Euro Poker: Record Turnout for Tournament in EuropeInternational Poker Open Sets Records; Creates New Paradigm for Registration |
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The International Poker Open, hosted by Mermaid Poker and Poker Ireland, attracted a field of 1,072 players in Dublin on Oct. 6, 2007, smashing the previous record of Europe's largest tournament of 708 set by the Irish Open earlier in the year.
The record turnout was remarkable as it was achieved almost entirely by word of mouth and the tournament was unique as it may have been the first live tournament in the world to register all players online, days before the cards were in the air. The buy-in was €125 + €25 and the prize pool totaled €134,000.
Further, the tournament almost certainly unleashed on the poker world the youngest ever dealer to deal at a major tournament in the form of Jack "The Dealer" Williams, the 11-year-old son of one of the organizers. At one point, he caused a stir by dealing his brother quad aces. No foul play was suspected, though a few eyebrows were raised.
Seventeen countries were represented at the tournament, held in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Day two was completed at the Jackpot Club and was won by Irishman Colin King. David Pook, from the Netherlands, came in second.
Organizer Derek Williams said, "Colin was a very deserving winner. The money win allow him to return to college this year and he very generously made a donation to The National Council for the Blind as soon as the tournament ended. We'd like to thank Vegas Nights, JP Poker, and Big Slick Poker for riding in behind us on the day and helping out with dealers, tables, and chips. Andy Black popped in and said a few words and was very supportive. We're trying to do what we can for Irish and European poker, and they supported us without asking for anything in return, and that does your heart good. On behalf of Stephen McLean and myself, I'd like to thank everyone for making the day such a successs."
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