Kevin Vandersmissen Wins Paddy Poker Irish Open


04/10/2012 :  BELGIAN PRO VICTORIOUS IN IRISH POKER OPEN (Update)
 
Low man in the chip stacks rises to beat a formidable final table
 
When Belgian poker pro Kevin Vandersmissen took his seat at the final table of the Paddy Poker Irish Open on Monday he had not only survived an entry field of 502 quality players over three days of action, but he had the smallest chip stack in an elite group of finalists that included Ian Simpson, David “Dixie” Dean, Steve Watts, Thomas Beer, Andrew Black, Jordan Lewis, Philip Magennis and Samuel Chartier.
 
Despite the disadvantage, he displayed a remarkable level of skill to outlast them all and claim the main prize of Euro 420,000 after a short heads up against runner-up Thomas Beer of Germany. In the process he scored big on two major and audacious double-ups against Dixie Dean and start-of-play chip leader Ian Simpson.
 
The final table was a relatively brief affair at just five levels, with favoured high profile ace Andy Black the first to be eliminated.
 
Vandermissen's victory is all the more impressive when one looks at some of the players in the field, which included Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Freddy Deeb and Faraz Jaka, none of whom made the final table.
 
Beer's second placing was worth Euro 225,000.
 
Previous big live tourney wins on Vandermissen's c.v. include the 2010 Full Tilt Poker Series Grand Final for $198,641 and his runner up finish at the European Poker Tour Snowfest for $368,601 in 2011.