Thu, 09/29/2011 – 07:02 – PokerPages Staff

5. Darren Elias – Total Winnings $230,610
Resident of Erie, PA Darren Elias is enjoying a bumper 2011 at the poker tables. Most of his career earnings have been in this year, including two cashes over $100,000. Elias beat Britain’s Ricky Hale to fifth spot, earning $230,000 in the process.

4. Fred Goldberg – Total Winnings $280,925
Fred Goldberg has been a regular on the poker circuit since 2006, achieving 19 cashes, three wins and a WSOP bracelet. For coming fourth in this event, Goldberg netted a cool $280,000.

3. Daniel Buzgon – Total Winnings $335,433
The third place finish for Daniel Buzgon in this event earned him by far his biggest poker payday, worth $335,000. Buzgon’s highest previous poker haul was $96,500 for coming 72nd in the WSOP main event in 2008.

2. Jin Hwang – Total Winnings $554,303
In the silver medal slot at this event was Jin Hwang of San Diego, CA. This event was only the third time Hwang has finished in the money at a poker event. Prior to this event, Hwang’s poker income totaled $1,751.

1. Bahbak Oboodi – Total Winnings $922,441
Never troubled throughout the tournament, Bahbak Oboodi did not once have to go ‘all-in’ throughout the game play; such was his command over the event. Oboodi promised that this would not be the last time he starred in a WPT event, vowing to go all the way again.

Wed, 09/21/2011 – 08:01 – PokerPages Staff

5. Donnacha O’Dea – Total Earnings of $1,249,442
As a respected and successful player, holder of a WSOP bracelet, poker runs through the Donnacha O’Dea’s family line.  Earlier this year, his son Eoghan O’Dea reached the last table of the WSOP Main Event, which is due to resume in November.

4. Fintan Gavin– Total Earnings of $1,386,452
Fintan Gavin has achieved three first place finishes on the poker circuit, and has earned over $1.3 million.  Gavin’s biggest win was at the EPT Barcelona Open in 2008, where he clocked up just over $1.1 million for coming second in the Main Event.

3. Padraig Parkinson– Total Earnings of $1,407,822
A native Dubliner, Padraig Parkinson is a shrewd operator at the poker tables.  Of his 40 cashes at the poker table, only one has been turned into a win, at the UKIPT Galway event in December 2009.

2. Martin Smyth – Total Earnings of $3,635,006
Martin Smyth has only achieved 15 cashes, but his win rate is impressive, winning five of these tournaments.  His biggest achievement at the poker table came in 2008, where a victory at the Ladbrokes Poker Million VII earned Smyth a cool $1,000,000.

1. Andy Black – Career Earnings of $4,102,861
Andy Black has cashed 48 times in a tournament, with one win to his name.  His biggest win came at the WSOP World Championship No Limit Hold ‘em in 2005, where a fifth placed finish earned Black a mammoth $1.75 million.