It was a good week for winners on the poker circuit as we saw players of all levels earn a win. From one of the most successful players claiming victory to a 59-year-old capturing his first, here’s a look at this week’s poker news:
O’Dwyer Wins 2018 Partypoker Live Millions UK Event
The 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS UK series began just over a week ago in Nottingham’s Dusk Till Dawn Poker Club and Steve O’Dwyer has already made a big splash.
O’Dwyer won the first significant event in the extended series, earning the win at the 25,000-pound super high roller on October 2. The tournament drew a total of 51 entries, which might seem low, but at 25,000 pounds an entry, the prizing amounted to just over 1.2 million pounds, or nearly $1.6 million US. O’Dwyer ended up taking home just over a third of that amount, collecting 450,000 pounds for his efforts, or about $590,000 US. That gives a healthy boost to his career earnings, which are now well over $24 million, and lands him 11th on the all-time poker money list.
Of course, at 25,000 a pop, it was mostly only the big boys who entered. Fabrizio Gonzalez was the runner-up at the event, winning $372,775 while also adding 350 Card Player of the Year points. Orpen Kisacikoglu was third, winning $260,000 and 280 CPOY points. Christoph Vogelsang was fourth, bagging $182,000 and 210 points. Aymon Hata was fifth, collecting $130,000 and 175 points.
Collins Wins 2018 Card Player Poker Tour Main Event
It was a crowded field at the 2018 Card Player Poker Tour Derby Lane Main Event but Steve Collins was able to navigate his way through to earn what might be his most significant win to date.
With 257 players entered in the tournament, the prize pool was $243,379. Collins, 59, rallied to win after being bunched in the lower portion of the field entering the final day. He won a series of big pots to climb up the ranks and eventually finish in first place. As a result, he won $57,444. He also grabbed 408 Card Player of the Year points. Collins is a late bloomer as he has only been playing competitive poker for five years.
Jose Delacruz was the runner-up, winning $33,845, while Justin Zaki was third, taking home $21,365. Rounding out the top five were Michael Colllins, who placed fourth and won $16,265, and Joe Hodge, who finished fifth and earned $13,115.
WSOP Spots On Line At National League Of Poker
The World Series of Poker is the granddaddy of them all and spots in the field are always coveted. There’s a new way to get in as the National League of Poker has announced that it will create a series of online tournaments that will carry World Series of Poker berths with them. Players can play for the 2019 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, plus two spots at a WSOP satellite tournament.
Social gaming company Cafrino, which owns the National League of Poker, revealed the creation of two Main Event Mania Series to offer pathways to Vegas for the WSOP showcase. The popularity of the WSOP – and the challenge of getting a spot in the field – has led a number of companies to dangle spots as prizing over the years as a way of getting players into their realm.