Galway Poker Festival Final Wrap

Mitch Hyman Takes the Big Prize

The Galway Poker Festival is over for another year and that leaves everyone involved just a little bit sad. Another week of great poker and even greater partying in Ireland’s Western Capital is behind us and we will have to wait twelve months to be back in the glamorous Galmont Hotel meeting up once again with all our friends.

The Main Event saw a dramatic conclusion when Mitchell Hyman from Bristol hit the nut straight with Daryl McAleenan from County Down unluckily making the second nuts. This means that Mitch is this year’s Galway Poker Champion and is over €83,000 richer. Daryl has to make do with €60,000 and a lot of what-ifs.

Last year’s champ Derek Baker had another incredible run finishing third and collected €35,000 with Irish Poker Festival kingpin Mark Buckley fourth (€25,000) and Mary Galvin fifth for €19,000.

Liam Chevalier embellished his astounding tournament record by winning the Highroller and €20,000 beating Jamie Wynne (€12,000) in the Heads Up.

Overall the player numbers were very strong especially considering the Winter weather warnings being issued hourly by Met Eireann. All guarantees were smashed along the way as total tournament entries surpassed 3,000 and the cash action barely stopped to draw breath over six wonderful days.

Bring on January 2026.