2024 Irish Open

€1,150 Main Event
Day: 1cd
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 1cd
Entries
2,021
Players Left
504

PokerStars Ambassadors Georgina James and Sebastian Huber Survive Huge Day 1c of Irish Open Main Event

Level 14 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Georgina James
Georgina James

It was a record-breaking day at the 2024 Irish Open, sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power Poker. The €1,150 Main Event had its final two starting flights, and Day 1c attracted the most entries out of any of them. The 1,459 entries that were made at the Royal Dublin Society were by far the most ever in a single starting flight at the Irish Open, and this flight alone would have been the biggest number of Main Event entries up until 2018.

However, Day 1c was one of four starting flights, so the records did not stop there. In total, 3,233 entries were made, a massive increase over the previous record of 2,491 set in 2023. This created a prize pool of €3,152,175, again by far the most money ever distributed at the Irish Open.

Among the many players hoping to get a piece of that pie are PokerStars' Georgina James and Sebastian Huber. The two streamers found themselves among the 319 players bagging up at the end of Day 1c, with mixed game advocate James proving her prowess with two cards, bringing an above-average stack of 173,500 into Day 2, 43 big blinds at the start of play. Huber, on the other hand, will have to make do with 85,000 chips when play resumes.

Meanwhile, Dutch player Henk Pol secured the chip lead with 426,500 chips, while Ireland's very own Simon Maher sits in second place with 415,000 chips. Samuel Goodman (411,500) was the final player to bag over 400,000 chips and rounds out the top three, while Konstantinos Vatseris (389,000) and Michael Khan (388,500) complete the top five.

Michael Khan
Michael Khan

End of Day 1c Top Ten Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountDay 2 Big Blinds
1Henk PolNetherlands426,500107
2Simon MaherIreland415,000104
3Samuel GoodmanUnited Kingdom411,500103
4Konstantinos VatserisGreece389,00097
5Michael KhanCanada388,50097
6Kevin SheerinIreland378,50095
7Gary McMahonIreland363,50091
8Alan TrueickUnited Kingdom360,00090
9Luke WalshIreland355,50089
10Georgios TsouloftasCyprus354,50089

Other notables to survive the onslaught include 2023 Irish Open third-place finisher Panagiotis Mavritsakis (320,000), English grinder Leo Worthington-Leese (178,000), bracelet winner Sokratis Linaras (157,000), and PCA winner Maria Lampropulos (79,000).

Among the fallen of Day 1c were defending champion David Docherty, four-time bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche, triple crown winner Roberto Romanello, PokerStars Ambassadors Felix Schneiders and Parker Talbot, EPT Prague champion Padraig O'Neill, and podcast host Rory Jennings.

Rory Jennings
Rory Jennings

In total, 743 players have booked a seat on Day 2 of the Main Event, and they will restart tomorrow, Saturday, March 30 at noon local time. Blinds will restart at 2,000/4,000 with a big blind ante of 4,000, and the level duration will increase to 60 minutes each.

Tune back in to PokerNews at that to find out who will reach the money in the biggest-ever Irish Open Main Event.

Tags: Alan TrueickDavid DochertyDominik NitscheFelix SchneidersGary McMahonGeorgina JamesGeorgios TsouloftasHenk PolKevin SheerinKonstantinos VatserisLeo Worthington-LeeseLuke WalshMaria LampropulosPadraig O'NeillPanagiotis MavritsakisParker TalbotRoberto RomanelloSamuel GoodmanSebastian HuberSimon MaherSokratis Linaras

Hennen Makes "Easy Call" to Rise in Ranks

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

Atte Franssila raised under the gun, after which Rutger Hennen three-bet from the big blind. Fransilla then four-bet shipped his stack of 130,000 in the middle and Hennen immediately called.

Atte Franssila: A10 All in
Rutger Hennen: KK

The 343 flop presented no danger for Hennen, but the 10 turn gave Franssila some more outs. They did not appear on the 6 river, however, and Franssila booked a late exit.

"Well, that was easy," someone at the table commented while Hennen increased his big stack even further.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Rutger Hennen nl
Rutger Hennen
425,000
75,000
75,000
Profile photo of Atte Franssila fi
Atte Franssila
Busted

Tags: Atte FranssilaRutger Hennen

Bad Acting Gets Paid

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

Darren Harbinson had opened as first to act before David O'Connor three-bet from the big blind. Harbinson made the call to create a 37,000 pot.

O'Connor then jammed all in for 19,500 on the 69Q flop and Harbinson decided he was committed and made the call.

David O'Connor: KK All in
Darren Harbinson: 33

The 6 turn and 4 river changed nothing and O'Connor raked in the double-up.

"Was my acting good?" O'Connor inquired.

"It was fucking terrible," Harbinson replied in good spirits.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Darren Harbinson ie
Darren Harbinson
120,000
-24,000
-24,000
Profile photo of David O'Connor ie
David O'Connor
77,500

Tags: Darren HarbinsonDavid O'Connor

Jennings Left Short After Big Pot

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

The action was caught on a board of 89410. Frankie McPartland checked out of the small blind and Michael Gilligan followed suit in the big blind. Rory Jennings then fired a bet of 17,000 into the pot of 30,000 and the action was back on McPartland.

