Irish Poker Community Mourns the Loss of Paddy Hicks
The Irish poker community lost one of its legendary characters on Saturday when Patrick "Paddy" Hicks passed away.
An almost permanent fixture at the Fitzwilliam Card Club in Dublin, Hicks will be fondly remembered by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him, not just for his poker prowess, but for his demeanor at and away from the table.
Ireland's Dara O'Kearney updated his Facebook status in honor of Hicks, writing:
Rest in peace, the spiritual grandfather of the Fitz. There was no friendlier reg to newbies than Paddy in what could be a pretty unwelcoming cauldron. I wonder how many players would have turned away down the years if it wasn't for Paddy. Great man and great player (he looked like a kindly OAP but played like a crazy Russian kid).
Several members of the Irish Poker Boards community shared their experiences of playing against Hicks with "Ollie" recalling when he first met Hicks almost 10 years ago.
A real gentleman at the table and he played the game for the love of it and nothing else.
My first time playing in the Fitz nearly 10 years ago and I had the great pleasure of making the final table with him sitting beside me that night. From that moment onwards, I always went out of my way to say hello to him. He just loved playing the IO each year.
RIP Paddy.
Hicks is survived by his four children Billy, Sharon, Yvonne and Paula; his daughter-in-law Gerladine; his sons-in-law Bernard, Benny and Tony; 13 grandchildren, niece Marie, godson Aidan and countless friends and extended family members.
The funeral service is to take place at 11:00 a.m on Wednesday, September 30 at St Teresa's Church on Donore Avenue.
Hicks Passes One Month After the Anniversary of Liam Flood's Death
Hicks' passing comes 13-months after Ireland lost one of its most prominent players in Liam Flood. Nicknamed "The Gentlemen," Flood is regarded as a true legend of the game among members of the Irish poker community, not least for him being involved in the creation of the Irish Poker Open tournament, and the fact he is one of only four players to have won it multiple times, having been crowned its champion in 1990 and 1996.
At this year's Irish Open, sponsors Paddy Power hosted a €1,125 buy-in memorial tournament in Flood's honor.
Flood was 71-years old when he died on August 16, 2014.
PokerNews offers its condolences to Hicks' family and friends at this sad and difficult time.
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