Four Irishmen were amongst those who made up the final table at the JP Masters on 12 April 2014 at Dublin's City West Hotel, but it was Norway's Johannes Dang Ngo who took the title and €35,500 winner's cheque.
Played out during the Norwegian Festival at the City West Hotel, the JP Masters attracted 364 runners, with Ngo facing the last of the four Irish challengers heads-up for the title.
Dermot Blain finished runner-up after all the chips went in the middle following a turn queen on a 2-10-5 board, with Blain holding A-Q and Ngo Q-5. The river three was of no help to Blain, who picked up a cool €23,080 for second place.
The third-placed finisher was Rune Bratbergsengen, who pocketed €15,980. Bratbergsengen hit the rail following a pre-flop button raise to 200k from Ngo, which both Blain and Bratbergsengen called.
On the 4C-10D-7S flop Bratbergsengen moved all-in for 1,030,000 with 8D-7D, Blain decided to fold but Ngo called with AD-JD. The 3D on the turn was not good for Bratbergsengen as any diamond would now give Ngo the nut flush, while an ace or jack would also be enough to take the pot. And, as is the nature of the game, an ace on the river sent Bratbergsengen out.
Ngo was also responsible for Morten Bremseth's elimination in fourth place, after putting his fellow countryman all-in and receiving a call. Bremseth was in front pre-flop with QD-10D to Ngo's 9C-7S but the JD-6C-7C catapulted Ngo into the lead and a KC on the turn and 3H on the river confirmed Bremseth's departure.
Andy Black was the man to go out in fifth place after he moved all-in with AC-10S after an opening raise from Ngo. Blain called from the big blind with K-K, Ngo folding. The board offered no help for either player and Black was out in fifth for €8,870.
Another Irishman was to leave in sixth place, Daragh Davey open shoving his short stack of 600,000 with 9D-7S and Blain calling with AC-8S. Unfortunately Davey missed the board and was eliminated for €7,185.
Out in seventh place was Pojan Salim, whose stack had been severely depleted in the previous two hands. He pushed his remaining 225,000 into the middle with 10C-9C and was called by Blain with pocket sevens. And for the third hand in a row Salim missed the board to exit in seventh for €5,765.
Dave Masters was the man to leave in eighth place, earning €4,790 for his efforts, with Robert Sweeney the man to leave in ninth place for €3,370.
JP Masters final nine
1st Johannes Dang Ngo €35,500
2nd Dermot Blain €23,080
3rd Rune Bratbergsengen €15,980
4th Morten Bremseth €12,420
5th Andy Black €8,870
6th Daragh Davey €7,185
7th Pojan Salim €5,765
8th Dave Masters €4,790
9th Robert Sweeney €3,370
