Pavel Veksler wins 2021 Irish Open Main Event on partypoker

The 2021 Irish Open conclude online at parypoker earlier this week with Ukraine’s Pavel Veksler winning the main event.

Veksler outlasted an 1880-player field in the €1,100 main event to cash €266,000, which is approximately $316,000 US. The main event was considered to be a huge success as the large field generated a €1.8 million prize pool which smashed the €1 million guarantee.

When the nine-player final table began at the main event Bulgaria’s Stoyan Obreshkov was the chip leader while Veksler began near the bottom, seventh in chips. The action started slowly as it took nearly two hours before the first player from the final nine was eliminated. The distinction went to Austria’s Justus Held who cashed €22,481 after his K-4 fell to Obreshkov’s J-10 suited.

Heading out in eighth place and collecting €28,776 was Canadian Justin Ouimette who previously won the partypoker MILLION Mini Main event. His Q-10 was no good against Veksler’s A-J.

Heading to the rail next in quick order were Victor Bonifacio with €36,241, Julian Adamson with €46,743 and Eduards Kudrjavcevs with €61,229. All three were knocked out in less than an hour.

Four-handed play lasted quite a while before Robin Andreas Berggren was sent packing in fourth place. Veksler took all his chips after getting all-in with pocket nines against Berggren’s sixes. For fourth place Berggren cashed €89,896.

Cashing out in third place was Franco Spitale with €135,483.

When heads-up play began between Veksler and Obreshkov, Veksler held a 2-to-1 chip lead. The two reached a deal where Veksler would receive €316,000 and Obreshkov would pocket €224,769. Under the original payout scheme first place would have received €292,256 and second place €198,511.

Once the deal had been struck Obreshkov went all-in soon after with J-9. It didn’t hold up against Veksler’s A-4 and Veksler won the championship title.