He opted to shove all in for 49,700, forcing Gilligan to give up his hand. Jennings asked for an exact count and tanked for a bit before electing to call to put his opponent at risk.

Frankie McPartland: QJ All in
Rory Jennings: A10

Jennings' top pair was already drawing dead against the straight of McPartland, and he waved goodbye to his chips as the 3 river completed the board, being left with 12 big blinds.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Frankie McPartland ie
Frankie McPartland
129,400
129,400
129,400
Profile photo of Michael Gilligan ie
Michael Gilligan
61,000
61,000
61,000
Profile photo of Rory Jennings gb
Rory Jennings
24,000
-46,000
-46,000

Tags: Frankie McPartlandMichael GilliganRory Jennings

Hamilton Brings the End for Kitt

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

Thomas Kitt jammed his final 22,400 chips in from the button and Gareth Hamilton looked him up from the small blind with the covering stack.

Thomas Kitt: Q9 All in
Gareth Hamilton: JJ

The J104 flop made Hamilton a set but Kitt was still alive with his straight draw. However, it did not come in on the Q7 runout and Kitt left the tournament area, ready to smoke a cigar outside.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gareth Hamilton ie
Gareth Hamilton
105,600
Profile photo of Thomas Kitt ie
Thomas Kitt
Busted

Tags: Gareth HamiltonHamilton BringsThomas Kitt

Chan Eliminates Gleeson in Huge Pot

Level 10 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Kwan Chan
Kwan Chan

Kwan Chan in the small blind and Eoin Gleeson in the big blind had created a pot of 70,000 chips when they arrived on the turn of 731010, which they both checked.

The 10 river was then dealt and Chan checked once more. Gleeson, however, announced his all-in for 42,400. Chan spent some minutes in the tank before finally committing to a call.

"You're good," Gleeson declared before showing his AQ for ace-high. Chan tabled JJ for a full house and scooped up a very big pot while Gleeson was left empty-handed.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kwan Chan ie
Kwan Chan
180,900
180,900
180,900
Profile photo of Eoin Gleeson ie
Eoin Gleeson
Busted

Tags: Eoin GleesonKwan Chan

McInally Fails to Triple Up Against Zoufri

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

Hakim Zoufri raised to 2,000 from the hijack and Gerald McInally called in the cutoff. Gerald McInally then tossed in his 10,600 chips from the button and Adrian Andritz called that in the big blind.

With the action back on Zoufri, he four-bet to 45,000, the vast majority of his stack. Kennedy got out of the way and Andritz followed suit after thinking it over for a few minutes, leading to a heads up showdown.

Gerald McInally: QQ
Hakim Zoufri: AQ

It was the dream spot for McInally, and it was looking good for him on the 21047 runout. However, "Barry" came looking on the A river and destroyed his dreams. The sizable pot was sent Zoufri's way, who ascended above the average stack with this pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Hakim Zoufri
Hakim Zoufri
70,500
70,500
70,500
Profile photo of Eric Kennedy us
Eric Kennedy
68,000
68,000
68,000
Profile photo of Adrian Andritz ch
Adrian Andritz
60,000
24,000
24,000
Profile photo of Gerald McInally gb
Gerald McInally
Busted

Tags: Adrian AndritzGerald McInallyHakim Zoufri

Mullin's Trap Eliminates Delkof

Level 8 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

David Cleary had raised preflop from under the gun and Patrick Delkof three-bet from the hijack. Emmett Mullin called cold on the button and Cleary tossed in the extra chips as well.

On the 454 flop, Cleary checked to Delkof, who continued for 4,500. Mullin tossed in a call before Cleary got out of the way. Delkof then tossed in his final 10,000 chips on the 4 turn and Mullin immediately called.

Patrick Delkof: AK All in
Emmett Mullin: KK

"It's going in pre anyway, why the cold call?" Delkof asked with audible frustration.

Meanwhile, the 5 river completed the board and Mullin scooped up the sizable pot without much regret.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Emmett Mullin ie
Emmett Mullin
50,000
Profile photo of David Cleary ie
David Cleary
28,000
Profile photo of Patrick Delkof de
Patrick Delkof
Busted

Tags: David ClearyEmmett MullinPatrick Delkof

Le Grabs Chip Lead After Hero Call

Level 7 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Jamie Le and Antoine Savaria were heads up on a turn of A827. Le checked from the cutoff to Savaria on the button, who made a bet of 8,000 into the pot of 40,000 chips.

Le then put Savaria all in for 24,000 chips total, which sent the latter into the tank. Eventually, the clock was called, but Savaria slammed in a call before the floor had to come over.

Antoine Savaria: JJ All in
Jamie Le: A6

Le's pair of aces held firm on the 9 river, resulting in Savaria's exit from the tournament. Le, on the other hand, chipped up to more than six starting stacks.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jamie Le gb
Jamie Le
190,000
60,000
60,000
Profile photo of Antoine Savaria ca
Antoine Savaria
Busted

Tags: Antoine SavariaJamie Le