Andrew Black

Andrew Black, one of Ireland’s best known poker players, is now becoming well known in the U.S. and across the world as well. Black began playing poker regularly in 1986 while he was studying for his law degree at Trinity College in Dublin. During that time, he was a member of the Junior Common Room, a group that famed Irish poker players (Padraig Parkinson) had belonged to.Despite some tough losses that forced him to take a temporary leave from the game, Black eventually returned to poker and played better than ever before. Somewhat famously, Black lost a difficult match to legend poker player Stu Ungar in the 1997 World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event. (Black had the better hand, but he couldn’t hold up to Ungar’s aggressive calling style and folded under the pressure.) This loss, coupled with a few others, pushed Black to the brink and made him take a break from poker and gambling for a few years.When Black returned to the game in 2004, he proved he was once again a contendor to be recockened with. Almost immediately, he started winning major Irish tournaments and regaining respect from other players. In 2005, Black returned to the larger than life World Series of Poker tournament. Few members of the press or commentators paid much attention to the man from Dublin despite his long career in the game. Though no one outright said it, many thought that Black’s days of poker were a thing of the past.But they were wrong. Black made his stand and despite the challenges, he made it to the main event table finishing in fifth place. Commentators noted that he could have placed higher but he came across a streak of back luck calls and walked away with $1.75 million. Joseph Hachem won the game and the prestigious title of WSOP champion, but to many viewers and poker experts, the best poker player sitting at the table did not walk away the winner. Many argue that that man – the man who should have won – was indeed Black.Those who have underestimated the Buddhist’s comeback to poker need to take a reassessment. Black is looking to conquer at the WSOP this year and to finish what he had started so many years ago.Related Articles:WSOP 2005: Magic Lazar CrumblesWSOP 2005: Andrew Black vs. Brad Kondracki