A young Irish poker player, known as the “Silent Assasin” has scooped $1.7m (€1.3m) in the world's most prestigious poker tournament in Las Vegas.

Eoghan O'Dea (26) won the prize on Sunday night when he finished sixth out of 6,865 players in this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP).  His father, former Olympic swimmer Donnacha O'Dea also reached the WSOP final in 1983 and 1991 and was there to support his son.

The Dubliner paid in $10,000 in July to enter the Texas Hold 'Em tournament. O’Dea was one of the “November Nine” players who reached the final stages of the event, which took place at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas.

"I played one hand bad at the beginning. I obviously misread the situation and that put me in trouble for most of the day,” he told reporters afterwards.
_______________
Read More:
Irish celebrity news stories on IrishCentral

News from Ireland

Dublin-based poker site Full Tilt scams millions - 'a global Ponzi scheme'
________________

“Thanks to everybody for all their support," he added.

Speaking about whether or not he would be able to follow in his father’s footsteps and make the final again in the future, he said he wasn’t optimistic.

“I would feel very lucky to make it again.”

On Sunday he was in second place at the table with $3.9million in chips, just behind chip leader Martin Staszko from the Czech Republic, who had $40.1million. However he slipped early on  after an attempted bluff.

Almost 80 people flew from Ireland to support the pro-poker player for the event.

Watch O’Dea speaking after the event below: