2009 PaddyPower.com Irish Open

€3,500 Irish Open Main Event
Day: 1
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

Jelinek Busted by Possible Chip Leader

Gerry Smyth's stack has reached 33,000, with the last couple of thousand coming from Steve Jelinek. Jelinek raised preflop to 500, which was then repopped to 1,500 by Smyth. He made the call and his remaining 1,800 were over the line almost before the {8-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {Q-Spades} flop hit the felt. Smyth considered, but made the call with {9-Spades} {9-Clubs} .

"You're good," said Jelinek as he watched the {5-Diamonds} {J-Clubs} fall on the turn and river, his {8-Spades} {7-Spades} failing to improve.

Tags: Gerry SmythSteve Jelinek

Shouldn't De Wolfe Be Playing Poker?

Roland De Wolfe was spotted giving Juha Helppi a back rub at the tables, while the hapless masseuse whom Helppi had actually requested the massage from stood helplessly by. Despite the laughter from people all around, Helppi didn't seem to notice the switch.

Gibson Near Felted

Disaster for Nick "Gwibbo" Gibson, who bet 3,500 on the turn of a {J-Spades} {Q-Clubs} {6-Spades} {5-Clubs} board from the big blind position, only to receive a smooth call from Eddie Gilsenan directly to his left, who had somehow got himself involved from under the gun.

Come the {7-Diamonds} river, Gibson bet another 3,000, and this time Gilsenan raised all in (although he announced, "Reraise," for some reason). Gibson, sucking on a slightly obscene looking bit pf plastic nicotine replacement therapy apparatus, thought about it for a while -- and then called.

Gilsenan turned over {8-Spades} {4-Spades} for a flopped flush draw that had miraculously transformed into an unlikely straight and Gibson mucked.

Gilsenan is up to around 20,000; Gwibbo is down to around 400 in shrapnel.

Tags: Nick Gibson

Gray Owes Dave, Apparently

Scott Gray and Dave Penly just played out a hand thusly: Penly limped in from early position preflop and big blind Gray made it 750 to go. Penly called and they saw a flop of {3-Spades} {6-Clubs} {9-Diamonds}. Gray bet out 1,200 and Penly called. The turn {A-Clubs} brought an instant check from Gray, and a pretty fast one from Penly too. They likewise checked the {5-Diamonds} river, with Gray's {A-Hearts} {K-Clubs} taking the pot at showdown.

"That was a nice free card for the flush draw," muttered Penly, mucking. There's got to be some history between the two, as Gray then added, "I owe you..."

"Debt's getting bigger!" warned Penly with a grin. He's now on 9,000 while Gray has 14,000.

Tags: Dave PenlyScott Gray

River Liffey Runs Dry

Rory Liffey just lost a good few chips to young Stanley Bobek on the turn, where Bobek bet out 600 on a {2-Spades} {4-Diamonds} {K-Clubs} {K-Spades} flop, which was then raised to 1,700 by Liffey. Bobek called. The river paired the board again with the {2-Clubs}, which was checked from Bobek. Liffey bet out 2,500 and after a slight pause, Bobek made the call with {5-Clubs} {5-Hearts}. Liffey mucked.

Tags: Rory LiffeyStanley Bobek

A Few More Chip Counts

Farhad Kia: 14,500
Jon "Skalie" Kalmar: 12,500
Richard "Chufty" Ashby: 18,000
David Saab: 9,500
Padraig Parkinson: 9,000
John "PunkFloyd" Conroy: 15,000
Phil Laak: 6,500
Surinder Sunar: 15,000

No More Morkan

Christy Morkan did well to survive this long after his set-over-set crippling earlier at the hands of Jeffrey Vanchiro, but his time came at last and it was Vanchiro who finished him off. Morkan bravely got the last of his chips in with {J-Hearts} {9-Spades}, but Vanchiro's {A-Spades} {3-Spades} stayed ahead all the way down the brick-tacular board.

Level: 3

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0

Miara-cle on Fifth Street

One big pot spilled over into the break, taking Emmett Farrell with it and giving an early big stack to Miara Davia. Threeway to a flop of {9-Spades} {A-Spades} {9-Diamonds}, Farrell checked and Davia bet 2,200. This got rid of the third player, but Farrell promptly moved all in for an additional 3,575. This brought on a lengthy dwell, followed by a surprisingly reluctant-looking call from Davia - with {Q-Clubs} {9-Clubs}! Farrell went from hopeful to resigned, flipping his {A-Clubs} {J-Hearts}.

The turn brought the {A-Hearts} and an "Ooh," from the spectators.

The river, however, came the case {9-Hearts} and a longer, "Oooh," as Farrell was eliminated.

Tags: Emmett FarrellMiara Davia