World Open title for Smyth

2008-05-06 16:54:50

Marty Smyth won one of the UK's biggest poker tournaments the World Open IV over the weekend, outlasting a field including some of the most famous names in British card playing.

Perhaps the highest profile of these was Neil Channing, this year's Irish Poker Open winner, who was the hot favourite with the bookmakers before the event.

However, it was not to be for the Englishman and he succumbed to Smyth's poker skills in the heads-up.

It is not often that a $250,000 victory pales in significance compared to other cash wins, but the Irishman has won far more on two occasions during his career.

Triumph at the 2007 Irish Poker Open earned him close to $900,000, while second place at the Ladbrokes Poker Million the same year was worth $500,000.

Smyth is yet to enter Card Player's player of the year rankings, but second place for Channing may help him move up, as he currently lies in joint-22nd position.