The Luckiest Poker Pros In The Emerald Isle

Ireland’s poker scene is buzzing and it’s not just about the luck of the Irish. This country has produced some of the most skilled and fascinating poker players around. So grab a cuppa and let’s meet some of Ireland’s best poker players.

Ireland’s best poker players

Andy Black

This Belfast-born player is a legend in the poker world. Andy Black’s not just about the cards though. He’s got a backstory that reads like a movie script. After making a splash in the poker scene with a brush with the 1997 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, he took a five-year hiatus to live in a Buddhist monastery. Yes, you read that right. Pretty unusual for one of Ireland’s best poker players. But when he returned to poker, he did so with a bang, securing a 5th place finish in the 2005 WSOP Main Event, winning $1.75m. Talk about a comeback!

Eoghan O’Dea

Charismatic Eoghan O’Dea truly is a chip off the old block. His father, Donnacha O’Dea is a poker pioneer in Ireland. With a dad like that, it must be hard not to be one of Ireland’s best poker players. However, Eoghan’s carved out his own legacy, which was further cemented with an impressive 6th place finish at the 2011 WSOP Main Event. With millions in the bank from live tournament earnings, Eoghan’s definitely keeping the family tradition alive and kicking.

Donnacha O’Dea

We can’t go any further on our list of Ireland’s best poker players without doffing our hats to Eoghan’s Dad, Donnacha O’Dea. This trailblazer is a member of the poker old guard. He was the first Irish player to bring home a WSOP bracelet in 1998, beating the legendary Johnny Chan in heads-up play at the end of a gruelling Pot Limit Omaha rebuys event. And not just a one-trick pony, he’s also a former Olympic swimmer. How’s that for versatility?

Dara O’Kearney

Now let’s talk about Dara O’Kearney. At the time of writing, he was firmly in Ireland’s best poker players top 10 and is well known on the live circuit, as well as online, usually playing under the nickname “Doke”. Known for his strategic mind and endurance, his analytical approach to the game is something to admire. He’s always one to watch at the table.

Max Silver

Born in London, but living in Dublin, the Irish are pleased to welcome Max Silver into the fold of Ireland’s best poker players. He’s a serious player worldwide, netting six figures in the likes of Barcelona, Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Prague, Cannes and Paradise Island in the Caribbean. One of this most notable wins of all time came at the European Poker Tour 2018, with a cool first place finish that netted him over $700,000.

Liam Flood

Although he died in 2014, Liam Flood’s legend lives on. As well as being a professional poker player, Flood was also a bookmaker and run the Irish Poker Open after the founder Terry Rogers died. He was also a firm fixture on the TV poker scene, featuring in Late Night Poker and Celebrity Poker Club.

Steve O’Dwyer

This Colorado-born poker player calls Ireland home and is a killer on the global circuit. Irish-American Steve O’Dwyer is a titan of the game. He’s known for cool, calculated play and his ability to read the table like an open book. Accruing over $30 million in lifetime earnings, at time of writing, he’s a force on the felt. His poker career started innocently enough when he wandered into a home game on campus while he was in college. Then he started playing freeroll tournaments online from around 2004. By 2007, he entered WSOP and cashed four times. His biggest score to date is $1.8m at the 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Super High Roller.

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