The poker career of Patrick Clarke has been bright, especially when playing in the tournaments organized in his home country. He got another opportunity to continue with the routine when the Winamax Poker Open Dublin High Roller returned in the Irish capital.
Clarke is clearly becoming the true definition of the phrase ‘making your home a fortress.’ The Irishman has now won four tournaments hosted in his home capital, Dublin. Besides, the two of his greatest achievements in the poker table have come right in the same city. Indeed Clarke’s achievement in his backyard makes everyone understand the popular welcoming note: ‘feel at home.’
With a total of 194 entries, the field seemed crowded, and it appeared anyone’s title. It was the 10th Edition of the Winamax Poker Open (WPO) taking place at City West Resort, which has remained the traditional venue for the event. The tournament kicked off on September 23 and is set to run up to September 29. Meanwhile, Clarke’s success is just one among the 36 events WPO has lined up for the poker enthusiasts.
Even though Clarke was the eventual winner of the event, he came to the final table placed 28th among 29 contenders. He was well aware of his high probability to exit the contest, but he vowed to remain steadfast in the battle. Clarke also acknowledged that his only chance of survival was through obtaining quick spins.
True to his prayers, he got three double-up in the first orbit that made him believe that he could conquer. The excited Clarke told the press that he “just waited for the right opportunity,” and made his chance count.
Before long, the local player was holding the chip lead when the third level of the day commenced. However, his brilliant start came to a sudden halt when Jose Quintas of Portugal led the three survivors.
The event wasn’t short of surprises with Adrien Delmas forced to leave the contest earlier than expected. The Winamax Team Pro is a former champion of the event but he suffered an early exit. Philippe Guillou tactically flopped a flush after Delmas had rivered straight. Delmas walked with a consolation prize of €1610 after finishing in the 18th spot.
At the start of table two, Quintas still clung to his lead with Belgian Maxim Buyl and Guillou following in that order. However, the final chip leader Gabor Szabo and Guillou launched some moves that resulted to eliminations, thus narrowing the battlefield to just seven players. Before dinner, the other six schemers made sure that Buyl didn’t come back to the poker table after his meal.
Upon the resumption of the game after the dinner, it was Clarke’s turn to inflict some pain to participants in his pursuit to maneuver his ways to the top. French’s Aladin Raskallah, who was the last man standing in the Winamax Pro Team was eliminated after Clarke’s ace-king dismissed his sixes. Another French, Matthieu Lamagmere would be the next to bow out finishing in the fifth spot.
Clarke’s with a set consisting of a pocket of sixes was enough to send Szabo to the rail, leaving the final three players. The beginning of the three-man jostle found when the Irishman was holding 75% of the chip, but Guillou made a quick double through his two opponents to remain alive.
Quintas got his chance to make a double through Clarke to take the chip lead, but the Irish local wasn’t ready to surrender his lead. The defiant Clarke would then through Guillou to the rail before edging Quintas out on his way to securing €40640 winner’s prize.
The event that was dominated by the French players showed that home advantage wasn’t enough without hard work. Three French finished in top six, including Guillou, who bagged €20730 after finishing third. Portugal’s Quintas was brilliant throughout the event, but could only finish second to take home €29020.
