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Legendary Irish jockey AP McCoy leads a full house at Chips 4 Charity poker night at the Ritz

IT WAS a full house at the Ritz for this year's Chips 4 Charity poker tournament where legendary jockey AP McCoy was among those raising money for good causes.

The annual event was held at The Ritz Club casino in aid of the Irish Youth Foundation, Cancer Reasearch UK, Moorcroft Racehourse Welfare Centre and The Prince's Charitable Foundation.

Chips 4 Charity chairman John Dwyer

Event Chairman John Dwyer, Global Deals Leader at PwC in London, opened proceedings by welcoming around 80 players to the iconic five-star hotel in Piccadilly.

Scottish golfer Sam Torrance and tournament guest

The tournament has raised over a million pounds for charity to date, with a further £100,000 expected from its most recent outing.

"From our very first event in the Gunshot Club, which raised over £3,000, the event has grown considerably and to date has raised over a million for charity," Mr Dwyer said.

David O'Reilly, Colossus Bets and IYF Charity Committee with professional poker player Willie Tann

The Dundalk man went on the thank all those involved in making the event a huge success.

David Herbert, Director, The Ritz Club and John Dwyer, Chair of Irish Youth Foundation and Chips 4 Charity

He paid a special thanks to the Ritz and the Chips 4 Charity organising committee, which also includes Irish chef Richard Corrigan.

Chris Eubank Junior joined in the charity tournament

Among the high-profile guests on the evening was professional boxer Chris Eubank Junior and Scottish pro golfer Sam Torrance.

Oli Bell, ITV Sport Racing commentator

The night also included a Cheltenham Festival preview panel hosted by ITV Racing's Oli Bell.

Jason Thomas, Lucy Willow Ltd; Eamonn Delaney, originally from Birr, Co. Offaly of Delaney 32 Ltd and Aaron Ashcroft, Heating & Renewable

Joining 20-time champion jump jockey Sir AP McCoy as the guest of honour on the panel was Sky Poker ambassador Neil Channing, betting journalist Tony Clavin and National Hunt trainer Ben Pauling.

Ritz Club CEO Roger Marris, centre, and fellow poker players

An auction was also held where prizes up for grabs included Wimbledon centre court tickets, a trip to Coolmore Stud in Co. Tipperary, a 10 per cent share in a racehouse for a year, a box at Ascot and dinner at the Ritz.

Tara Myerscough JSC Comms Ltd, Hazel O'Sullivan (PwC Dublin) and Mark Gough (PwC London)

One of the four charities to benefit from the evening was the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), which funds projects around Britain helping to support disadvantaged young people.

Ritz employee James 'Jimmy' Edwards, whose grandmother was from Bridge St. in Dublin. He came to work at the Ritz for six weeks to fill in for his brother but has stayed for the last 18 years.