The action was fast and swingy right out of the gate, as deep stacks and four cards led to plenty of big pots and creative lines. With 13 levels played, the field thinned steadily, but not without drama—several notable players hit the rail after early success, while others surged late to secure healthy stacks for Day 2.
Ruslan Nazarenko ended the night as the overall chip leader, bagging 677,000, followed closely by Mark Buckley with 340,000, and Klemens Roiter on 307,000. Other familiar names advancing to Day 2 include Jack Moore, Marcel Kessler, and Ravi Sheth, all of whom will return with eyes on the title and the top prize.
Ukrainian poker pro Ruslan Nazarenko has quietly built a solid reputation on the international tournament scene, particularly in Pot-Limit Omaha formats. With over $445,000 in live earnings, Nazarenko has recorded strong results across major series like the WSOP, WPT, and EPT. His biggest score to date came in June 2024 at the Wynn Summer Classic, where he finished third in a $2,200 PLO event for $64,086. He also notched a notable 5th-place finish in the $800 WSOP Online PLO event in 2020, banking $42,005. Ranked 48th on Ukraine’s all-time money list, Nazarenko continues to travel and compete in high-stakes events, most recently appearing at the Irish Poker Open, where he remains a dangerous force anytime four cards are in play.
Cash Payouts:
1. €104,400
2.€67,300
3. €48,100
4. €37,000
5. €28,450
6. €22,600
7. €18,100
8. €14,450
9. €11,600
11-10. €9,250
Day 2 resumes tomorrow at 1pm, with blinds at 4,000/8,000 (8,000), and the money bubble fast approaching. Stay tuned as we continue coverage of one of the most exciting events on the Irish Open schedule.
