Donnacha O'Dea

Childhood

O'Dea was born into a family of notable actors, being the son of Denis O'Dea and Siobhán McKenna. He attended Synge Street CBS and later studied at Trinity College, Dublin. In his youth, O'Dea was an accomplished swimmer, representing Ireland in the 1968 Olympics and becoming the first Irish swimmer to complete 100 meters in under one minute.

Career

Donnacha O'Dea's poker career is marked by consistent participation and success in major tournaments. He first entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1982 and has played the Main Event almost every year since, except in 1986 when he stayed home for the birth of his daughter. His notable early success includes finishing sixth in the 1983 WSOP Main Event and runner-up in the $1,000 Limit Hold'em event the same year, narrowly losing to Tom McEvoy.

O'Dea's perseverance paid off in 1998 when he won a WSOP bracelet in the Pot Limit Omaha with rebuys event, defeating two-time WSOP Main Event champion Johnny Chan in heads-up play. He also reached the final table of the WSOP Main Event again in 1991, finishing ninth. Beyond the WSOP, O'Dea won the prestigious Poker Million tournament in 2004, overcoming Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott, and made another strong showing in 2005 by finishing fifth.

He was the first inductee into the European Poker Players Hall of Fame, reflecting his status as a legend of European poker. As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceeded $1,000,000, with WSOP cashes accounting for nearly half of that sum.

Personal life

O'Dea's family background in the arts contrasts with his own career in competitive poker and sports. His son, Eoghan O'Dea, has followed in his footsteps as a professional poker player, primarily competing online under the nickname 'intruder123'. Eoghan has also achieved notable success, including a second-place finish in the Poker Million and a deep run in the 2011 WSOP Main Event, finishing sixth.

Revenue

Donnacha O'Dea's poker career has been financially rewarding, with live tournament earnings surpassing $1 million as of 2009. His WSOP cashes alone total $471,687, underscoring his consistent performance at the highest levels of poker competition.

Interesting facts

O'Dea was a competitive swimmer before turning to poker, representing Ireland in the 1968 Olympics and breaking national records.

He was a pioneer in European poker, competing in high-stakes cash games and helping to popularize the game on the continent.

His victory over Johnny Chan, a legendary figure with 10 WSOP bracelets, in 1998 is considered one of the highlights of his career.

O'Dea appeared on the television program Late Night Poker, reaching the Grand Final and showcasing his skills to a wider audience.

Legacy

Donnacha O'Dea is widely regarded as one of Ireland's greatest poker players and a respected figure in the global poker community. His induction as the first member of the European Poker Players Hall of Fame cements his legacy as a trailblazer and ambassador for the game in Europe. His influence extends through his family, with his son continuing the poker tradition at a high level.