Third Time is Charm of Marty Smyth at Poker Million VII

As the old adage goes, the third time is a charm. That saying rang true this year at the Poker Million VII for winner Marty Smyth.

This was the third year in a row that Smyth has landed himself at the prestigious games’ final table. The only difference this year was that he came out on top. Last year he had to settle for 2nd place and $500,000 and two years ago he won $100,000 for a sixth place finish.
Each year has been a bit of a struggle to get through the early rounds and the semifinals to make it to the final table. Smyth was nearly out of the competition when his chip stack had dwindled down to one set of blinds just three hands into final table action. A pair of kings beat out his A-K and he almost went home.
His comeback has quite impressive at a final table that included some big poker players like Ciaran O’Leary, a WSOP bracelet winner and Liam Flood.
Two of the players at the final table got there on sheer luck, Kevin Allen and Svein Petter Neilsen both won their way in the semi final round after winning satellite seats at Ladbrokes Poker, the sponsor of the event.
"This was a thrilling format which promised lots of excitement," said Edward Ihre, Ladbrokes Poker managing director. "For the first time, Ladbrokes Poker gave players who were runners-up in their heat a second chance to get to the semi-finals as well as running two online super satellites to play in the two semi-finals."
Both Allen and Neilsen parlayed their free seat into big winnings, with Allen getting 5th place finish and $100,000 while Neilsen finished in 6th place to win $75,000.
"Marty Smyth seemed destined to win this tournament having made the last two final tables," Ehre said.
Final Table Results:
1st place Marty Smyth $1 Million
2nd place Eoghan O’Dea $260,000
3rd place Ciaran O’Leary $175,000
4th place Liam Flood $130,000
5th place Kevin Allen $100,000
6th place Svein Petter Neilsen $75,000

Their were a few other big named players that didn’t make it past the semi final round. Those players included Tony G, Roy Brindley, Jonas Danielsson, Dave “Devilfish” Ulliot, and brothers Barney and Ross Boatman.

News Added: 19 December, 2008

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