Back-to-back Irish champs? Why EPT winner Padraig O’Neill thinks Prague is Ireland’s for the taking
More than a million euros – that’s how much Padraig O’Neill returned home to Ireland with the last time he went to Prague for the European Poker Tour (EPT).
O’Neill – “Smidge” to his friends – took down the record-breaking EPT Prague Main Event in December 2023, beating a field of 1,285 entries and banking €1.03 million, by far the best score of the 35-year-old’s career after more than a decade of playing.
No one would have predicted it when the final table began. O’Neill, from Drumlish, entered the finale as the shortest stack but used his talent, tenacity and impeccable timing to turn the tables and ultimately defeat the runaway chip leader Jon Kyte heads-up.
Now, as he prepares for his title defence in December, he’s got a message for his fellow Irish grinders:
“Come fill your boots. Let’s get back-to-back Irish champs!”
IRELAND‘S EPT GLORY
It’s hard to believe that a country with such a rich poker history has produced just two EPT champions in 20 years.
The first was one of tournament poker’s all-time greats, Steve O’Dwyer. The Irish-American might have the United States flag on his Hendon Mob, but the long-time Dublin resident’s heart is green, white and orange. O’Dwyer won €1.22 million when he clinched the EPT Monte Carlo title in 2013, just a drop in the ocean of his $45.2 million in career earnings (14th of all-time).
It would take ten years for Ireland to return to the EPT’s top table thanks to O’Neill, but that doesn’t mean there’s been a shortage of success for Irish players in the years since.
O’Neill became Ireland’s second EPT champ
“There are lots of people with a passion for poker in the country,” says O’Neill. “The weather helps. Long cold rainy nights to play some online tournaments.”
O’Neill also cites the strong grassroots poker scene in Ireland as an impeccable training ground for bigger and better things. “By the time an Irish player has made it to an EPT they’ve usually already gained a lot of experience,” he says.
COULDN’T PICK A BETTER STOP
But even if you’re playing your first big live event in Prague this year, O’Neill says you couldn’t pick a better stop. For starters, flights to Prague are cheap compared with more distant locations, plus it’s very affordable once you’re there – ideal for Power Path winners and online qualifiers hoping to enjoy a poker holiday without breaking the bank.
Prague is one of the most popular poker destinations — particularly around Christmas time
“What a great event to play as your first big one,” says O’Neill. “Have fun. Relax.”
He continues: “Prague is a lovely city. Take a trip up to the Christmas markets and walk around the Old Town squares. It’s a peaceful way to get you ready for the day or to unwind. I’ve been a tourist there many times after early main event exits, so I’m just hoping to be half as busy as I was last year.”
STRONG COMMUNITY
While many would chase a second title after becoming an EPT champion, Padraig O’Neill prefers to pick and choose his stops. He’s only played one EPT Main Event since his victory in Prague – Paris in February – but can’t wait to compete there again. “I can’t believe it’s been a year already,” he says.
There are a couple of reasons O’Neill is so selective, first and foremost being that he has a toddler at home. When he’s not playing online he’s busy being a dad.
But he also loves to travel with the friends he’s made in Ireland’s poker community. “I normally book a hotel or apartment with the same two to four guys,” he says. “We’ve been travelling together now for over a decade.”
Irish players flying solo to EPT Prague needn’t worry about being lonely. The crew of players travelling from the Emerald Isle will welcome you in with open arms and cheer you on from the rail if you make a deep tournament run, just as they did for O’Neill last year.
Fintan Hand already has a UKIPT title. Is an EPT trophy next?
When asked which Irish players he believes have the best shot at following in his footsteps and winning EPT Prague, O’Neill says Daniel “NukeTheFish!” Wilson and PokerStars Ambassador Fintan “easywithaces” Hand.
“The lads have been playing high-stakes online tournaments for many years now and are better equipped than I was or am.”
O’Neill is confident that Ireland will put up a strong showing in Prague and get some great results this year, so make sure you’re a part of it. “Honestly,” he says, “any of you could win it.”
FURTHER READING:
EPT Prague: Landmarks from 17 years in the Czech Republic, plus city travel guide
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