All In: The (Almost) Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker
Ladbrokes Poker Million Won by Belfast Native
DUBLIN, Ireland - Boylepoker.com sponsored poker pro Marty Smyth from South Belfast last night won $1 million in the Ladbrokes Poker Million live on SKY Sports 3.
Smyth, who this summer lifted the
Marty Smyth Winning 2008 Ladbrokes Poker Million pot-limit Omaha world championship event at the World Series of Poker for which he collected $859,549, made a dramatic comeback -- from having the lowest in chips and 100/1 against winning -- to beat fellow countryman Eoghan O'Dea. It was the third year in a row he had made the final table of the prestigious event.
In 2006 he came sixth in the Poker million for $100,000 and last year came second for $500,000.
"I can't quite believe it still," said Smyth. "I thought I was gone when I lost most of my chips early in the tournament. To come back and win $1 million is probably the highlight of my career. It just shows it's never over until it's over."
Smyth thought his tournament was over after unsuccessfully running ace-king into Liam Flood's king-king in the first few hands of the game and losing most of his chips but he battled hard and came from last to first in a thrilling event which saw Irishmen sweep the first four spots and over $1.5 million in prize money.
He was joined in the final six at the London tournament by Liam Flood and Eoghan O'Dea from Dublin, Ciaran O'Leary from Cork, Englishman Kevin Allen and Norwegian Svein Petter Neilsen.
Smyth also won the World Open earlier this year for a $250,000 payday. He now has total career earnings of poker tournament of $3,663,939.
Paul Spillane, head of poker at Boylepoker.com, said, "Marty is a poker legend and this victory tops off the most incredible year. He has won 3 major events and this is the third year in a row he has been on the final table of the Poker Million. Boylepoker are proud to be associated with such a unique poker talent."
The prize pool for the event was (other winners in parenthesis):
First $1,000,000
Second $260,000 (Eoghan O'Dea)
Third $175,000 (Ciaran O'Leary)
Fourth $130,000 (Liam Flood)
Fifth $100,000 (Kevin Allen)
Sixth $75,000 (Svein Petter Neilsen)
Online poker players at Boylepoker.com were over the moon with Smyth's victory having won a free-to-enter tournament during the week where the prizepool for the top 50 finishers was 5 percent of the Irishman's $1 million win. The winner, "Levin1" collected $9,800.
The event was broadcast live on SKY Sports 3 on Friday December 12 at 7 p.m.