Marty Smyth

Marty Smyth was introduced to poker at a young age. At 22, during a weekend trip to a Dublin casino, he first discovered Omaha and Texas Hold'em. He continued playing and gradually became a successful professional. In March 2008, he signed a sponsorship deal with the Irish company Boylepoker.com. Smyth was the highest-earning player in Europe in 2007 and received two European Poker Awards nominations (Player of the Year 2008 and Best Tournament Performance).

Smyth cashed four times in the Irish Poker Open, Europe's oldest and largest poker event. He finished 7th in 2002, 6th in 2003, and 15th in 2006. In 2007, he defeated a field of 708 players (the largest in European tournament history at the time), winning the €3,300 buy-in Main Event. He defeated Roland De Wolfe in heads-up play to claim the Terry Rogers Memorial Trophy and €650,000. The event was broadcast on Irish RTÉ Two television and the international channel Challenge.

Smyth finished 6th in Ladbrokes-sponsored Poker Million V (2006), earning $100,000. The following year he reached the final table again, finishing runner-up to Joe Beevers and winning $500,000. In 2008, he made history by reaching the final for the third consecutive time and won the championship, taking home $1,000,000.

On July 2, 2008, Smyth won the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship, earning $859,532 and a WSOP bracelet. In the decisive hand, the flop came Q♣ 9♥ 10♣. Smyth held K♣ J♣ J♠ Q♦ (a king-high straight), while opponent Peter Jetten held K♠ J♦ 3♦ 2♣ (the same straight). However, Smyth had a flush and straight draw (a royal flush draw). The turn was the 7♦ (blank), and the river 6♣ gave Smyth the flush, securing the title. Smyth considered this bracelet his greatest achievement, but the Irish Open victory was the "most life-changing" in his career. As of 2009, his total live tournament earnings exceeded $3.7 million, with $863,382 from two WSOP cashes.

Marty Smyth is known for aggressive preflop action and precise post-flop hand reading. He excels at using position to apply pressure after the flop, with a style leaning toward "loose-aggressive," but he adjusts flexibly based on opponent ranges and board texture. He is particularly adept in deep-stacked tournaments, balancing value bets with bluffs. His strategic philosophy emphasizes initiative and adaptability, opposing mechanical play.

Smyth is nicknamed "The Laughing Man" by fans due to his Irish accent and humorous personality, often bringing laughter to the table. He has appeared multiple times on televised poker shows, becoming a fan favorite with his trademark smile and relaxed demeanor. Additionally, he has ventured into poker education, creating strategy videos and being active on poker forums under the ID "Marty_S."