The Irish Poker Open Main Event title is staying in the Emerald Isle. Local Irishman Simon Wilson outlasted the field of 4,562 entrants to take home the massive score of €600,000.
Surrounded by a rail of locals that rivaled the home-team chants at nearby Aviva Stadium, Wilson made his rowdy crowd and country proud.
This one meant the world to Wilson. His biggest cash ever, surrounded by friends, in his backyard; the script couldn't have been written better.
'I'll remember this day forever.'
"It's really special," Wilson said. "We come every year. Thousands of people enter. It's always just a pipe dream. The days go on, the players get fewer and fewer."
Then, a loss for words that could only be broken by a release of days-long tension via Irish-accented expletive.
"Yeah, f*ck."
Cheers all around, followed by coordinated chants to celebrate their man's score.
"There's only one...Simon Wilson. There's only one...Simon Wilson. Walking along, singing his song, walking in a winter wonderland." Follow that up with, "You've got to pump it up; you've got to pump it up."
The atmosphere was electric, and Wilson took it all in during the euphoria of his post-victory interviews. This all was after a minute-long crowdsurf performance with beer flying and chaos reigning.
"The memory of winning the tournament, it's second-to-none," Wilson said. "It's the biggest achievement that I've had. I'll remember this day forever."
Irish Poker Open Main Event final table results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon Wilson | €600,000 |
| 2 | Umberto Ruggeri | €316,000 |
| 3 | Ignotas Kirsis | €225,000 |
| 4 | Georgios Skarparis | €170,000 |
| 5 | Michel Karim | €130,000 |
| 6 | Brandon Harris | €100,000 |
| 7 | Panteleimon Pontos | €77,500 |
| 8 | Robert Fluereci | €59,030 |
| 9 | Joe O'Donaill | €45,800 |
The final hand: Suited connectors for the win
With such a big difference between first and second place prizes, many anticipated a likely deal at the final table. Wilson carried a large chip lead into heads-up play, and no such deal would be made.
Heads up against Umberto Ruggeri for the title, Wilson had chipped away a bit before the final hand.
Ruggeri opened 
off of about 14 big blinds. Wilson moved all in with 
, and Riggeri called quickly. With both rails cheering for their needed cards, the chants for "diamonds!" and "give us a six!" drowned out any calls for aces.
After the classic final table dramatic pause, the dealer spread the 
flop, giving Wilson a commanding lead. The 
left only six outs for Ruggeri to stay alive. The 
was no help, and Wilson had completed the task and earned the largest score of his career.
Amidst the chaos, the beer, the chants, and the celebrations, there was pure, calm joy emanating from Wilson. He'd accomplished the 'pipe dream.' After coming here year after year, he'd cemented his place in Irish Poker Open history.
We hope he does remember it forever, because he put on a show for his friends, family, countrymen, and all of us watching from around the world.
With some final, appropriate words, Wilson sent us all home happy.
"Let's go get some pints."
Images courtesy Danny Maxwell/PokerStars.
