Upcoming Irish Open and an Overdue Lookback

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Winning

Catch Up

It has been way too long since I last posted a blog. I thought I better get out one now to cover the last seven months before next weeks Irish Open festival. I'm fully intent on winning the Irish Open this year so my next blog with cover that roller-coaster ride navigating a record sized field in the RDS Dublin for the greatest result of my career. Until that great upcoming blog, this one will have to do for now.

Since my last blog I've cashed for just over $50,000 according to thehendonmob . There's been a bit of everything in there. A few small trophy's, a lot of crossbars and a lot of final tables and cashes without hitting the jackpot money. 

The results that I'm most proud of in that time are making the Smart Poker Tour - SPT High Stakes Edition Championships for the second year running in Sofia Bulgaria and one that doesn't show on the Hendonmob site, winning the Irishpokertour league for a 2nd time in three years. 1st 2023, 2nd in 2024 and 1st again 2025.


IrishPokerTour League 

Final Standings 

I felt a great sense of accomplishment regaining the IrishPokerTour League title for 2025. I wrote a piece on facebook in January after the win and will add it here as it was written when the success was fresh in my mind;

" What a finish to the year.

I must have played a hundred + IPT events this year but the leader board battle went down to the last few levels in the last tournament on the last day.
I played my heart out and got over the line late last night in Portlaoise.
Firstly, fair play to Shane Keary, runner up but was so close to overtaking me. He is a very decent guy. When he busted the main event he went straight to the side event where I was grinding the life out of myself, shook my hand and genuinely congratulated me.

Killian could also have done it, after cashing the main, he would have overtaken us both by winning the side event. Wasn't to be for him, but I'll guarantee he will be a player on the big stage, one to watch for the future. I have big respect for him and wish him and Shane the best.

Playing tournaments for a living is super stressful, it can really mentally drain you and it was a mixed year for me, loads of ups and downs. I keep hitting the crossbar in the bigger events but then I always seem to get the job done in small / medium events. No big life changing scores but I've all my bills paid and I'm travelling to Countries I've hardly heard of before. I'm very grateful for what I have, especially my sobriety!

A big shout out to all the very talented IPT staff, the likes of Susie, Donal and Jerry make IPT the best Poker Tour in the world, FACT!

I won a 6.5k cash bonus, 1.5k Sofia package and a beautiful trophy to go with another title but what I've learned about myself and others is worth a million times more. Thank you to the true friends who stood by me and believed in me when I had nothing, I know I wouldn't be here without them.
Also

A special shout out to my good friend Fintan Gavin, who has helped me so much on and off the table over the last few years.

Looking forward to the official presentation of this year’s League Final trophy in the upcoming tournament in the Galmont Hotel ."

Interview links below

Here's a video of the presentation Link   at Galmont  Hotel. The following  Link   is an interview I did with Natalie Besate following the presentation for LivePokerUpdates


Sofia

Sofia Final Table

Early February saw me return to Bulgaria for the  Smart Poker Tour - SPT High Stakes Edition Championship. I thought this was a good chance to boost the bankroll and was determined to better my 7th place finish of the previous year in this event.

I managed achieve the goal of a better finish than 2025 but only by one place finishing 6th for €8,300. I had entered the final table in 3rd position in what was a fairly level chip stacked final table. Unfortunately things didn't go my way in a couple of crucial key spots and the juicy top prize of €50,000 eluded me this year again. I'll be back next year.

Shoutout to Darren Harbinson

Congratulations Darren

Congratulations to my mate Darren Harbinson for winning the €200k for €200 Main Even in the Green Isle Hotel in early January for €36,000 first prize.  I was buzzing to see Darren get such a nice touch and not just because he got me out of it for that week with a percentage swap. Hopefully that result is the start of a great year for Darren.

Irish Open

So it's off for another Irish Open festival this week. The festival broke all records last year and we can expect more of the same at the fantastic Royal Dublin Society venue. As I said at the start of the blog, expect a long one next time as I regale you with tales of how I finally became Irish Open Champion.


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