It is one thing to outlast hundreds of poker players to win one of the World Series of Poker’s 68 events and the Las Vegas tournament’s coveted gold bracelet.

“Oh no, I’ve bet too much,” said the small Asian woman who had just scattered about 30 chips across the roulette table.

Back in the old days, the quaint house set among the rolling hills of Co Tipperary was home to the local land agent. The peasantry would approach the house with their meagre offerings for the absentee landlord.