Ladbrokes Irish Poker Tour

Video Cast

Day 1

Super satellilite day

The Ladbrokes.com Irish Poker Festival 2009 got underway in Killarney last night. The traditional super satellite set proceedings in full flow with 182 players trying to capture a seat to today’s €250,000 main event. Many of the Laddies regulars were in attendance with some already having secured their seats through online qualification. However, many viewed this as an opportunity to cash in on another seat or maybe even reward a friend or relative with one of the sought after tickets. Play commenced at 7.45pm and players were still seen buying in after the first few levels - an indication for the thirst for poker amongst the Ladbrokes community as well as the many locals who were trying their luck. The extraordinary number attempting to win a seat meant that there were a total of 37 main event seats up for grabs following the rebuy and add on stages of the satellite. Play ended well past 1am with a deal eventually being done amongst the final 40 players. Laddies tournament regulars Our-Peg and Icepack were among those fortunate enough to win a seat.

Whilst the serious business of the super satellite was unfolding there was an element of real fun taking place on the main stage. An invitational challenge between the Nordics, England and Ireland in the form of a team event stimulated much interest amongst the spectators. Captains Roy “ROYTHEBOY” Brindley, Martin “Michelin” Stalros and Jon “skalie” Kalmar led their teams of 6 in a 3 table shoot out under the lights of the INEC. ROYTHEBOY was the first player sent to the bar in what was proving to be a war of pride and bragging rights. All the players contributed €100 to the prize pool meaning an €1800 windfall for the winning team. The format was a shootout with 2 players progressing from each table. By the time of the final table nothing could split the teams with each having 2 players through. In a nervy and tense final table, the 2 Irishman fell in 5th and 6th places meaning it was a straight fight between England and the Nordics. England were represented by Alexdb and BBMoney whilst the Nordics had Nebuchad and Michelin battling for glory. The drinks flowed and the players were becoming ever more serious in trying to secure bragging rights for the weekend. Out in 4th was Alexdb, he was closely followed by Nordic captain Michelin. What followed was a sensational few minutes of poker and theatre as BBmoney and Nebuchad produced a fantastic climax. To find out who came out on top and claimed glory visit us again here tomorrow along with a review of the first day’s play in the main event.

Day 2

Who won the international game?

So, there were just two players left in the international invitational game arranged as a prelude to the Ladbrokes.com Irish Poker Festival. With Ireland already out of the running it was left to the English team represented by bbmoney and the Nordics represented by Nebuchad to fight it out heads up for the €1800 and more importantly the bragging rights and pride in the picturesque Irish town. With the chips stacks marginally in favour of bbmoney the crucial hand was played out in front of may spectators that had gathered to see the climax of a fun night’s poker. Following bbmoney’s limp in the SB the flop of Ks Qc 5c was checked by both players. The turn was 10c and Nebuchad bet 4k only to be re-raised to 12k by the Englishman. After a short pause the Swede called still looking perplexed. The blank 6x on the river was met with another check from the Swede. bbmoney then pushed all in for his remaing 35k+ stack and the decision and pressure was firmly on Swede’s shoulders. Following a long pause and much table talk Nebuchad called. The players flipped the cards with Nebuchad first showing Kd 3c for top pair and bbmoney showing pocket 99s. The hand crippled the England team and the game was soon up - as in the very next hand the Nordics claimed victory. Noisy celebration followed but above all mutual respect was on show as all the players shook hands and applauded what was a suitable start to what is the friendliest of poker festivals. The crucial call will be debated for days to come and i am sure we have not heard the last of it until the teams get it on at the next Ladbrokes event.

Day 1 €250,000 Guaranteed Main Event

The Ladbrokes.com Irish Poker Festival main event was finally here. Following last year’s phenominal turnout another 752 players turned out in the hope of capturing the first prize of €100,000. Players from all parts of the globe including Bulgaria, Poland and Latvia joined the masses from the UK and the Nordics hoping to emulate 2008 champion Jimmy McSweeney’s dream win. The day’s play was preceeded with the usual introductions, rules and well wishes. In addition, Ladbrokes announced the 4th Poker Cruise scheduled for January 2011. Further details on how to qualify for this much anticipated event will be available shortly.

