Celtic Poker Tour Winner Hauls in €35,000 and a Trip to Singapore

Mark Flanagan won the Celtic Poker Tour (CPT) Grand Final in Athlone.

(PRWEB) September 17, 2006 -- Mark Flanagan, 40 from co. Wexford in Ireland, saw off 216 players to win the Celtic Poker Tour (CPT) Grand Final in Athlone.

Normally he’s busy running a road haulage business or looking after his five children but he finds time to play poker once a week. He has only been playing Texas Hold’em for a year.

In the final showdown, second placed Maurice McNamara raised Flanagan’s big blind. The response from Flanagan was a well considered ‘all-in’ holding JQ. It was enough to beat McNamara’s J10. McNamara made €15,000 in second place.

From a tournament prize pool of €100,000, Flanagan netted €35,000 and a package to the Betfair Asian Poker Tour (BAPT), the first ever poker event in Singapore.

“I thought I had no chance,” he said, “I just wanted to make it through to the second day.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how I get on with the big fish in Singapore. If I can last an hour I’ll be pleased because I like to play an aggressive game.”

Notes to editors:

1.    Sponsored by Betfair Poker, The Celtic Poker Tour was created by Texas Hold’em enthusiasts Denis Alsybury and Mike Foley.

2.    The CPT has been holding events all over Ireland on a weekly basis since September 1st 2005.

3.    As of the end of August 2006, Celtic Poker Tour has held over 100 tournaments across the country and has been a conduit of a prize fund total in excess of one million euros.

4.    Full details of the tournaments structure and all other tournament related information can be viewed at www.celticpokertour.com

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