Irishman wins first major title on home soil for €55k
This year, the PokerStars UKIPT Cork trophy will be returning to its host nation, after Irishman Thomas Finneran was crowned champion. Following a long and gruelling, but action packed week of poker, Finneran managed to outlast a strong field to win his first major title along with €55,440 in prize money.
The Irishman who only plays in a few tournaments each year, seems to have a nasty habit of putting together deep runs almost every time he turns up and with the second biggest chip stack heading into final table, Finneran had arguably the best chance of his career to break his major duck.
It didn’t take the Irishman long to assert himself either, as he quickly dispatched of Nicholas Newport adding even more chips to his already commanding stack.
For the next few levels Finneran chose his spots carefully, maintaining his big stack. It wasn’t until play got down to final five that the Irishman sprang into life again, this time eliminating Fridjon Thordarson in fourth place. Soon after, British player Stephen McGrath dispatched of Pawell Keller and the final two was set.
McGrath held a slim lead of 3 million to 2.6 million chips over Finneran and as result the pair agreed to take €5k from the first place prize and add it to second, meaning the winner would now walk away with €55,440 and the runner-up €45,600.
Once play between the pair finally got underway it didn’t take long before the first monster pot ensued, in fact it only took one hand. It started with a Finneran raise of 100k pre-flop which was followed by a call, McGrath then took the initiative on a flop of 6-8-2 betting the same amount.
McGrath led again on a Four turn card, this time for 200k, only to be re-raised by Finneran who made it 450k. The river was a blank and McGrath led again, this time for 150k. After thinking about it for a while Finneran re-raised, this time to 750k and by now the alarm bells should have been ringing for McGrath but he couldn’t let go of his top pair and lost a huge pot to Finneran’s straight.
This Irishman now was the big chip leader, holding a commanding advantage of 3.9 million to 1.7 million and he had no plans of letting McGrath back into the game.
McGrath began to lose his patience as the match progressed and only a few levels later, after shoving one too many times, his 6♣-5♠ was called by Finneran who turned over Q♠-8♠. An eight on the flop followed by another Eight on the turn and then a Queen on the river gave Finneran the full house and McGrath had to settle for second place.
Speaking after his win Finneran said, “This one feels the best because of the victory. It’s hard to win anything these days as the players have improved a lot.”
Next the UKIPT moves to London for the Season 3 Grand Final which will be held at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino from March 5-10.
Here is how the final table finished up:
1. Thomas Finneran – €55,440*
2. Stephen McGrath – €45,600*
3. Pawel Keller – €24,960
4. Fridjon Thordarson – €19,360
5. Deborah Worley-Roberts – €14,780
6. Alexander Rhys-Davies – €10,510
7. Pascal Tongi – €7,885
8. Nicholas Newport – €5,910
*reflects a two-way deal
