News / Amy / 04 July 2008 / Leave a comment

Europe has enjoyed its fair share of success in the World Series of Poker

...currently running in Las Vegas, but finally the United Kingdom can celebrate its first champion at this year's event following the success of Marty Smith, writes Rob Eddy.

The 32-year-old Belfast poker pro has tasted success outside of the WSOP before with notable wins in the 2007 Irish Open as well as the 2008 World Open, but landed his first WSOP cash in this year's $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha event.

And he has now added his first WSOP gold bracelet to his list of achievements after coming out on top in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship, event 50.

Smyth outlasted a field of 381 players to land the biggest payday of his career, a cool $859,549, to become the second player alongside Noel Furlong to have won the Irish Open and a WSOP Championship event.

In the end, Smyth battled Peter Jetten for 30 hands in heads up play and had a slight chip lead when Jetten got all his chips in on a Qc-10c-9h flop.

Both had flopped the nut straight, but holding Kc-Jc-Js-Qd, Smyth could celebrate his victory when 6c came down on the river giving him a flush - an advantage he admits he had failed to spot.

"I didn't realize I had clubs. That's the God's honest truth," Smyth said.

There was a raucous crowd cheering on the likeable poker ace and he paid tribute to the support he has received from both sides of the Atlantic.

"I'd like to thank everyone for the support I received during the tournament, both from the gang here in Las Vegas and from back home in Ireland", he said. "I've been getting texts and voicemails from family, friends and poker players from all over; all the well-wishers must have done me some good!"

Smyth has been unable to bask in his glory, too much anyway, as he is also going for the Main Event, which is now underway at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Smyth is obviously at the top of his game at the moment and is certainly one to watch out for, but now that the monkey is off our back, we could be toasting more UK champions both in Vegas and in London, when the WSOPE kicks off in September.