Players

Name: David Benyamine
Country: France
Bio: After a successful run of tournament results, Benyamine has become a regular in Bobby’s Room at the Bellagio in Las Vegas – home to the highest stakes cash games on the planet. A highly respected player amongst the top pros he is the holder of two World Poker Tour titles. Benyamine cashed at the the 2007 Irish Open finishing 64th.

Name: Andy Black
Country: Ireland
Bio: One of the most unique characters in a world of unique characters, Black famously gave up poker after being run over by Stu Ungar in the 1997 WSOP. He turned to Buddhism and spent a number of years away from the game. He returned with a bang in the 2005 WSOP Main Event finishing 5th for a $1.75 Million payday. Andy brings a huge presence to any table and is currently in a rich vein of form with final tables at the Aussie Millions, the EPT Grand Final and the WSOP to add to his Omaha triumph at the 2007 Irish Open

Name: Roland De Wolfe
Country: England
Bio: Probably the player with the best tournament record over the past two years, De Wolfe is a larger than life character who is famous for his fearlessness and willingness to gamble. Ireland has been the good to the Londoner recently. He won the Dublin EPT in October 2006 and very nearly completed the double when he finished 2nd in the Irish Open six months later. He has won both EPT and WPT titles and has won more than $3.5 million in the last three years.

Name: Colette Doherty
Country: Ireland
Bio: Winner of the very first Irish Open, Colette repeated her performance in 1991 winning in her second title and cementing her reputation as one of the legends of Irish Poker. On Terry Rogers insistence she used her winnings from her first Irish Open to play in the WSOP Main Event in 1981. Colette still regularly tears up the cash game tables in Dublin.

Name: Liam Flood
Country: Ireland
Bio: Liam "The Gentleman" Flood has been at the forefront of Irish poker since the 1970s. Famously arrested with Terry Rogers in Las Vegas for gambling, Liam has been instrumental in the development of the Irish Open. He won the tournament himself in 1996 and is currently the Tournament Director of the Irish Open. A huge presence in the game he is currently enjoying a rich vein of form having won the World Masters as well as the European Open in 2006.

Name: Noel Furlong
Country: Ireland
Bio: For someone who claims to have never been a professional card player Noel Furlong has one of the most enviable tournament records of any player in the world. Famous for his aggressive style of play, Noel made history in 1992 becoming the only three time winner of the Irish Open (1987,’89,’92). Not content with that accolade, Furlong proved his skills beyond doubt by becoming the first Irishman to win the WSOP Main Event in 1999. A successful businessman in his own right Noel is largely retired from tournament poker these days.

Name: Dan Harrington
Country: USA
Bio: If proof were ever need that sporting greatness is hereditary then you need look no further than the Harringtons. Dan Harrington, 1995 WSOP World Champion, is the cousin of both The Open champion Padraig Harrington and NFL quarterback Joey Harrington. Harrington is widely regarded as one of the greatest tournament players, and poker authors, of all time – his greatest achievement being back to back WSOP Main Event final tables against enormous fields in 2003 and 2004. The former chess champion made an early run on the 2007 Irish Open and was amongst the chip leaders on Day 1 before bowing out on Day 2.

Name: Phil Laak
Country: USA(via Ireland)
Bio: Phil Laak is one of the most entertaining players on the international poker circuit. Famous for his outrageous antics, including press–ups between hands, and his loud but good natured table talk, Laak has proven his worth with a WPT title and impressive performances in the high stakes Las Vegas cash games. Going by the nickname "Unabomber", because he wears a grey hoodie and sunglasses at the table, Laak was knocked out of the 2007 Irish Open on Day 1 after "hyper overplaying Ace–King". He went on to provide commentary and expert analysis for the television coverage of the event.

Name: Carlos Mortensen
Country: Spain
Bio: The only player in history to have won both the WSOP Main Event and the WPT Championship, "The Matador" is one of the greatest tournament players to have ever sat at a poker table. That didn’t stop him from being the first player knocked out of the 2007 Irish Open when his pocket Aces succumbed to a horrible bad beat all–in after less than 15 minutes of play!

Name: Donnacha O’Dea
Country: Ireland
Bio: "The Don" has been one of Ireland’s most successful poker players for over two decades and is a respected tournament and cash game player the world over. He won a WSOP bracelet in 1998 for Pot Limit Omaha and was the Poker Million champion in 2004. He made the WSOP Main Event final table in 1983 and came close again this year with a good cash finish. O’Dea has over $1 million in tournament winnings and has played in the Irish Open nearly every year since it began.

Name: Padraig Parkinson
Country: Ireland
Bio: Amongst the most popular players on the international circuit, Padraig is one of the great characters of Irish poker and a huge presence at any table he plays at. When on form he is one of the best in the world and has turned a healthy profit at the World Series over the years finishing 3rd in the WSOP Main Event in 1999 and 3rd again in the WSOP $1500 NLH in 2006. Famous for his gift of the gab and caustic wit, Padraig has been a staple of the Irish Open and would dearly love to add the Irish Open to his long list of achievements.

Name: Mike Sexton
Country: USA
Bio: An international ambassador for the beautiful game, Mike Sexton is one of the most recognisable faces in poker. With over €3 Million in tournament winnings Sexton has long been part of the poker establishment. As the charismatic TV Commentator on the World Poker Tour he has charmed the poker world, at the table he continues to strike fear into their hearts. A strong Day 1 performance at the 2007 Irish Open put Sexton amongst the leaders but his charge towards the money ended on Day 2.

Name: Marty Smyth
Country: Northern Ireland
Bio: The reigning Irish Open champion, Marty outlasted a record field of 708 players to claim the Terry Rogers trophy in 2007. His superb performance, culminating with his epics heads–up victory over Roland De Wolfe, was enough to earn him €650,000 and a place in the history books. His considerable tournament record includes a final table appearance at the Poker Million in December 2006 and he has international tournament winnings in excess of $1,000,000.

Name: Jennifer Tilly
Country: USA
Bio: Oscar nominated actress Jennifer Tilly has been the first Hollywood star to successfully make the jump from actor–poker player to poker player–actor. By winning a WSOP bracelet in the Ladies event in 2005 she proved herself beyond doubt and she is now a respected regular on the poker circuit. Her relationship with Phil "The Unabomber" Laak has further increased her profile and they are very much the golden couple of world poker. She didn’t do much better than Phil at the 2007 Irish Open and didn’t finish the first day, but her spirits weren’t dashed and she was soon joining her boyfriend in the commentary booth along with Jesse May.