‘It’s Something So, So Special’: Narcis Nedelcu Crowned Champion in Record-Breaking Irish Open Main Event

For the previous week, the halls of the Royal Dublin Society have been crammed to the brim with poker gamers from around the globe. The annual Irish Open, one of many longest-running tournaments on the planet, as soon as once more cemented its standing as one of many premier stops on the yearly calendar, attracting a record-breaking subject of 5,003 entries, hailing from 60 completely different international locations, for its prestigious €1,150 Primary Occasion.

After an thrilling closing day, Romanian common Narcis Nedelcu was awarded the distinguished Irish Open trophy when he defeated start-of-day chipleader Danilo Donnini in a brief heads up battle. Nedelcu secured his largest-ever reside haul of €336,798, marking his second six-figure rating in just some weeks as he’s coming recent off an enormous on-line win throughout PokerStars’ SCOOP pageant.

“I really feel wonderful. It is one thing so, so particular,” Nedelcu shared with PokerNews after his victory. “I simply cannot describe it proper now. I am now fifth on the Romanian all-time cash record, I feel. And in addition fourth on-line, so yeah, I am okay,” he proudly said relating to his current success.

Other than the cash and the status, Nedelcu earned a bunch of factors for the PokerStars Dwell Leaderboard, one thing he’s now formidable to chase for the remainder of the 12 months.

“I used to choose on-line poker, however these days I choose reside poker, so you may undoubtedly see me in Monte Carlo.”

The €2,500,000 assure put up by the organizers and occasion sponsors PokerStars and Paddy Energy Poker was completely smashed as the ultimate prize pool got here to a staggering complete of €4,852,910. The unique prime prize amounted to €517,100, however after the ultimate 5 gamers had battled for hours and the chip stacks all turned comparatively even, they determined to achieve a deal, leaving €70,227 apart for the eventual winner. Subsequent to Nedelcu and Donnini, Vasyl Palandiuk, Oliver Gayko, and highest-placing Irishman Daryl McAleenan had been a part of the five-way ICM chop, every taking residence a minimal of €250,493.

2026 Irish Open Primary Occasion Remaining Desk Outcomes

* denotes five-way ICM deal

Nedelcu Navigates Early Levels

The ultimate day began with ten gamers returning, which means they had been one elimination away from making the ultimate desk. After a tough begin, Finnish participant Jarkko Suokas turned the unlucky closing desk bubble, with Donnini taking the final of his chips. Nedelcu got here into the ultimate desk in the identical place as he began the day, proper in the course of the pack.

After the eliminations of Edward Dunphy and Matthew Twomey, Nedelcu discovered himself all-in and in danger. His jacks held in opposition to the nines of Isaac Barker, and he doubled up. Not a lot later, he eradicated Barker to seize the chip lead for the primary time. Donnini then eradicated Francesco Gisolfi, who had certified on-line for simply €10, in sixth place, leaving 5 contenders remaining.

Negotiating a Deal

For over three hours, the ultimate 5 contenders battled, with the chip lead altering once in a while. Finally, the stacks received comparatively even, and deal discussions had been initiated. The gamers didn’t want lengthy to return to an settlement, deciding on an ICM chop whereas leaving over €70,000 and the trophy to play for.

“I did not really feel strain concerning the cash, however I did really feel the strain concerning the blinds. They go very large, and the variance is greater. So yeah, it is higher like this,” Nedelcu defined relating to the deal.

After the gamers had agreed on the payouts, Nedelcu didn’t want lengthy to shut out his victory. He picked up queens to ship Gayko and McAleenan to the rail in a single fell swoop, and despatched Palandiuk packing in third place just a few minutes later. Beginning with a three-to-one chip lead, Nedelcu determined the heads up in 4 fingers. Ultimately, the short-stacked Donnini’s king-six couldn’t beat the ace-deuce of Nedelcu in a preflop confrontation, incomes Nedelcu the distinguished trophy and ceaselessly etching his title within the wealthy historical past of the Irish Open as a Primary Occasion champion.

Nevertheless, the Irish Open will not be executed but for the 12 months. The longest-running European poker occasion has introduced it’s going worldwide, with the primary cease in Sydney, Australia, going down September 6–15, and a second one in Marrakech, Morocco deliberate for November 10-15. A cease in america can also be within the works for early 2027. The truth is, the primary Day 1 for the AU$1,000,000 assured Irish Open Australia Primary Occasion was held in Dublin at present.