Poker Verdict Paints Dublin Red

Here at Poker Verdict we are hoping to arrive at the office tomorrow morning to several crates of Guinness on our sponsored player Neil Channing, who, moments ago, secured 1st place in the renouned Irish Open 2008, good for an absolutely whopping €801,400.

After a gruelling three days in the Citywest Hotel Dublin amongst 667 of the world’s top players, including everybody’s favourite Texan Doyle Brunson, Neil Channing took down today’s final table in just under four hours.

In a final table that started like this…

Seat 1 Neil Channing -- 2,742,000
Seat 2 Carsten John -- 340,000
Seat 3 Tim Blake -- 825,000
Seat 6 Kai Danilo Paulsen -- 658,000
Seat 7 Thomas Dunwoodie -- 872,000
Seat 8 Edwin Tournier -- 514,000
Seat 9 Donal Norton -- 691,000

…we had every confidence in Neil taking this monster down. Sure enough, through strong and balanced play, Neil won his heads up battle with Donal Norton in less than an hour, entering the heads up play with a 2 to 1 chip lead and taking down the final hand, calling Norton’s small blind push with A-9. Norton showed 5-5 but Neil flopped the all important ace in the classic 55/45 race securing this well respected title.

It has been an amazing six months for Neil Channing, who went deep into the final 150 in the WSOP main event 2007, won his heat of the UK Open in September securing a TV appearance, and final tabled the GBPT in September securing yet another TV appearance.

Neil decided it was time to win one in October when he took down a GUKPT London side event. He also came 2nd in a GUKPT London side event a few weeks ago, as well as final tabling the GUKPT Blackpool in November, securing, you guessed it – ANOTHER tv appearance.

It was expected by many on the UK poker scene that Neil would take this amazing record of success further to win a major event, and he has done so today in true style becoming the Irish Poker champion and the pride of Poker Verdict.

Expect a lengthy and exclusive gossip filled interview with our star Neil Channing next week (as well as Neil’s monthly blog which should be excellent!) – we’ll be using this interview as an excuse to meet up with him for a couple of rounds of Ireland’s finest.

PS: Hands off Poker Verdict crew, I bags the interview and the Guinness!