The Amateur Poker Association and Tour (APAT) Irish Amateur Poker Championships took place at Bewley's Hotel in Dublin from 10-11 January.

It was an historic event in that it marked the first time an APAT Main Event was played as Pot-Limit Omaha instead of the industry standard No Limit Hold'em.

The switch to four hole cards didn't put players off entering and 73 hopefuls parted company with €120 for 20,000 tournament chips (plus a further 20,000 thanks to the double chance element) hoping to become an APAT champion.

That honour went Scott Gray who beat Eamon Kelly heads-up for the title.

Despite starting the second day second-last of the 24 players who returned, Gray safely navigated his way to the final table but went into the heads-up stage trailing two-to-one in chips.

But Gray, fourth in the 2002 World Series of Poker Main Event for a career-best score of US$281,480, played the more aggressive of the two, drew level and then pushed in front himself.

The final hand saw all of the chips go in on a 4-10-7 flop, Kelly holding 6-5-2-2 and Gray the KC-KH-3H-2D. The kings held as an ace fell on the turn and a meaningless ace on the river, busting Kelly and leaving Gray to be crowed amateur champion of Ireland.

Third place, and a bronze medal, went to Anton Nesternko.

APAT Irish Amateur Poker Championships
1 Scott Gray €2,050
2 Eamon Kelly €1,450
3 Anton Nesternko €1,050
4 Colm Faulkner €800
5 Rory Keogh €600
6 Colin Wilson €450
7 Roy Brindley €350
8 Richard Baker €300
9 John Keown €250