Ian Simpson wins Irish Poker Open then proposes

Posted by Steve Ruddock on Apr 05, 2013 Posted in Poker News | No Comments »

irish_open 2011Schoolteacher, poker columnist, and poker aficionado Ian Simpson had a pretty good Sunday this past weekend. Not only did Simpson make the final table of the Irish Poker Open for the second straight year, he went on to win what is one of the most prestigious tournaments in poker, and then wasted no time in dropping down to one knee and proposing to his girlfriend Emma according to Cardplayer.com. She said yes by the way.

While his weekend was something usually only found in a Hollywood script, in reality Simpson’s entire life has been a bit a bit of fairy-tale over the past year as the former schoolteacher used his 2012 Irish Poker Open winnings along with a €100,000 prize-package from Paddy Power Poker to spend a year as a professional poker player, all the while blogging about his exploits for Cardplayer Magazine.

Prior to his huge score at the 2012 Irish Poker Open Simpson had only a single cash on his poker resume, a small cash in a preliminary tournament at the 2011 Irish Poker Open. However, with a newfound bankroll and a lot of confidence Simpson made the most of his year as a professional poker player, accumulating a respectable five cashes over the year including a runner-up finish in a side event at the 2013 PokerStars PCA, a win in a side event on the PokerStars UKIPT tour, and a cash in the recently concluded EPT London Main Event.

Now with an Irish Poker Open victory under his belt (and a storyline that will make him a recognizable name in the poker world) it will be interesting to see if Simpson goes back to being a part-time poker player or if he decides to keep the dream going and spend more time travelling the world and playing poker. Either way, it’s hard not to root for a guy like Simpson who is living the dream that so many aspiring poker players would die for.

Here is a look at the final table payouts from the 2013 Irish Poker Open sponsored by Paddy Power Poker:

1. Ian Simpson – €265,000

2. Michael Farrelly – €141,500

3. Mark Davis – €99,000

4. Namir Mohamed – €67,500

5. Calvin Anderson – €49,000

6. Declan Connolly – €37,500

7. Tom Brady – €28,000

8. Adam Fallon – €20,500

The Irish Poker Open is one of the longest running tournaments in poker, and is the brainchild of the man I believe deserves to be in the Poker Hall of Famed more than anyone else, Terry Rogers. The Irish Poker Open began in 1980, won by Collette Doherty, and in its 34-year run has been won by Irish legends like Noel Furlong, Mickey Flynn, and Liam Flood, as well as Joe Beevers, Kevin Vandersmissen, Neil Channing, and Marty Smyth in recent years.

 



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