Back to the tournament and the play was understandably slow and cagey with the opening blind level of 25/25. All the more incredible was that it took one player all of 8 minutes to lose his 15,000 starting stack. The call from the floor was met with gasps of amazement from the rest of the players and the watching public. Notable players to exit during the evening included Martin Stalros and Julian Gardner. By the time play finished at around 1am there were still 462 players still in with a chance of winning. The average stack is now 28,000 and the players will come back today at 1pm for Day 2. Here are some chip counts from the first day:

• new1home - 4000
• biglad - 11000
• Radfar - 20000
• T8MML - 22000
• banksoir - 25000
• skalie - 37000
• __db__ - 45000
• RIVERMAID - 67000

Video Cast

Day 3

Day 2 €250,000 Guaranteed Main Event

The Ladbrokes.com Irish Poker Festival Main Event was underway at 1pm today. 462 players returned hoping to still be in with a chance of scooping the €100,000 first prize. The field started to shrink rapidly and by 10pm it was bubble time. With 78 players being paid the unlucky player in 79th was Lee Rabbit. The Irishman was to find his luck to change though as Ladbrokes offered Lee the very first seat in 2010’s event.

By the end of the day’s play there were 57 players remaining. The average stack was 190k. The chip leader is Brian O’Keefe who has approximately 700k. When play resumes on Sunday the blinds will be 5000/10000 with a 1000 ante. Notable Ladbrokes players left in the tournament include mickjagger1 (238k), _db_ (115k) and Marky147 (200k).

The €300 side event also got underway on Saturday and will conclude on Sunday. Of the 275 runners who started only 53 remain. Notable Ladbrokes players in with a chance include bigTR and 4thnoxx from Norway.

Video Cast

Day 4

Day 3 €250,000 Guaranteed Main Event

57 Players returned for the final day’s play in the Main Event. With the bubble now a distant memory players began to exit the tournament rapidly. A late finish was in store when the final table began at 11pm. The first player to exit was Jerry Cosgrave. The play slowed down considerably and Ladbrokes cash game player Thomas Rolfe was doing his best to keep the Irish crowd quiet by taking the chip lead. However, the final table ebbed and flowed and by the time there were three players left it was England v Ireland. Michael Murphy finished in 3rd place collecting €35,000 leaving local Emmet Gough heads up with Rolfe whose alias is r0lfus. The former student who is just 22 years old held a significant advantage as the heads up battle began. However, Gough chipped away at his lead and turned the game around. A large gathering of spectators watched on into the early hours until the crucial hand played out to leave Rolfe the new champion. With all of Gough’s chips in the middle it was Rolfe’s AQ that improved against the dominant AK of Gough. It was a harsh blow for the young Irishman who was dignified in defeat. Emmet Gough won a fantastic €65,000 for his weekend’s work. Rolfe celebrated with friends before moving straight to the bar for a well earned drink, grasping the new trophy and a cheque for €100,000. In addition to the huge cash prize Thomas also picked up the added 2011 Poker Cruise package.

Congratulations must also go to Ladbrokes regular Richard Sinclair (daddymac) who played superbly to take the €300 side event. daddymac defeated Nicky Power heads up and took the €18,000 first prize and continue his recent run of fantastic results. Ladbrokes Poker would like to thank all those who have tried to qualify for the Irish Poker Festival as well as those who followed the daily updates.

As you may be aware the 2011 Poker Cruise was announced this weekend and a prize draw was made for all new registrations and online qualifiers to this year’s Irish Poker Festival. The winner of the package was Richard Clarke (richlizard / KrackedKings). Nice one Richard!!!