Irish Open 2012 Won by Belgium Poker Player Kevin Vandersmissen

Belgium’s Kevin Vandersmissen has won the 2012 Irish Open, an event that was broadcast live over the Internet and displayed players hole cards.  Poker fans around the world were also able to bet on this year’s Irish Open. 

Vandersmissen topped a field of 502 players at the €3,200 + €300 buy in event at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, leaving with the €420,000 top prize.

The 2012 Irish Open champ had this to offer:  “I feel pretty happy. It’s my first big tournament that I’ve won. I tried to do my best. I felt pretty comfortable. I had to double up in the beginning and had to play very tight but as you saw I’m not afraid to bluff!”

Newcastle’s Ian Simpson was the paddypowerpoker.com Sole Survivor winning €100,000 in tournament buy ins and cash.  He outlasted 135 plus online qualifiers. Simpson walked away with €107,500 for finishing fourth in the tournament.

The final table payouts were:

First: Kevin Vandersmissen - €420,000
Second: Thomas Beer - €225,000
Third: David “Dixie” Dean - €158,000
Fourth: Ian Simpson - €107,500
Fifth: Steve Watts - €78,000
Sixth:  Jordan Lewis - €59,000
Seventh: Samuel Chartier -- €44,500
Eighth: Andy Black - €32,700
Ninth: Philip Magennis - €23,000

The chips counts going into the final day’s play were:

Seat 1: Ian Simpson (2,007,000)?
Seat 2: David “Dixie” Dean (1,986,000)?
Seat 3: Thomas Beer (1,319,000)?
Seat 4: Kevin Vandersmissen (492,000)?
Seat 5: Andrew Black (808,000?
Seat 6: Philip Magennis (632,000)?
Seat 7: Samuel Chartier (582,000?
Seat 8: Steve Watts (1,519,000)?
Seat 9: Jordan Lewis (685,000)

- Ace King, Gambling911.com