Jamie Flynn has put even MORE distance between himself and his cashes leaderboard rivals at this year’s Irish Open by making the money in six different tournaments.
Flynn now has 26 Irish Open cashes to his name putting him streets ahead of the chasing pack on the all-time “most cashes” leaderboard.
Flynn’s tally is an extraordinary record built over just 11 years of competing at the award-winning festival. Consistent almost every year he’s played, Jamie has just added another €14,430 to his Irish Open haul bringing him up to €68,000+ in total. His 2026 results include a deep run in the Main Event, finishing 89th for €7,910, and 17th in one of the last events of the festival – the €1,150 NLH Turbo 8-Max – for €3,100.
Former trawler fisherman Zeik Tuit HAD been in second place prior to this year’s festival but, despite cashing the Main Event this year (222nd for €4,560), has now slipped down to joint fourth place.
The biggest leap up the top ten has come from 2013 Irish Open champion Ian Simpson. Simpson seemed to be all over the place at this year’s festival so we are not surprised to discover he cashed six times in all, for a festival total of €11,700. That shunts Simpson up from seventh place back in March to joint second now. He shares the #2 spot with PokerStars Ambassador David Lappin who cashed four times.
Friend of the Irish Open Elizabeth Bennett-Martin is up one place to sixth after making the money in three different tournaments while Irish Open regulars Nic Newport and Mark Buckley are now firmly in the top ten.
Flynn and the Irish Open
Flynn’s first Irish Open cash came in 2016, the year that JP McCann and Paul O’Reilly first took over the festival. He finished fourth in a €150 NLH Scalps tourney for €695. Each successive year that he has competed, he has racked up yet more winnings including runner-up in the 2024 €1,100 PLO Mystery Bounty for €10,620.
Now aged 34, Jamie has close to $1.3 million in live tournament winnings to his name and is recognised as one of Ireland’s most accomplished players. He’s currently ranked #21st on Ireland’s all-time tournament leaderboard.
So how does he feel about his new Irish Open cashes leaderboard record? He said: “😅 it was a great festival. I played every day of the 12. This record was certainly in the back of my mind and gave me that extra bit of motivation when it came to regging the fourth tournament of the day after already busting three others!”
For Jamie, the Irish Open is way more than just another stop on the circuit. In March he told us: “My life is fairly unconventional and I wouldn’t fit too neatly into many boxes. But two things I do identify with are being Irish and being a poker player. The Irish Open brings these two things together in the best way. I’ve played poker all over the world and some things are common to all poker stops. But I love the Irish Open because, as well as all the elements that you’d get at any big event, you’re also seeing all the grassroots Irish players. It’s still accessible to the many Irish people that love poker.
And favourite moments?
“I still remember walking into the Burlington Hotel on Good Friday for my first Irish Open. There was a band playing music in the lobby and the excitement was palpable as people were making their way to register. I remember thinking, there’s absolutely nowhere else in the world I’d rather be at this moment.”
Jamie plays poker all over the world with major cashes in places like Vegas and Monte Carlo. In 2024, he launched his own card room – Doyles – in Limerick. He said: “The Irish Open is the craic, the people. Everything surrounding the festival is great – but sitting down at the table and playing poker is still the highlight.”
You can follow Jamie on Instagram.
