Poker in Ireland

Author: Simon Dexter

In a land steeped in storytelling tradition, the tale of how Irish poker developed has, over the past quarter century, assumed mythical proportions.

Legend has it that back in the late Seventies, Terry Rogers, a famous Irish bookmaker and keen poker player, became a regular visitor to Las Vegas where he first encountered the World Series of Poker. Renowned for his outgoing nature, Terry befriended poker legends such as Benny Binion and Doyle Brunson and would later be credited as the man responsible for introducing no limit Texas Hold ‘Em to Europe.

Initially, however, his intention was to mix business with pleasure in Vegas. Assisted by a bookmaking colleague, Liam Flood, he began offering odds on those Seventies WSOP games. Unfortunately for the pair, neither were in possession of a gaming licence, an oversight about which the local police force reminded them as Rogers and Flood were unceremoniously thrown into jail.

“If you listen to some people, you’d think Terry and me were in San Quentin for years,” says Liam Flood, “but the truth is, no sooner were we in that we were out again.” Neither man spent as much as a full day in the Vegas’ law enforcers custody.

“I did the longer stretch though,” laughs Flood. “Terry was in for 12 hours, but the person who was supposed to bail us both somehow managed to forget me, so I was there for another two hours! I never forgot to remind Terry of that.”

The experience may have resulted in the Las Vegas police force being dropped from each man’s Christmas card list, but having witnessed the WSOP at first hand, the next step was a logical one. In 1981, Rogers invited his American pals, including Amarillo Slim Preston and Puggy Pearson to the Emerald Isle where they could compete against their Irish cousins, and so the Irish Poker Open was born.

For a while, they held another tournament at the same time, ‘The Eccentric Club Invitational’, but no-one seems to know what became of that. This year, however, the IPO celebrates its twenty seventh anniversary, making it the oldest poker tournament in Europe. Indeed, after the WSOP, it is the oldest high profile poker event in the world.

As poker’s popularity has boomed, so Ireland has positioned itself as the preferred location for a clutch of new, high-profile tournaments, including the third running of the Irish Poker Championships (IPC) which take place in Galway this weekend.

A host of leading players, including Littlewoods Poker star Tony Cascarino, have been tempted to Ireland’s west coast by a prize pool expected to reach one million euros (around £700,000). Last year’s event, held in Dublin, was won by John Clancy who beat 309 others in the Main Event to collect a cheque for 114,000 euros (approximately £80,000), although most observers anticipate that first prize to be superseded come Sunday evening.

Europe’s first major poker tournament of 2008 has attracted a strong field and there has been plenty of early support in the betting markets for Joe Beevers and Julian Gardner, hardly a surprise considering both made the Poker Million final and are in fine form. Others frontrunners with the bookies include Bruno Fitoussi, Roy Brindley and Marcel Luske.

The IPC will be aired by national broadcaster RTE, who plan six, one-hour shows which are also scheduled to be transmitted across the globe.

That Ireland boasts a long-standing poker affinity is hardly a surprise; although the nation has witnessed a remarkable economic boom over the past two decades, throughout the ensuing changes, Irishmen and women have retained their reputation as friendly, accessible folk. They have always been lovers of sport as well as the odd flutter and continue to implore visitors to enjoy themselves and, of course, the craic. This unique combination is ideal for poker players, theorists, strategists and followers of the game.

Indeed, such is the nation’s appeal to poker enthusiasts that two years ago, Mike Caro, a leading authority on poker strategy, psychology and statistics, made a rare appearance outside of the US to give a lecture on poker’s burgeoning appeal, its theories and strategies. Significantly, the lecture was hosted by Trinity College’s Philosophical Society.

Ireland’s poker tradition has developed deep roots. Although the IPO’s founder, Terry Rogers, died in 1999, his old pal Liam Flood, who won the event in 1996 and who was its tournament director for several years, ensures the nation’s status among poker players worldwide is maintained. “Poker,” he says, “always provides a great chance to see some old friends.”

He is a man who knows his poker history inside out, a guy who has played (and beaten) some of the game’s biggest names, from Doyle Brunson and Stu Ungar to the Devilfish himself. Known as Liam ‘The Gentleman’ Flood, his poker career included six major cash titles and he appeared in a total of 22 final table finishes.

His most memorable victory came in the European Open at London’s Victoria Casino in 1997. Three players were left at the table when he suggested splitting the pot between himself, Dave ‘The Devilfish’ Ulliot and Surrindar Sunar. “We don’t do deals,” replied Ulliot. An hour and a half later, Flood had wiped the pair out, whereupon the other two split what cash remained for second and third place.

“It was a great bit of fun,” says Flood in that disarmingly Irish manner which has the effect of convincing people that they shouldn’t take life – or themselves - too seriously.

Reflecting upon the 27-year IPO history and on its younger cousin, the IPC, there is a strong element of pride in Liam Flood’s voice. “Twenty seven years? That’s some achievement for a poker tournament that started following an invitation to a few pals in the States,” he concludes. “Let’s hope everyone has a good time celebrating Irish poker [at the IPC] this weekend and enjoys a bit of the craic.” Whoever wins in Galway, there seems little doubt about that.