After two days of intense competition, Michelle Skinner has prevailed as the 2025 Irish Open Ladies Champion, beating Lydia Cugudda in a short but entertaining heads up battle.
Skinner came into Day 2 as chip leader and never relinquished that position, though Cugudda drew very close with a big hand just before the end.
It was an explosive final table, as shallow stacks meant there was plenty of all-in action throughout the day.
First to bust was Keri Shaughnessy; the sole Irishwoman in the final eight. Shaughnessy was “Lucky Chip” Cugudda’s first victim of the day. She would not be the last.
There was a brief pause in hostilities — and the best part of two levels would pass before the next domino toppled. But when it did, the others followed in short order.
Dominika Piechna-Dobosz was next to bust — the second finalist dispatched by Cugudda. Kelly Slain became the third, shortly after.
Olena Nadtoka went out in fifth, falling to Skinner’s trip aces. James Hartigan, supporting Skinner from the rail, was already a bag of nerves. His ordeal was only just beginning. The hand that did for Anna Gulevich, very nearly claimed Hartigan too.
By this stage, Tatiana Volova was down to seven big blinds. Her shove was an easy call for Skinner with the Big Slick.
Cugudda — who hosts the Real Poker Girls of London podcast with Kerryjane Craigie — had brandished that lucky chip all the way down to the final two. But in truth, it was not down to luck that she found herself heads up with Skinner. Between them, they had bossed this final table and thoroughly deserved to be duking it out for the title.
The pair did their own Good Friday agreement (© Chris Bean 2025) and chopped the money, which seemed both fair and sensible with such shallow stacks — before Skinner would claim the trophy.
Final Table Results
1 Michelle Skinner €8,100
2 Lydia Cugudda – €5,000
3 Tatiana Volova – €3,558
4 Anna Gulevich – €2,750
5 Olena Nadtoka – €2,110
6 Kelly Slay – €1,600
7 Dominika Piechna-Dobosz – €1,300
8 Keri Shaughnessy – €1,100
