Andy Black write up in Sunday Times

MadsL

Belfast poker player snaps up €1.45m
Siobhan Maguire

HE played his cards close to his chest and made it to the last nine in the world’s biggest poker tournament. But although Andy Black from Belfast eventually finished fifth in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, he still walked away a millionaire with winnings of $1.75m (€1.45m).
Black, 39, who lives in Dublin, was one of the bookmakers’ favourites to walk away with the $7.5m jackpot in the final. He went into the last round of the No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship holding chips worth $8.1m.


But in his last pot he was beaten when his two tens were bettered by a higher pair. Until then, he was in second place in the tournament, which was eventually won by Joseph Hachem, from Melbourne.

Liam Flood, a friend of Black’s and himself a former European poker champion, said: “We are all a little disappointed that he didn’t win, but at the same time we are delighted that he got fifth. He represented Ireland very well and kept calm right through the seven-day event.”

Black received a standing ovation from the crowd who gathered in Binion’s gambling hall and hotel to watch the final nine battle it out for poker’s most prestigious prize. A large Irish contingency travelled to the event, which started with 5,619 players from around the world, 34 of them Irish.

Black is only likely to pocket about €800,000 of his prize money. First, 30% of the total must be paid in casino taxes and then 20% of the remainder will have to be repaid to dealers and players at Dublin’s Merrion Club, who bankrolled his entrance fee in return for a stake in the winnings.

Terry Rogers, a bookmaker and poker player, said: “Andrew is a very hard poker player to read. He is a quality player who made his name as an online poker player rather than casino-based. His play is reminiscent of Noel Furlong, the last Irish winner of the World Championship in 1999.”

Black, who once gave up poker to become a practising Buddhist, studied law at Trinity College Dublin. But he never practised at the bar and instead began playing cards at the Merrion Club before making his name on the international poker circuit more than 20 years ago.

In 1997, he finished 14th in the World Series of Poker, but by 1998 had become disillusioned with the game and retired from the scene. In 2004, after a spell living in a Buddhist camp in Oxford, he returned to professional play.

Luke McManus, the director of The Million Dollar Deal, a television documentary on poker that featured Black, said: “He is one of the most charming but erratic men you will meet; a very bright character who is slightly wild and very colourful. He went off to a Buddhist house after he retired from poker but he came back from that experience even stronger.Maybe this is what has helped him get to where he is today.”

After losing, the Irish player continued to keep his cards close to his chest, choosing to retire to his hotel room and refusing to comment. Black, who has been nominated for a sportsmanship award by America’s Card Player magazine, will travel to London this week to celebrate his mother’s 80th birthday. He will then travel home to Dublin in time for his 40th birthday on Wednesday.