Londoner Takes Irish Open Crown

By: PokerListings.com

A 20-year-old Londoner took down Europe's most storied poker crown this week.

James Mitchell, a protégé of Neil Channing and Black Belt Poker, won the 2010 Irish Open, Europe's longest established poker tournament.

Mitchell, who entered the event at the last minute after selling off a large percentage of himself, beat a record-tying field of 708 players at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin over four days to book the €600,000 win.

He actually held a commanding chip lead when the final table started, but still needed a little luck to get past Paul Carr heads-up, spiking a three-outer ace on the river to beat Carr's pocket queens and take a lead he would never relinquish.

Rob Sherwood, who picked up an extra €100,000 in Paddy Power Poker's Sole Survivor promotion by being the final qualifier standing, also cashed €163,300 for finishing fourth.

Notable players in the field included 2009 winner Christer Johansson, Dan Harrington, Brian Townsend, Kara Scott, Marty Smyth, Andy Black and Channing.

Below are the payouts for the final nine.

 

James Mitchell	€600,000
Paul Carr	€312,600
Santeri Valikoski	€205,200
Rob Sherwood	€163,300
Ben Roberts	€130,600
Edmund Sweeney	€100,800
Declan Connolly	€75,000
Peter Murphy	€53,300
Yann Dion	€37,700