Irishman Closes Out Heads-Up with 6:1 Chip Lead to Claim Dublin Poker Festival Crown
Gavin McGrath won the €700 European Deepstack Championship at the Dublin Poker Festival, ending Krzysztof Grubka's bid for one of the biggest paydays of his career. The Polish player had qualified online through WPT Global, making him eligible for the site's €100,000 Live Champion Bonus. He finished second.
The bonus was straightforward: qualify online, win the live event, collect €100,000 on top of the €55,065 first-place prize. A deal was explored heads-up but never struck, leaving the full €155,065 package on the line. McGrath held a 6:1 chip lead and did not need long to finish it.
475 Entries, a Busted Guarantee, and a Near-Miss That Will Sting
The field drew 475 entries, clearing the €200,000 guarantee and building a €285,665 prize pool. The top 63 players finished in the money.
Grubka takes home €34,860 for second. It is the second-largest score of his career and his best result since 2009, when he won €95,000 at the European Masters of Poker. The run pushes his live tournament earnings past $200,000, per The Hendon Mob. The €100,000 that got away will be harder to file away.
A Breakthrough Win for McGrath
McGrath came into Dublin with four recorded cashes to his name, all in Ireland, split between 2022 and 2024. His lifetime earnings stood at $14,201, with a best score of $10,992.
He leaves with his first title, a career-best payday, and the European Deepstack Championship trophy.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gavin McGrath | Ireland | €55,065 |
| 2 | Krzysztof Grubka | Poland | €34,860 |
| 3 | Michal Havavka | Slovakia | €25,000 |
| 4 | Audrius Daugvilavicius | Lithuania | €19,860 |
| 5 | John Ward | Ireland | €15,560 |
| 6 | Adam Green | Ireland | €12,200 |
| 7 | Annette O'Carroll | Ireland | €9,160 |
| 8 | Marcus McHale | Ireland | €6,520 |
| 9 | Kenneth Crowley | Ireland | €5,200 |
