up, it was Docherty who had a massive chip advantage. No deal could be reached, meaning there was all to play for with €136,300 difference between first and second.

David Docherty
David Docherty

After 50-minutes of play, an intense split pot sweat, and a hand that brought it all even again, Docherty won a huge double up to take a commanding chip lead.

A few moments later, Docherty called Declan’s big blind shove and held up to win the tournament. With that, the glory and first place prize money was his.

Docherty grinned and threw his hands up in delight, a look of pure joy on his face as he lifted the Irish Open Main Event trophy.

David Docherty
David Docherty

Tags: Andy BlackBenny GlaserCarl ShawDavid DochertyDeclan RiceEugeniu BarbarosHenri OjalaPanagiotis MavritsakisTom Waters

Declan Rice Eliminated In 2nd Place (€228,700)

Level 41 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Declan Rice
Declan Rice

After 50-minutes of heads-up play, Declan Rice shoved all in from the button for 6,375,000, which was around seven big blinds. David Docherty called in the big blind and players flipped their cards. Rice was the short stacked player and so he was at risk of elimination.

Declan Rice: {j-Spades}{2-Clubs}
David Docherty: {k-Hearts}{10-Hearts}

The board ran out {8-Hearts}{6-Clubs}{2-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}{6-Spades}. Rice hit a deuce on the flop, which brought cheers and gasps from players on the rail.

The river double-paired the board and counterfeited Rice's hand, giving Docherty two pair with the king high. Again, audible gasps sounded out from around the room.

Docherty threw his hands up in the air with a huge grin on his face, the thrill of the moment overcoming him as it sank in that he had just won the €1,150 Irish Open Main Event.

Declan Rice was eliminated in second place for €228,700.

Player Chips Progress
David Docherty gb
David Docherty
73,525,000
9,375,000
9,375,000
Declan Rice ie
Declan Rice
Busted

Tags: David DochertyDeclan Rice

Docherty Doubles, Takes Commanding Chip Lead

Level 41 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

A huge pot just occurred between the final two contenders.

David Docherty made it 2,400,000 from the button and Declan Rice called from the big blind.

The flop of {5-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{j-Spades} was dealt and Docherty continuation-bet for two million chips. Rice then responded with a check-raise to 5,000,000, which Docherty called.

All the signs of a big hand were in the air as the {8-Hearts} turn was put on the felt. Rice continued with another bet, this time of 6,000,000. Again, Docherty obliged with a call.

The river was the {3-Hearts} and Rice checked the flush-completing card. Docherty thought for a little while before moving all in for a bet worth 18,075,000. Rice responded with a rapid call and all onlookers spectated the situation in awe.

David Docherty: {a-Hearts}{k-Hearts}
Declan Rice: {k-Clubs}{8-Clubs}

Docherty rivered the nuts against Rice's turned two pair. He now has a six-to-one chip lead, with Rice being left with only eight big blinds.

Player Chips Progress
David Docherty gb
David Docherty
64,150,000
28,175,000
28,175,000
Declan Rice ie
Declan Rice
9,375,000
-28,175,000
-28,175,000

Even Battle as Rice Hits Ace from Space

Level 41 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

For the second time this heads up all the chips were in the middle. Declan Rice limped his button before David Docherty announced his all-in from the big blind. Rice called and their cards were announced to the spectators.

Declan Rice: {a-Clubs}{7-Diamonds}
David Docherty: {2-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}

Docherty was one big flip away from winning the 2023 Irish Open Main Event and the tension rose as the dealer put forth the flop.

{k-Spades}{10-Hearts}{5-Diamonds} was clean for Docherty's ducks, and so was the {3-Hearts} turn. Only needing to fade an ace or a seven, his friends were getting ready to celebrate his impending victory.

However, Rice hit a classic ''Barry Greenstein'' when the {a-Spades} appeared on the river. Rice doubled up the players are now playing virtually the same stack as the battle goes on.

Player Chips Progress
Declan Rice ie
Declan Rice
37,550,000
17,375,000
17,375,000
David Docherty gb
David Docherty
35,975,000
-14,875,000
-14,875,000

Level: 41

Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000

Ante: 1,200,000

Docherty Chops Pot With Seven Deuce

Level 40 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

As heads-up heated up, David Docherty raised from the button to 2,000,000 with {7-Clubs}{2-Spades} and Declan Rice called in the big blind with {10-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}.

The flop came {7-Spades}{3-Clubs}{3-Hearts}. Rice checked and Docherty bet 1,000,000. Rice responded by moving all in for 20,175,000.

Docherty put his hands behind his head and had a tough decision to make. He eventually made the call and players flipped their cards.

The pot could have been a huge one, but the turn came the {8-Hearts} and the river the {3-Diamonds}. That gave both players a full house and they chopped the pot. Heads up play continued.

Player Chips Progress
David Docherty gb
David Docherty
50,850,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
Declan Rice ie
Declan Rice
20,175,000
-3,500,000
-3,500,000

Tags: David DochertyDeclan Rice

First Postflop Pot Goes the Way of Rice

Level 40 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Some pots have been traded back and forth before the first completed board was dealt during this heads up.

David Docherty raised to 2,000,000 from the button and Rice defended his big blind.

The flop came down {8-Spades}{7-Hearts}{3-Hearts} and both players checked. On the {9-Clubs} turn, Rice led for 1,500,000, which Docherty quickly called.

The players repeated their flop action on the {2-Diamonds} river and the middle pair of Rice's {k-Clubs}{8-Diamonds} was enough to win him a small one.

Player Chips Progress
David Docherty gb
David Docherty
49,850,000
-2,500,000
-2,500,000
Declan Rice ie
Declan Rice
23,675,000
2,500,000
2,500,000