Does the luck of the Irish really exist? Our list of five Irish gamblers proves that hard work, tact, and sheer skill bring you much better success than a bit of luck.
The Irish gamblers on our top five list below have made their own unique mark on the gambling scene.
Some were around well before the era of online, fast-paced casino games like Crazy Time, while others came on the scene as the rise of internet games took prominence.
Over the years, there have been certain Irish gamblers who have stuck out, and below is our list of the top five most famous Irish gamblers of all time who really made their mark.
From old-school legends to modern gamblers making their way up in the game, let’s take a look.
5. Dermot Blain – a Texas Hold-em pro
Dermot Blain is a professional poker player who was born in Sligo. He graduated from the Institute of Technology in Sligo with a business degree and cashed out his first poker tournament in 2008.
However, he really made his mark on the Irish gambling scene when he won the Asian Pacific Poker Tour Macau in 2009.
Since 2009, he has won nearly $2.5 million (€2,236,240) with poker events alone and is considered one of the best Irish poker players of all time.
His speciality is Texas Hold’em, but he has also shown expertise in Omaha. Most recently, he cashed in three different Omaha events at the 2022 World Series of Poker.
4. Andy Black – the Monk
Andy Black first started playing poker seriously back in 1986, although he was said to be interested in playing cards from a young age.
In 1997, he was knocked out of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event by the eventual winner, Stu Ungar. After losing again the following year, he got rid of all his possessions and lived a semi-monastic Buddhist lifestyle for five years in England.
In 2004, he returned to poker and dominated several Irish tournaments as well as fifth place in the 2005 WSOP, taking away $1.75 million.
3. J.P. McManus – an unforgettable backgammon marathon in 2012
Born in Limerick in 1951, J.P. McManus is a former bookmaker turned racehorse owner who won $17.4 million in a 72-hour marathon backgammon session in the United States in 2012. He won the money off American billionaire Alec E. Gores.
An impressive sum, he has gained his money over the years through a number of avenues, including being a major shareholder of Manchester United.
In 2017, he had his 50th Cheltenham festival winner when Buveur d’Air took home the win.
He once said of gambling, “I gamble but I think I am disciplined. If I lose my money I don’t have a bet for two weeks – it doesn’t bother me. Gambling is a gene”.
2. Eoghan O’Dea – born into the game
Son of Irish poker icon Donnacha O’Dea, Eoghan O’Dea was basically born to leave his mark on the world of poker.
It was 2011 when Eoghan first made his way to the final table of the WSOP Main Event, eventually finishing in sixth place.
The very same year, he finished ninth in the 300 Pot Limit Omaha event at the WSOP tournament in Cannes, France.
While he hasn’t yet one a WSOP ring, he remains one of the best Irish players of all time and continues to make his mark as his career goes on.
1. Donnacha O’Dea – a legendary Irish gambler
In first place on our list of the most famous Irish gamblers of all time is Eoghan O’Dea’s father, Donnacha O’Dea.
Before entering the world of poker, Donnacha O’Dea represented Ireland at the 1968 Olympics. He became the first Irish swimmer to swim 100 metres in under 60 seconds.
When the WSOP took off in the 70s, Donnacha was among the first people from Ireland to rise to prominence. In 1983, he made it to the final, eventually finishing in sixth place.
It was in 1998 that he attained his WSOP bracelet, having defeated poker icon Johnny Chan in a heads-up play.
Donnacha O’Dea might have carried out most of his poker success before the era of online gambling, but he certainly made his mark on the scene nonetheless.
So, there you have it. We have outlined the top five most famous Irish gamblers of all time, each bringing something unique and different to the world of gambling.
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