Congratulations to Neil on a fantastic performance against a field of 667 players including many of the best players in the world. He will be a more than worthy champion!

Congratulations to Neil Channing who has won the 2008 Irish Open and a prize of €801,400. Donal Norton finishes runner-up for €420,000.

In the deciding hand Norton moved all-in from the small blind and Channing called. Channing turns over A9 and Norton flips 55. The flop was a decisive Q/A/10 giving Channing the lead in a tournament deciding pot. The turn K and river A means that Channing’s A9 wins the race and makes Neil Channing the champion.

We’re not many hands into our heads-up battle but Neil Channing has asserted his chip lead for those which have been played. Norton’s raises are getting snapped off both pre/flop and on the flop by Channing. The one pot that went to show down saw Channing land a 1,200,000 pot with trip aces.

Thomas Dunwoodie has been eliminated from the tournament in 3rd place collecting €275,000. Neil Channing moved all-in with A7 and Thomas Dunwoodie called with A8. The board came a dramatic 4/Q/3/9/7 meaning Dunwoodie loses the lead on the river and has been knocked out.

Latest stacks:

Neil Channing 4,436,000

Donal Norton 2,234,000

Short-stacked Thomas Dunwoodie moved all-in and Donal Norton calls. Dunwoodie shows 9/7 and Norton flips 8/5. The board comes 2/Q/Q/6/4 meaning the nine high plays and Dunwodie wins an 800,000 pot. 

Latest (estimate) counts from the paddypowerpoker.com Irish Open.

Neil Channing 3,800,000

Donal Norton 2,100,00

Thomas Dunwoodie 850,000

Thomas Dunwoodie moves all-in from the small blind for 256,000. Donal Norton calls. Norton shows A5 and Dunwoodie has A4. Tha excitement is short lived however as the board comes 8/10/J/6/Q meaning its a split.

Latest chip counts from our final three players:

Neil Channing 3,790,000

Donal Norton 2,434,000

Thomas Dunwoodie 422,000

We are currently on blind level 30,000-60,000 with a running ante of 4,000. The average stack in the tournament is 2,223,300.

We are down to three in the Irish Open. All the chips went in the centre pre/flop with Neil Channing holding Q/6 and Tim Blake holding K/J. The board came good for Channing 9/A/Q/5/Q and the galient Tim Blake has been eliminated in forth place for €220,000.

Double up for Tim Blake. Moving all-in with AA, he was called by Donal Norton who showed K/9. The board came safe for Blake 2/4/J/7/2 and the shortest stack on the table has doubled up.

Stacks:

Neil Channing 3,470,000

Donal Norton 2,370,000

Thomas Dunwoodie 388,000

Tim Blake 410,000

Latest stacks from the final table:

Neil Channing 3,260,000

Donal Norton 2,604,000

Thomas Dunwoodie 494,000

Tim Blake 284,000