2024 Irish Open

€1,150 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2024 Irish Open

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
qj
Prize
€292,685
Event Info
Buy-in
€1,150
Prize Pool
€3,152,175
Entries
3,233
Level Info
Level
42
Blinds
1,000,000 / 2,000,000
Ante
2,000,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
379
Players Left
72

PokerStars' Fintan Hand Among 72 Survivors of Day 1a of Irish Open Main Event

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Fintan Hand
Fintan Hand

A busy Day 1a of the €1,150 Irish Open Main Event, sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power Poker, saw 379 entries being made at the Royal Dublin Society, a step up from the 324 the event knew on Day 1a in 2023. After more than 12 hours of play, only 72 of them remained and they all bagged and tagged for Day 2, which will take place on Saturday, March 30.

Among the players who had chips remaining at the end of play was PokerStars Ambassador Fintan Hand, who experienced a late-night surge to end up with an above-average stack of 252,000 chips, good for 63 big blinds at the start of Day 2. However, Hand is still some ways away from chipleader Pascal Baumgartner, who managed to bag 329,500 at the end of the night.

Baumgartner finished third in the 2018 Irish Open Main Event for €100,000, his largest-ever live cash, and has made good strides for another deep run in Dublin. Following Baumgartner closely is Niclas Thumm with 322,500 chips, while Ville Jantunen rounds out the top three with a stack of 305,500. Meanwhile, Simon Wilson was the best-performing Irishman on Day 1, securing fourth place with 303,500 chips in his bag.

End of Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountDay 2 Big Blinds
1Pascal BaumgartnerSwitzerland329,50082
2Niclas ThummGermany322,50081
3Ville JantunenFinland305,50076
4Simon WilsonIreland303,50076
5Max DevesonUnited Kingdom302,00076
6Patrick LarkinIreland301,50075
7Sebestyen CsotiHungary283,00071
8Jorge RamellaUruguay259,00065
9April WigginsUnited States257,50064
10Nadja SutterSwitzerland256,00064
Pascal Baumgartner
Pascal Baumgartner

Also making it through on Day 1a were the likes of podcaster Adam McKola (229,500), Irish pride Marc Macdonnell (80,000), and bracelet winners Benny Glaser (205,000), Tobias Peters (193,000), Juha Helppi (192,000), Marius Kudzmanas (161,500), and Jessica Marks (129,000).

Among the less lucky ones were Irish all-time money leader Andy Black, poker couple Benjamin Spragg and Marle Spragg, and defending champion David Docherty who all fired one or two unsuccessful bullets throughout the day.

However, they need not fret as they can try again tomorrow, Thursday, March 28, when Day 1b kicks off at noon local time. Just like on Day 1a, 14 levels of 45 minutes will be played, with a single reentry being available to the players during the late registration period of ten levels.

The guaranteed prize pool of €1,000,000 is already well on its way to being shattered and Day 1b is expected to make significant progress to that magic seven-figure number, so check back in to PokerNews tomorrow for another thrilling starting flight of the €1,150 Irish Open Main Event.

Tags: Adam McKolaAndy BlackApril WigginsBenjamin SpraggBenny GlaserDavid DochertyFintan HandJessica MarksJorge RamellaJuha HelppiMarc MacdonnellMarius KudzmanasMarle SpraggMax DevesonNadja SutterNiclas ThummPascal BaumgartnerPatrick LarkinSebestyen CsotiSimon WilsonTobias PetersVille Jantunen

Hand Hero Calls Parkinson to Grab Lead

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Fintan Hand
Fintan Hand

Padraig Parkinson open-raised to 10,000 from the hijack and Fintan Hand called on the button. On the 10J3 flop, Parkinson made a huge all-in over-bet of 85,500 chips, sending Hand into the tank.

Eventually, he flicked in a call and the cards were tabled.

Padraig Parkinson: A2 All in
Fintan Hand: QJ

Hand's top pair was in the lead against the ace-high of Parkinson. Parkinson's ballsy move did not get rewarded as the 6J runout upgraded Hand to trips.

Parkinson could only compliment Hand's hand while he left the tournament area, while the PokerStars Ambassador ended up with the most chips in the room.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fintan Hand ie
Fintan Hand
378,000
168,000
168,000
Profile photo of Padraig Parkinson ie
Padraig Parkinson
Busted

Tags: Fintan HandPadraig Parkinson

McKola Finds Big Blind Special

Level 13 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Adam McKola
Adam McKola

On a completed board of 62728, Adam McKola made a bet of 8,500 out of the small blind, into a pot of 30,000. Orestis Kanakopoulos was his opponent in the cutoff, and he raised to 24,000.

