3,233 entries pushed the tourney to a new high
The 2024 Irish Open €1,150 Main Event at the Royal Dublin Society set a new record, as 3,233 entrants smashed the €1-million (US$1.2 million) guarantee by creating a prize pool of €3,152,175 ($3,395,066).
After four days of grinding, Day 3 chip leader Tero Laurila would take the Irish Open trophy and €292,685 ($315,238) after cutting a three-way deal. Laurila beat Hiep Ninh after a brief heads-up battle. However, Ninh took home €335,636 ($361,498) due to his big chip lead when they made the deal. Mark Johnston secured €232,685 ($250,615) for third place.
WSOPC ring winner Georgios Tsouloftas also reached the final table, finishing fourth for €142,760 ($153,760). Irish Open regular Oliver Boyce finished fifth to take home €109,820 ($118,282), and Spanish grinder David Tous ended the tournament in ninth place for €38,420 ($41,380).
Adrian Thorne went home after pushing all in preflop against Tsouloftas’ ace-king to take eighth place for €49,960 ($53,810). Johnston scored his second final table knockout, sending Vidmantas Beliauskas home in seventh with €64,960 ($69,965). Stephen Groom busted in sixth and took home €84,480 ($90,990).
After a half-hour pause to negotiate a deal, Laurila would take the chip lead after doubling up against Ninh. Johnston was left as the short stack after losing a flip against Ninh and finished in third for €232,685 ($250,615).
Ninh began the heads-up play with the chip advantage, but that would change after Laurila made a hero call with queen-high to take a 2:1 lead. Shortly after, he would send Ninh home after hitting quads with queen-jack to secure the trophy and the Irish Open Main Event Championship.
