Event #2 of the 2015 888Live Local Series went down at ClubPoker Rathmines in Dublin over the weekend with local Colm Hanlon walking away the victor.

With just a €220 buy-in the 888Live Local Series looks to bring the fun back into tournament poker and delivered as promised in Dublin.

Several Irish poker icons even flocked to the Rathmines including Andy Black, who made the final table.

All in all 170 players took part — the Rathmines isn’t big so players were capped at 150 per starting day — and the €30,000 guaranteed prize pool was brought up to almost €33,000.

Buzzing Atmosphere, Great Players

Last year at EPT San Remo PokerListings spoke with Luca Pagano about emphasizing entertainment and fun in poker again.

It’s precisely that spirit the fuels the 888Live Local Series with professionally run tournaments at low buy-ins designed to bring the casual player a pro-tour feel at less expense.

The tournament at the Rathmines was no exception. It ran from Friday the 20th until Sunday the 22nd with both online and live qualifiers throughout the country.

Players were excited about the “buzzing atmosphere,” great players and smooth operation. In the end local player Hanlon brought the win home but 21 players in total made the money.

“I’m very happy and feel blessed for winning 888Live’s Local Dublin event,” said Hanlon at the winner’s ceremony.

“Justin Boyle was a great opponent and played a good game, so it’s been a real honor. Thanks to everyone for the support!”

Final-table results and payouts for 888Live Local Dublin:

• 1. Colm Hanlon, €7300
• 2. Justin Boyle, €5000
• 3. Bryan Nicolson, €3000
• 4. Gareth Cooney, €2600
• 5. Richard O’Neill, €2300
• 6. Andrew Black, €2000
• 7. Donal Kenney, €1650
• 8. Gary Fields, €1300
• 9. Bartolotta Gioachino, €1000

Black, Gavin, O’Dea Drop In

A couple of big names in the Irish poker scene were also drawn to the event including Fintan Gavin, former UKIPT Edinburgh winner and runner-up at the EPT Barcelona Main Event.

Also in the field was Irish poker icon Andy Black, who famously sat at the WSOP main event final table with Joe Hachem and Mike Matusow in 2005.

Liam Barker, who won the most traditional European poker tournament – the Irish Open – in 1999, was there as was PokerListings contributor Lee Davy from Wales.

Unfortunately Davy busted on Day 1 when his flopped flush was beaten by a higher flush on the river.

Black, however showed everybody that he’s got his poker chips, reaching the final table before finally busting in fifth.

Donnacha O’Dea, another hallmark of Irish poker, also dropped in. He made the WSOP final table twice, the first time in 1983, when the winner Colm Hanlon wasn’t even born.

The O’Deas are also the only family where father and son made WSOP final, as Eoghan came sixth in 2011.

No Fees

Highly appreciated by a lot of players: 888poker refunded the registration fees to all players who bought in directly.

Apart from the main event, there was a range of low buy-in side events starting at just €20 buy-in on the schedule plus a €550 high roller tournament.

The 888poker local series hits the Costa del Azahar next weekend with main event dates for Valencia Feb 27- March 1. The buy-in will remain €220.

The 888poker local live series travels all across the European continent and beyond. See below for the complete schedule of the first half of 2015.

888poker has now also announced the location for the Austrian leg in Vienna. The tournament will be hosted by the Poker Royal Card Casino in the Wiener Neustadt.

888Live Local Series Schedule 2015

Date	Location	Casino	Buy-in
February 20-22	Dublin/Ireland	ClubPoker Ireland	€200+€20
February 27 – March 1	Valencia/Spain	Cirsa Valencia	€200+€20
March 5-8	Prague/Czech Republic	Card Casino Prague	€200+€20
TBA	Melbourne/Australia	Crown Casino	A$250+A$25
March 27-29	Milton Keynes/GB	Aspers Casino	£200+£20
April 17-19	Estoril/Portugal	Casino Estoril	€200+€20
April 24-26	Vienna/Austria	Poker Royale	€200+€20
May 1-5	Lloret de Mar/Spain	Casino Costa Brava	€200+€20
May 29-31	Newcastle/GB	Aspers Casino	£200+£20
June 26-28	Tallinn/Estonia	Casino Olympic Tallinn	€200+€20

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