2024 International Poker Open Main Event: Day 2 Recap
A field of 909 entrants has been skillfully narrowed to just 13 players in the 2024 International Poker Open Main Event, following an electrifying Day 2 at the Bonnington Dublin Hotel. With plenty of high-stakes action and dramatic eliminations, players fought hard for a coveted spot as the event heads into its final day.
Niall Campbell Takes the Chip Lead
By the end of Day 2, it was Ireland’s Niall Campbell who stood victorious atop the chip counts, firmly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. Over the course of eleven 50-minute levels, Campbell amassed an impressive stack of 6,130,000, which is more than double that of his nearest competitor, Tom Dunne with 3,000,000 chips. Audrius Daugvilavicius from Lithuania claimed third place, rounding out the leaderboard with 2,175,000 chips.
For Campbell, Day 2 was a dream come true. Despite having just over $8,000 in live tournament earnings—primarily from events in Ireland—he now has the chance to significantly boost those earnings when play resumes for Day 3 tomorrow at 1 p.m. local time.
Top Ten Chip Counts After Day 2
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Niall Campbell | Ireland | 6,130,000 | 102 |
| 2 | Tom Dunne | Ireland | 3,000,000 | 50 |
| 3 | Audrius Daugvilavicius | Lithuania | 2,175,000 | 36 |
| 4 | Vitalijs Polukejevs | Latvia | 2,150,000 | 36 |
| 5 | John Vogelaar | Ireland | 1,965,000 | 33 |
| 6 | Rory Liffey | Ireland | 1,930,000 | 32 |
| 7 | Mircea Rus | Romania | 1,785,000 | 30 |
| 8 | Steven Lee | Ireland | 1,620,000 | 27 |
| 9 | Noel Murphy | Ireland | 1,270,000 | 21 |
| 10 | Stephen Henderson | Ireland | 1,225,000 | 20 |
Day 2 Action Highlights
Day 2 commenced with 167 players seated and hopeful as the tournament continued. The excitement escalated when the Main Event prize pool reached an astonishing €274,745, comfortably exceeding the €250,000 guarantee. The eyes of the players were all fixated on the €51,000 first-place prize, awarded to the eventual champion of the tournament.
Every player was seeking to secure a spot in the money, where they would cash out a minimum of €540. After about an hour of suspenseful play, the bubble burst when Neil Higgins found himself on the wrong side of a showdown, earning the unfortunate title of "bubble boy" when his ace-king succumbed to Aidan Quinlan’s pocket jacks.
As the field moved closer to the money, notable players rapidly exited: Stephen Leahy (126th), Ivan Tononi (87th), Shane Kelly (63rd), and Liam Chevalier (27th) were just a few who bid farewell to their hopes of victory.
Key Eliminations
A sudden turn of events saw Rodrigo Diaz, who entered Day 2 as chip leader, quickly take a downward spiral after a series of unfortunate hands, culminating in his exit as the 22nd-place finisher. Just before the end of the day, a critical showdown saw Michael Murray eliminated in 13th place after a riveting series of confrontational hands, where he pushed all-in with jack-ten, only to be outmatched by Vitalijs Polukejevs’s ace-king.
Remaining Payouts for the €350 Main Event
As Day 3 approaches, the following payouts await the top finishers:
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €51,000 | 7 | €6,725 |
| 2 | €30,900 | 8 | €4,790 |
| 3 | €21,730 | 9 | €3,790 |
| 4 | €16,320 | 10-11 | €3,130 |
| 5 | €12,690 | 12-13 | €2,800 |
| 6 | €9,400 |
Looking Forward to Day 3
The third and final day of the International Poker Open Main Event is set to kick off tomorrow at 1 p.m. local time. Blinds will commence at 30,000/60,000 with a big blind ante of 60,000, and levels will transition to 60 minutes in length, ensuring that the action remains fast and thrilling as players vie to be crowned champion.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of the tournament, as we bring you live updates right from the tournament floor and reveal who will take home the illustrious title. Don’t miss out on this defining moment in the world of poker!
