Every tournament has a silent assassin, someone who evades the spotlight and gleam of the roaming camera lens, yet somehow manages to grind their way through a 6,865-field with the minimum of fuss - this year, that man is 26-year old Irishman Eoghan O'Dea, and despite barely playing a major pot, he is currently one of 47 remaining as we return from the opening break of Day 7.
To label Eoghan as a phantom, however, would be a mistake, as in 2009 his talent was unable to evade the attention of the masses no longer, as he finished second in the Poker Million for a sizzling $260,000. Then, less than 12 months later, he supplemented that score with another runner-up finish and his biggest payday to date: €263,662 in the WPT Marrakech.
Here in Vegas, he's had three cashes, but all of the min- variety; already guaranteed $160,036 and on the verge of jumping to $196,174, the Main Event has proved a far more lucrative venture, and the final table is looming closer and closer. He's part of the Irish contingent who make the annual pilgrimage (included his dad, former bracelet winner Donnacha O'Dea), but with only two Brits remaining, I embraced him as one of our own. We need all the help we can get!
Snoopy: How has this opening level gone today?
[I spoke to Eoghan at the first break of Day 7]
Eoghan O'Dea: Not great. I have 1.8 million I think, but started with 2.5. I reraised the very first pot against a Chilean guy who's very aggressive. I had K-Q and it came A-9-2. I just continuation bet and he called. Fourth street brought three spades giving me the second nut flush draw with the queen. I checked behind and a king came. He bet and I folded the hand. When it came A-9-2, he can't really have much of a draw except for the flush, which he would have hit. So it looks like he had me there, but it cost me a fair bit of my stack.
I went down to 1.4 and moved all in a couple of times, but it's been a pretty aggressive table. Ben Lamb, obviously, is pretty confident at the moment, having a really great WSOP, but I can't really complain. I'm just going to have to get it in or wait for a good spot.
Snoopy: Is it getting tough now?
EO: There were like eight amateurs at my tables for the first few days, but it's very tough at the moment. There's only one amateur at the table. A lot of really good, young guys in the tournament now.
Yesterday, in particular, we had a really tough table. I didn't recognise a lot of the young Americans, but the whole table was very good. Then I moved to the feature table 30 minutes from the end, which was a better table, but I wasn't there long enough to get into things. Overall, the young Americans are very good and don't make a lot of mistakes.
Snoopy: Do you prefer the outer tables?
EO: It's the same to me; I don't notice much difference. It's okay. The guys have all been pretty quick and don't spend too long folding. It's grand, no delays.
Snoopy: How are hands playing out at the moment?
EO: We're seeing a few flops, actually. A few times, it's been raised and Ben's called. A lot of people may be a little scared of him calling. I thought a few of the stacks would three-bet him a little more, but they haven't.
Snoopy: Was there a particular point in the tournament when you felt you would go deep?
EO: Not really. I haven't really had any all-in pre pots. I had two 'flips the whole tournament; that was the closest for me being out. Nothing big. I haven't played any huge pots. My whole tournament has more or less been like that. At the start, I had more than average, but never been a big stack and no crazy pots.
Snoopy: Any hairy moments?
EO: There was one funny pot I guess where our table had some big stacks and this guy got a load of chips in with a pair of fives. I limped in and check-raised with A-K and he called. And I hit my king. He got pretty tilted. I raised the same guy with kings preflop later on, and he called with A-3 off. It came Q-T-7, and he just moved right into me for quite a big pot.
Snoopy: How have you coped with playing such a lengthy tournament?
EO: I've only been getting in five or six hours sleep each night, so I feel so drained at the end of the day. I usually go to bed later and wake up later, so starting at 12 feels a bit early. I'd prefer 2 or 3pm. I can't really get to bed until 4, so when we stop at 10.30, I'm not going to bed for a while. In the morning, I go for a run, just to wake up a bit.
When you're playing, there's so much adrenalin that you actually don't feel tired when you're at the table, but then I feel tired when I go for a break like now.
Snoopy: Have you been keeping an eye on the money at all?
EO: I've been trying to ignore it a bit, and I don't really know for sure what we're on now. I'm not thinking about it too much. Obviously, the money for the final table is huge compared to now, but I'm just playing away and seeing how it goes.
Snoopy: Have you been in touch with you dad?
EO: I was talking to him today. He left a few days ago. He was telling me about my flights and making sure I changed them on time. That was the only advice he gave me [laughs].
Schedule/Results page...
Live coverage/updates...
Reports:
Vegas 11: Operation Bracelet
Interview: Ashby Going for Bracelet #2
Richard Ashby Finishes Fourth in Event #11
Two Blue Belts; Two Cashes
3 Yellow Belts Win $13K Packages
Ashby Denited Hattrick in $10K PLO
Ladies Saga; Orange Belt Cashes
Three of a Kind; Wooldridge Hits WSOP Final
Warren Wooldridge Finishes Third in Event #54
Day 1C: The Magnificent Seven
Day 1D: Five Alive
Day 2A: Last Level Massacre
Day 2B: Another Five Survive
Day 3: Three Is the Magic Number
Day 4: Last Man Standing
Day 5: Less Is Moore
Galleries:
Vegas 11 - Meet the Team
Meet the Mansion
BBP/WSOP in Pictures
WSOP Event #54 in Pictures
WSOP Main Event in Pictures
Vegas 11 Interviews:
Richard Ashby
Jerome Bradpiece
Adam Latimer
Warren Wooldridge
Jamie Burland
Kevin Williams
David Docherty
Nik Persaud
Sam Razavi
Vegas Cherry Articles:
Hugo Martin
Jamie Burland
Kevin Williams
Barny Boatman
Blogs:
A Happy Median - Snoopy
No Novacaine; It Dulls the Senses - Neil Channing
TiLT, Clowns & A Small High
Moving House is Stressful - Warren Wooldridge
Unjust Action - Adam Latimer
Form - Kevin Williams
Lucky Number Seven - Snoopy
Colemas, Cork & Changing at O'Hare
Starting High - Richard Ashby
Keeping the Faith - David Docherty
Escape from L.V - Snoopy
Who's the Boss? - Neil Channing
Snoopy - It's About Time
Other WSOP Content:
Vegas, Baby - Jerome Bradpiece
Vegas: Advice from the Pros
Paint It Black - Part One: Wassup With WSOP?
Cashing In; Where to Play Cash in Vegas - Sam Razavi
Snoopy's Top 10 Las Vegas Tips
For the Love of Ivey
Cody, Perrins & The UK Upsurge
Chufty Makes Second Final Table
Paint It Black - Part Two: The Wait to Regulate
Interview - Jared Tendler
Vegas 11 - Live WSOP Coverage
The Variance of Vegas
Moorman Talks Numbers
How to Approach the WSOP Main Event
The Standard of the Main Event
The Guy We Love to Hate
Interview: JP Kelly
Interview: Sam Holden