First IPO Deaf Championship winner defeats roommate heads-up for the title

Amidst a busy 45th-anniversary schedule at the Irish Poker Open (IPO), one special, inclusive event was a bright, early highlight.

A total of 29 entrants turned out for the inaugural €200 Deaf Championship. After two full days of battling, Swiss player Starny Hoang became its first champion, taking home the first-place prize of €1,825.

"I'm delighted to have won," Hoang told IPO reporters via interpreter. "I still need time to process, to make it a reality."

Starny Hoang of Switzerland is the first IPO Deaf Poker champion.

He wasn't battling against just anyone at the end. Hoang found himself heads-up with someone he'll spend plenty of time with during this series. Second-place finisher Ueli Andres Munoz shares a room with his fellow countryman.

"He's a very good friend of mine," said Hoang. "We are in the same hotel room. I hope we'll still be in the same hotel room this evening," he laughed.

Heads-up dynamics

The two players brought very different strategies into heads-up play, and Hoang shared what it was like to battle with his countryman and roommate Munoz for the trophy.

"I know him well; I also know how to play against him," said Hoang. "He's got a very defensive approach, and I have a very offensive approach. It wasn't easy."

'It’s about creating an inclusive space'

Darren Chow, Friend of the Irish Open

It’s not just about competing; it’s about creating an inclusive space where the deaf community can be part of this prestigious event.

The combination of LED screens and the registration app significantly enhances deaf poker accessibility. By providing clear visual cues and real-time updates, these technologies create an inclusive environment where deaf players can easily participate, ensuring they have the same opportunities to engage in the game as everyone else.

Hoang came out firing, but an early misstep cost him the lead he brought into heads-up play. Munoz flopped a straight, laid the trap perfectly, and got Hoang to move all-in, drawing nearly dead. That early double brought the stacks close to even, setting the stage for a more difficult battle than Hoang had hoped for. 

A crucial hand came on a board reading . "I had a king," said Hoang. "He shoved all-in, and I was trying to figure out what he had. The clock was called, and the count happened, which was stressful. At the last second, I decided to call. The floorman said it was too late, so I accepted it."

Hoang's hand was ruled dead, and the pot was shipped to his Munoz. That ruling worked out well for Hoang.

"After that, he told me he had an ace, so it worked in my favor."

Following that fortunate turn of events, Hoang closed it out by making two straights in a row to seal the deal and win the title. 

Hoang cashed in last year's WPT Prime Liechtenstein.

Additional resources to run a deaf event

Most of the time, Hoang plays events against hearing players. This week, he'll play both the €250 Mini Irish Open and the €1,150 Irish Open, and he's already bagged 135,000 in Day 1a of the latter.

"Deaf events run maybe one or two times a year," he said. 

The venue provided additional LED screens around the tables, used the PokerStars Live app to convey real-time updates and information, and had an interpreter on hand to help with communication or floor rulings. 

Congratulations to Starny Hoang for becoming the first Irish Poker Open Deaf Championship winner!

^{Images courtesy of Rational intellectual Holdings Ltd/Irish Poker Open/Danny Maxwell/Brian ÓhÉideáin.}