Geleziunas Wants Third Consecutive Title at the DPF

The Dublin Poker Festival (DPF) is getting ready for its 10th edition. The event will take place at the Bonnington Hotel, where players from all parts of the world will reunite at the end of next month. 

Since its inception in 2015, when the Amateur Championship of Poker (ACOP) merged with the European Deepstack Poker Championship (EDPC), the festival has become a premier event in the Irish poker scene. 

Known for its excellent structure and highly competitive fields, DPF runs no less than 38 tournaments. 

The list includes highlights like the €300 Irish Mixed Game Championship, the €300 Irish Senior Poker Championship, and the €570 Irish Omaha Championship.

At the heart of the festival is the €570 EDPC, a tournament with deep roots dating back to 2008. 

This year, all eyes will be on Tomas Geleziunas, aka TommyG or LuckyMo, who is chasing an unprecedented third consecutive title after winning in 2023 and 2024.

“When I Won It in 2023, I Was Really Happy”

Speaking to VegasSlotsOnline News, the typically reserved Lithuanian who lives in Ashbourne, Ireland, opened up about his back-to-back victories.

“When I won it in 2023, I was really happy. To come back and win it again, I was ecstatic,” he said, adding that the possibility of winning the title again only “dawned” on him “when there were two tables left.”

“I had a good stack, and it has a proper tournament structure so I knew there was going to be room for me to play my game,” he explained. 

An online poker pro with more than 220,000 tournaments under his belt, Geleziunas, who also has a former top-65 ranking on PocketFives, has transitioned from treating live poker as a break to fully embracing the grind.

“I feel like I’ve built up a lot of hand-playing experience from online and now I combine that with some live skills. I think I’m very quick at spotting when people make mistakes and capitalizing on it,” he argued.

According to the live poker database The Hendon Mob, Geleziunas has total live earnings of $389,700 and $56,856 under best live cash. 

The player is ranked 19th in the Lithuania All-Time Money List and 8,806th in the All-Time Money List.

Can Dara O’Kearney Prevent Geleziunas’ Hattrick?

One player looking to halt Geleziunas’ streak is Dara O’Kearney, a poker coach, author, and podcaster. 

O’Kearney won the first-ever EDPC in 2008 and recognizes the tournament’s significance:

“As the winner of the inaugural event, my first Hendon Mob result, this event has a very special place in my heart with its unique slow deepstacked structure,” O’Kearney commented while acknowledging the role of the tournament in launching “the careers of several other Irish players.”

Over the years, top Irish pros like Francis McCormack, Jason Tompkins, Cathal Shine, Richie O’Neill, and Stephen Kehoe have all claimed victory.

“I Want Players to Feel Like They Are at a Big Buy-in Festival”

DPF founder Brian Lannon spoke about his goal to deliver a professional yet welcoming environment.

“I want players to feel like they are at a big buy-in festival,” Lannon explained, adding that the staff was ready to “create a professional and friendly experience at the tables.”

The founder also spoke about the importance of encouraging “everyone to have fun off the felt” while the entire room is “buzzing,” no matter the event.

Prior to the EDPC’s kickoff on February 20, the ACOP will take center stage between February 13 and 16, with a €350 ($363) buy-in and multiple starting flights. 

Unibet Poker is running online satellites, offering players a shot at both ACOP and EDPC for just €50.

Last October, we reported on the uncertainty faced by Irish poker tournaments in the context of the upcoming Gambling Regulation Bill, which is expected to affect live poker throughout the country.