Donegal Poker Festival – Day 2 Wrap

With the locals showing out in force and securing the 2 available trophies on offer on the opening day of the festival. It is clear for everyone to see that this county is serious about poker. The schedule lined up for Saturday, offered more opportunities for those from the Hills to bolster their trophy cabinets.
The Main Event 1B got things rolling and 66 entries threw their names in the hat, in an attempt to bag up a stack ready for the Final. As play progressed the field was thinned down to 9 players. Of this flight the highest stacks were secured by Micheal Magee with 426,000, Daithí Tracey bagged up 451,000 and bringing forward the highest stack so far was Joe Friel with a whopping 779,000.
The Letterkenny 200 was the first trophy on offer for the day, which saw 26 entries in the mix. With an added bonus thrown in for good measure from the Adelaide Casino, in Sligo, which hosts an IPT event on the 22nd of November. They have donated a Main Event entry ticket, which is going to the player that bursts the bubble in this event. The bittersweet moment fell to Aidan Canny, although annoyed to have bust, he was happy to receive a brucey bonus for his troubles. In the end 3rd place was taken by Sam Zheng who banked €960. A deal was done in the heads-up meaning 2nd place went to Barry O’Neill, who pocketed €1,840. The winner and yet again a showing of force from the surrounding areas was Derry native Niall Grace, who took home the trophy and €2,000.
Next up in the day to begin was the Donegal Main Event 1C. Which saw the highest turnout for a flight so far, with 147 entries competing. With such a large field, this meant there were a lot more chips up for grabs. In the end the highest stacks brought forward were with Daniel McMenamin, who had 364,000. Alan Trueick, with 366,000 and Emmett Mullin who bagged 467,000.
Saturday Omaha saw 21 entries sign up. With the man who sits atop the IPT leaderboard, Shane Keary making his way through to the final table. After some cagey play the pack started to thin. With Shane Keary taking 3rd place and €560. In 2nd was Niall K Campbell, who pocketed €880. The winner of Saturday Omaha was Kevin O’Malley, taking home the trophy and €1,440.
The Donegal Main Event 1D saw a further 81 entries adding to the ever-growing prize pool for the Main Event. With a guarantee of €75,000 set aside for the main. It didn’t take long for this to be met, with it reaching and surpassing €100,000 and the hyper still to be played. In this flight the highest stacks were with Eugene O’Kane, who had 287,000. John Fannon, banked 344,000 for the final. The highest stack of the flight was bagged by Denys Kostrykin, who snapped up 394,000.
Everything is in place, and we are set up for one hell of a final day. With one more flight in the form of the hyper, the Monsterstack, Final Fling and Omaha. Not to mention the matter of the Main Event Final to be settled. Sunday is sure to be one to remember.
Those unable to join us need not fret as from the comfort of your own home you can keep up to date with all the action at livepokerupdates.com….