Local Lad Adrian Walshe takes the title in Dublin

The fun loving city of Dublin provided the backdrop to the Full Tilt Poker Dublin All-Star Challenge (€3,000 buy in), hosted by the Sporting Emporium, as top pros from America and Europe contested the 4th and final stop of the inaugural European Poker Masters.

Day 1 saw some big casualties. WPT player of the year Gavin Smith lasted just 2 hours, and 5 time WSOP bracelet winner Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson was not far behind him. Irish pop star Brian McFadden lasted just 45 minutes due to a bad beat.

Other famous faces knocked out during day one included Allen Cunningham, Mike Matusow, Liam Flood and Erik Seidel.

Day 2 began at 3pm with only 31 runners left, the players conscious that the prize pool only paid the top 8 places. Clonie Gowen fell foul of a bad beat and her exit was followed by Melissa Hayden and Ben Roberts. Howard Lederer was next out with Andy Black not far behind.

Richard Toth, EPM winner in Vienna, looked set to make the final table. He was chip leader at the dinner break with only 14 players left, but lost two big pots shortly after and finished in 12th. 11pm on Saturday and they were down to eight with a final table line up that included 2003 European Poker Player of the year Dave Colclough, Irish multi-millionaire Alan Smurfit, Finish poker pro Thomas Wahlroos, and a sprinkling of local talent including crowd favourite and Sporting Emporium local Vera Duffy.

Unfortunately Vera Duffy came to the final table dangerously short-stacked and, despite doubling up with pocket sevens in hand 4 she went out in hand 6. Duffy moved all-in with Ace/Queen and Irishman Adrian Walshe called with pockets 10s. It looked like it was going Vera’s way when the flop came down Ace, Queen, 7, giving her two pair. But against the odds the turn came a Jack and with a King on the river - Walshe had managed to pike a straight.

After Duffy’s exit play at the table tightened up. Short-stacked Irishman Dominick Hever made a move with his pocket tens in hand 41. Thomas Wahlroos called with King/Queen and it was the classic race, the pocket pair versus two over cards. However, it wasn’t the over pair that Wahlroos hit but a flush on the river to send Hever home with a cheque for €6,750.

The crowd didn’t have to wait long for the next scalp. Alan Smurfit, who had played a tight conservative game all day, found pocket Queens in hand 42. Thomas Tricks moved all-in pre-flop with Ace/Queen leaving Smurfit no choice but to call - Smurfit had to do dodge the Ace. Unfortunately lady luck was not smiling on the Irishman and an Ace on the turn signalled Smurfit’s departure and we were down to 5.

Thomas Trinks from Germany was next out with pocket Jacks - the cursed hand of the day. The jacks walked into Dave Colclough’s pocket Aces and it was Auf wiedersehen to Thomas Tricks, out in 5th but with a cheque for €20,250 Hand 83 saw another local favourite Tony Baitson out. He moved all-in with Ace/Jack - Colclough called with King/ten. But the luck of the Irish had run out with Colclough hitting a straight on the river.
The final three consisted of a Welshman, an Irishman, and a Fin. The latter, Thomas Wahlroos, made it to hand 103 moving all-in with pocket nines. Walshe called with Ace/Jack and the race began, an ace on the flop and Wahlroos was out third netting €31,500.

Dave Colclough and Adrian Walshe’s heads-up confrontation lasted 95 hands and almost three hours in what was a battle of wits and stamina. The chip lead kept swinging back and forth with both players card dead for the majority of the action. Trailing in chips Colclough eventually pushed in with 10/8 and Walshe called with Jack/7. Neither hit on the flop and Walshe won with Jack high!

The audience were ecstatic to see a Dubliner win the final European Poker Masters title of the inaugural season, as well as pick up a giant cheque for €85,500.

James Hopkins, Tour Creator and EPM Executive Producer, said: “The Dublin All-Star Challenge once again attracted many of the biggest names in world poker. We now look forward to season 2 and a 2007 tour schedule that will feature more events and bigger prize pools as we build upon what has been an incredible first season.”

For more details and images contact press office Adrian Mackenzie +4420 8600 2698
For more information on European Poker Masters events please go to www.europeanpokermasters.com .
For 2007 EPM event sponsorship opportunities please contact james.hopkins@thepokerchannel.co.uk 

Final Standings

1st Adrian Walshe €85,500

2nd Dave Colclough €56,250

3rd Thomas Wahlroos €31,500

4th Tony Baitson €20,250

5th Thomas Trinks €11,250

6th Alan Smurfit €9,000

7th Dominick Hever €6,750

8th Vera Duffy €4,500

Broadcast Dates: Eurosport

Premiering on 13th October, eight 60 minute episodes of the first season of the European Poker Masters will be shown on Eurosport.
Episode 1 - 13th October 2006 (London)
Episode 2 – 17th November 2006 (London)
Episode 3 - 24th November 2006 (Vienna)
Episode 4 - 8th December 2006 (Vienna)
Episode 5 – 22nd December 2006 (Paris)
Episode 6 – 29th December 2006 (Paris)
Episode 7 - 5th January 2007 (Dublin)
Episode 8 - 12th January 2007 (Dublin)

The European Poker Masters will air on All-In-Sport (Sky guide 444) in March 2007

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FullTiltPoker.com

'Dublin All-Star Challenge'

17th-19th November 2006

€3,000 NLHE Event