The 2008 Irish Open had started last week in Dublin. Dating back to 1981, it is one of Europe's most popular tournaments. This year had a total of 667 players buying in for the amount of €4,200.

Getting Ready for Monday
Irishman Jay Renehan was chip leader on Day 1 with €82,250 in chips. Sitting alongside Reneham in Day 2 of the competition is Canadian Sorel Mizzi, last year's third place winner, and Doyle Brunson, the known Texas Hold 'em champ, with a stack of €53,800.

Brunson's Son, Todd Brunson, will also be among the first step winners with just over 10,000 chips. Along with him are Keith Littlewood (€59,150), Carsten Joh (€72,375) and Alexander Fitzgerald (€78,700). Roland De Wolf, last year's runner up, also continues to Day 2 in this year's tournament.

Sunday Madness
52 players made it to the tables on Sunday and by the end of the day 9 players remain. Of those 52, Mark Spellman successfully climbed the chip ladder and made it up there with €337,500 worth of chips. Spellman is the only player who made it to the Sunday round with over €300,000 worth of chips.

Sitting in on Sunday afternoon will be Sorel Mizzi with €185,000 of chips- placing this player in the 12th place. In the 14th spot is Julian Thew with €164,000 of chips and aside her is Padraig Parkinson in the 20th place with €130,000 worth of chips. Parkinson had made it just above the average stack of €127,855.

Final Stretch
The main event ends today, March 24th, leaving one player with €801,400. Last year's winner, Marty Smyth, had received €650,000. De Wolf had won a total amount of €325,000 in last year's event and is hoping to make a proper appearance among the winners of this year's Irish Open.