Marty Smyth wins Party Poker World Open IV
7th May, 2008
Professional poker player Marty Smyth has beaten off stiff competition from Neil Channing to bag the top spot at the Party Poker World Open IV.
Both contenders have won the Irish Open - Europe's oldest and largest poker tournament - but it was Belfast-born Smyth who ultimately walked away with the title of World Champion.
The intense heads-up battle came to a heart-stopping end when the duo went all-in with pocket pairs - Channing's Nines against Smyth's Queens.
Many were expecting the Englishman to clinch the hand given his recent run of luck, but Smyth's superior cards held their own to a ragged flop - and the K-K turn and river offered little reprieve for Channing.
Commenting after the final showdown, Matchroom Sport Director Eddie Hearn said: "This was without doubt the strongest field we have seen at the PartyPoker.com World Open.
"The standard of play was simply stunning throughout and Marty was a deserved winner. The Partypoker.com World Open is now firmly established as one of poker's major titles."
Marty Smyth walked away with $250,000 (£125,000) for his victory, while Channing had to make do with a second-place prize of $100,000.
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