Irishman’s €30,000 win ups the ante for $1m London poker tournament

A DUBLIN football fan had plenty to smile about after scooping a €30,000 prize in a major poker competition over the weekend.

Stephen Hoary, originally from Crumlin but living in Newbridge, Co Kildare, has the chance to try his luck in a $1 million tournament in London next month.

He was one of a number of qualifiers to reach the final of the VCPoker.ie Irish poker tour, which was held at the Pod club in Dublin on Saturday, after entering a poker game in a pub.

After an early afternoon start with 16 competitors at two tables, Stephen was the last man standing - or sitting - by about 9.30pm, reaping a nice return from an initial €10 stake at a pub poker challenge in Tallaght.

As well as the cash prize, he will have chips worth €7,500 in the VCPoker Cup, for which the organisers hope to have a seven-figure prize fund.

Irish Examiner - 2005-07-26 03:40:01