McKola instantly called, after which Kanakopoulos tabled K8 for top pair. It was no good against the 24 of McKola, however, who had turned trips to win the important pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Adam McKola gb
Adam McKola
88,000
38,000
38,000
Profile photo of Orestis Kanakopoulos gr
Orestis Kanakopoulos
14,000
-2,800
-2,800

Tags: Adam McKolaOrestis Kanakopoulos

King-High? Plenty High

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Aleksi Naski and Lucas Schenck were heads up on a board of J294. With 15,000 chips in the middle, Schenck had raised Naski's bet of 11,000 chips to 25,000 and Naski made the call.

The J river then completed the board and both players checked down. Schenck showed 108 for a missed draw, ending up with ten-high. Naski also missed his outs with KQ, but had the higher hand anyway and dragged in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Aleksi Naski fi
Aleksi Naski
120,000
51,000
51,000
Profile photo of Lucas Schenck gb
Lucas Schenck
32,000
32,000
32,000

Tags: Aleksi NaskiLucas Schenck

Kane Four-Bets Flop to Double Up

Level 11 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Michael Kane in middle position checked to Wouter Beltz in the hijack on a flop of 753. Beltz then fired a bet of 5,000 into the pot of 18,000, which Kane raised to 15,000.

Beltz responded with a three-bet to 32,000, after which Kane jammed all in for 89,200. Beltz quickly made the call with the covering stack and a showdown was ordered.

Michael Kane: 33 All in
Wouter Beltz: KK

Beltz asked for a club on the turn, but the 8 left him drawing to just a king. The A river did not bring one, and he was forced to transfer a large portion of his stack to his neighbor.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Kane gb
Michael Kane
196,400
Profile photo of Wouter Beltz nl
Wouter Beltz
102,000
-68,000
-68,000

Tags: Michael KaneWouter Beltz

Beltz Hits River to Bust Ryan

Level 10 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Wouter Beltz
Wouter Beltz

Wouter Beltz and Laurence Ryan had arrived on the river on a board of 731074. With 55,000 chips in the pot, Beltz jammed all in, covering the 57,500 chips Ryan had in his stack.

Ryan thought his decision over for a good while but eventually stuck in a call. Beltz tabled 65 for a rivered straight and won the pot when Ryan tabled A10 for two pair. Ryan exited the tournament area while Beltz soared up the ranks.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Wouter Beltz nl
Wouter Beltz
170,000
83,000
83,000
Profile photo of Laurence Ryan ie
Laurence Ryan
Busted

Tags: Laurence RyanWouter Beltz

Mamut Calls Clock on Himself in Gigantic Turn Decision

Level 9 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Nikolai Mamut was battling Thomas Murphy on a board of 3226. With 60,000 chips in the middle, Mamut checked under the gun and Murphy shipped in his stack of 52,600.

Mamut went deep into the tank before eventually calling time on himself. With just a few seconds left in his countdown, he slammed in a call with the covering stack.

Thomas Murphy: 1010 All in
Nikolai Mamut: AK

The 7 river did not pair up Mamut, resulting in the enormous pot being shipped to Murphy.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Thomas Murphy ie
Thomas Murphy
175,200
175,200
175,200
Jaka Coaching
Profile photo of Nikolai Mamut ru
Nikolai Mamut
65,000
-43,000
-43,000

Tags: Nikolai MamutThomas Murphy

Beltz Busts Sorainen

Level 8 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Wouter Beltz
Wouter Beltz

Wouter Beltz and Luka Sorainen were heads up on a turn of 6JK7, on which Beltz checked to Sorainen. Sorainen then made a bet of 7,500 into the pot of 9,000.

Beltz mulled it over for a bit before jamming all in, covering Sorainen's stack of 50,000 chips. Sorainen quickly put in the call and the cards went on their backs.

Luka Sorainen: KJ All in
Wouter Beltz: 66

Beltz's flopped set held as the 10 river did not give Sorainen a full house. After a slow start, Beltz crossed the six-figure mark while Sorianen was sent to the reentry desk.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Wouter Beltz nl
Wouter Beltz
122,500
110,100
110,100
Profile photo of Luka Sorainen fi
Luka Sorainen
Busted

Tags: Luka SorainenWouter Beltz

Day 1a Bigger and Better

Level 7 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Cards - Board
Cards - Board

With 326 entries on the clock, Day 1a has already surpassed the number of last year's Day 1a, when 324 entries were made.

Late registration is still open for four more levels, so this number is only expected to grow larger and larger.

Hand Takes Pot While Showing One

Level 7 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Fintan Hand
Fintan Hand

Aneliya Kechagias checked to Fintan Hand on a board of 6934. Hand fired a bet of 8,000 into the pot of 18,500 from the button, forcing a fold from Kechagias, who was under the gun.

Upon request, Hand showed one card, the 9, giving him at least top pair.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fintan Hand ie
Fintan Hand
43,500
13,500
13,500
Profile photo of Aneliya Kechagias gr
Aneliya Kechagias
21,500
-8,500
-8,500

Tags: Aneliya KechagiasFintan Hand