No holding Irish gamblers as chips are down in €2m poker tournament

“LET’S shuffle and deal.”

With that Europe’s biggest poker tournament kicked off at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin yesterday.

Over €2 million was at stake as 700 competitors eventually took their seats for the Paddy Power Irish Open — a full house.

Every stereotype waited for cards: visor-wearing tattooed players mixed with competitors donning baseball caps and sunglasses. Some among the 70 tables stood out, like “Evil Elvis,” cape and all, smiling as he played Texas Hold ‘Em.

All paid €3,300 to compete in the marathon game.

Competitors play three 12-hour matches until the final winners come head to head tomorrow.

First out was one of Europe’s top poker players. Juan Carlos “El Matador” Mortensen. Having previously won around €3.2m, the Spaniard made a quick exit having come 700th in the Irish Open. You win some, you lose some.