2009 PaddyPower.com Irish Open

€3,500 Irish Open Main Event
Day: 1
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Event Info

2009 PaddyPower.com Irish Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
jx9x
Prize
€600,000
Event Info
Buy-in
€3,200
Prize Pool
€2,243,200
Entries
700
Level Info
Level
26
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
4,000

€3,500 Irish Open Main Event

Day 1 Completed

287 Players Remain; Play Resumes at 2pm GMT

[user46392]
[user46392]
More than half the field fell by the wayside in just eight hours of play today, including Brian Townsend, Roland de Wolfe, Jesper Hougaard, Andy Black and Jennifer Tilly. Among our remaining runners, though, we have such luminaries as Phil Laak, Albert Iversen, Julian Thew and Jamie Gold, so it should be a very interesting Day 2.

At the moment it looks as though Maurice Harmon and Andrew Pantling are vying for the chip lead on around 100,000 apiece. Full chip counts should appear in here courtesy of PaddyPower.com in the morning, shortly before the players get back to the felt. For now though, all the action has moved to the bar where we understand some considerable craic is being enjoyed.

Dowling Down, but not Out

[user46392]
[user46392]
Chris Dowling was down to a mere 1,050 after doubling up Pat Treacy -- Treacy was holding {K-?} {Q-?} on a board with two more kings on it, and a very unhappy Dowling mucked.

The very next hand there was a raise from Johannes Zacharias under the gun and a call from the next player along; Dowling called all in from the small blind and when Zacharias bet again on the {J-Hearts} {7-Clubs} {8-Hearts} flop, the other caller passed and they were on their backs.

Zacharias: {A-?} {A-?}
Dowling: {J-Spades} {10-Diamonds}

A blank on the turn but a nine on the river made Dowling a straight, and he was back up to just over 4,000.

Harford Triples up as Fletcher Misses his Cowboy

[user46298]
[user46298]
In the closing minutes of Day One, a huge pot gave Ronan Harford a 68k+ stack while eliminating Kevin Skitmore and seriously denting the stack of Mick Fletcher.

All the action occurred preflop: It passed to Skitmore who, with a short stack and {J-Hearts} {J-Clubs} , moved all in. Neighbour Fletcher called with his {K-Diamonds} {K-Clubs} . He wasn't happy for long, though, as small blind Harford then moved in too, for just over 22,000.

Fletcher was tortured: "This is so f***ing sick! FFS. I don't think I can pass for what it is. Sick. I need to spike a cowboy. F***ing brutal." Having got it out of his system, he made the call and saw what he knew already: Harford's {A-Diamonds} {A-Clubs} which spiked a set on the flop to rub it in.

Tags: Mick FletcherRonan Harford

High Marks

[user46298]
[user46298]
Simon Marks is now sat just on the left of Jani Vilmunen, one of the 45k+ stacks. Marks himself has 54,000, and when Marks called an under the gun raise from Vilmunen to 1,800, sparks could have flown. However, Vilmunen simply checked the {4-Spades} {10-Spades} {8-Clubs} flop and folded to Marks' 3,000 bet showing {A-?} {K-?}, dismissively.

Tags: Jani VilmunenSimon Marks

Unlaaky

[user46392]
[user46392]
Phil Laak, up to 56,500 a few minutes ago, has taken a bit of a hit. The player to his immediate right pushed with {K-Clubs} {Q-Spades} for 12,750, although the dealer announced it as 21,750 several times for some reason. It's been a long day. Laak eventually called, and it was looking good for his {A-Diamonds} {K-Hearts} -- until the board came down {8-Spades} {J-Diamonds} {J-Spades} {3-Clubs} {Q-Clubs}. Laak still extremely healthy on around 43,000 though.

Tags: Phil Laak

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