The 12-day Battle of the Coaches at this year’s Irish Open ended in a landslide victory for the largely-American Team Jaka. The Jakas ended the 2026 Irish Open with 38,061 points versus Dara O’Kearney’s Team Simplify’s 22,028 points.
Dara O’Kearney’s Simplify Poker site and Faraz Jaka’s Jaka Coaching (helmed by stand-in captain Michael Dwyer) were engaged in a fierce points-based challenge throughout the festival.
It’s probably fair to say that the five-event cap on each player (and the fact that each event had to involve the same number of opponents) probably hampered Simplify considerably as its members had some amazing results that weren’t eligible for points.
Nevertheless, Team Simplify graciously congratulated their rivals at the end of the festival.
Dara O’Kearney said: “Well done to Team Jaka on their win. I personally played with many of their members and all of them impressed with their skills and competitive spirit. The same is true for all the Team Simplify members who competed ferociously but in good spirit: I’m proud of you all.
“Under the scoring system we agreed to, the final result was a one-sided landslide. Nevertheless, Team Simplify Poker had the deepest runners in the Main Event (Michael Prendergast, 14th for €27,710), the Spraggy Mystery Bounty (Baris Topuz, chopped for €37,590) and Cenk Nigbolu, one of Simplify’s Turkish members, who took down the Liam Flood Memorial for €19,460. It’s worth noting that Cenk became the only Turkish player to win a Championship at the Irish Open since it was founded 46 years ago.
“We also had the deepest runs in the Mini and several other events that similarly didn’t count for the contest so, in my personal estimation, Team Simplify Poker crushed the overall festival (!) and I’m very proud of my team members. “
Michael Dwyer, who captained Team Jaka on behalf of coaching site founder Faraz (who was unable to come as his partner is expecting the couple’s third child), said: “Battle of the Coaches was a great bit of fun. We all made new friends. Both teams had someone who took home a trophy: Cenk Nigbolu in the Liam Flood for Simplify, and Mitch Jones for Jaka in the Seniors High Roller. As it happened neither counted in the competition, but what a thrill for them!
“I am so proud of Team Jaka. We had a ball at an amazing Irish Open, win, lose or draw. Congrats to all players and to both teams, and to everyone involved in pulling off an amazing Irish Open.”
Both Jaka Coaching and Simplify Poker ran competitions prior to the start of the festival giving players the chance to win a €1,150 Irish Open Main Event seat. Well done to Scottish player Steve Dunnett, who triumphed in Simplify’s fiendish strategy quiz and cashed in the Main Event, finishing 223rd for €4,560.
