Despite the presence of four top Irish players at the final table of the Paddy Power Irish Poker Open over the weekend, it was Greek player Ioannis Triantafyllakis who took the first place honours after a tough heads up with local player Kevin Killeen that included a two-way split agreement.
The Greek pro took home Euro 209,500 and a special satellite Sole Survivor bonus of Euro 50,000 for being the final online qualifier from Paddy Power, whilst Killeen claimed a well-earned Euro 192,500.
Over 300 hopefuls signed up for the Euro 3,500 buy-in main event, and after three days the final table formed, headed by chip leader and Irish poker legend Donnacha O’Dea; seated around the table were Killeen and Triantafyllakis, along with Declan Connolly, American player Michael Wang, Fergal Cawley, Baard Dahl from Norway and German pro Andreas Gann.
O’Dea was unable to hold his lead and was eliminated at fifth, and the heads up was decided when Connolly was bundled out at third for Euro 111,750, leaving Killeen and Triantafyllakis to fight it out for the main prize.
The two players worked out a chop agreement that ultimately gave Euro 209,500 to Triantafyllakis and Euro 192,500 to Killeen instead of the Euro 250,000 first prize and Euro 152,000 runner up pay-days on the original schedule.
Getting down to business with the Greek player in the lead, the two provided some entertaining poker for just over an hour before Triantafyllakis was able to eliminate his last opponent and claim the main prize.
Other pay-outs were:
Declan Connolly Euro 111,750
Michael Wang Euro 82,750
Donnacha O’Dea Euro 61,850
Fergal Cawley Euro 46,500
Baard Dahl Euro 35,250
Andreas Gann Euro 26,750