As one of the most traditional institutions in poker, the Irish Poker Open festival looks back on a nearly 45-year history this spring – making it the oldest No-Limit Hold’em tournament in Europe and the second oldest in the world after the World Series of Poker Main Event.
Read more Jean-Robert Bellande: «Tom Dwan was my backer»
What began in 1980 in the modest setting of the Eccentric Club in Dublin, when Irish bookmaker Terry Rogers brought the then-young Texas Hold’em variant from Las Vegas to the continent, has long since developed into a must-attend event on the international poker calendar.
For decades, greats like Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar or Chip Reese were drawn to Ireland, making the tournament an early melting pot for professionals, creatives, and festival players alike. In recent years, the festival, with several thousand participants and million-euro prize pools, has not only shattered national records – in 2025, for example, a field of over 4.500 entries generated a prize pool of more than €4,4 million – but it also solidifies its reputation as an indispensable highlight in the global poker circuit.
Over the years, the event has had several sponsors, and since 2023, PokerStars Live has been the partner for online satellites and strengthening the infrastructure. The location has also changed over the years and now takes place at the Royal Dublin Society in the heart of the Irish capital, Dublin.
This year, from March 26 to April 6, it is set to be bigger and louder once again, because the Irish Poker Open is not just a poker event – it is a joy, a celebration, driven by Irish pride and the eternal pursuit of “craic” – the fun.
For an impression of what “craic” means, there is a short documentary about the event – Come for the Poker, Stay for the Craic:
Read more Daniel Negreanu confirms: No paywall for WSOP streams!
The €1.150 Main Event
At the center, of course, is the legendary Main Event. Over the years, its buy-ins have changed, ranging from €5k to €3k, and for several years now, it has settled at the €1.150 buy-in.
Five starting days are offered between March 29 and April 3. Day 2 takes place on April 4, Day 3 on April 5, and the final on April 6.
Last year’s winner was the Irishman Simon Wilson, who outlasted 4.561 players and pocketed a cool €600.000 for it!
A wide range of side events
At such a boisterous festival, the side events must not be overlooked. In addition to the wild cash games, you can also find “craic” in a wide selection of poker tournaments alongside the Main Event, with variants ranging from standard Texas Hold’em to Pot-Limit Omaha, 7-card Stud, and even Sviten.
Highlights include, for example, the €250 Mini Irish Open with a whopping 13 starting days, the €1.150 Mixed 8-Game Championship High Roller, the €550 Spraggy Mystery Bounty, the €250 Old Dogs and Young Pups and the €1.150 Ladies High Roller Championship.
Read more Video – The craziest Heads-Up Match of all time?
The full tournament schedule can be found here:
| TIME | # | TOURNAMENT | BUY-IN | CHIPS | LATE-REG | CLOCK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 | 1 | Luxon Mystery Bounty – Single Re Entry per Flight – €1,000,000 GTD Day 1/A | €485 + €515 + €150 | 50,000 | 20:10 | 40 mins |
| 13:00 | 2 | Satellite to Luxon Mystery Bounty – Milestone 50K – Unlimited Re-Entry – 5 Seats GTD | €235 + €20 | 10,000 | 16:00 | 20 mins |
| 13:00 | 3 | Irish Open Deaf Championship – Single Re-Entry per Flight Day 1A | €170 + €30 | 30,000 | 17:40 | 30 mins |
| 14:00 | 4 | Big O Championship- Unlimited Re-Entry | €310 + €40 | 30,000 | 19:10 | 30 mins |
| 15:00 | 5 | Super Seniors Championships (60 Years Young) – Single Re-Entry | €215 + €35 | 30,000 | 19:30 | 25 mins |
| 18:00 | 6 | Mini Irish Open – Unlimited Re Entry – €1,000,000 GTD Day 1/A | €215 + €35 | 30,000 | 22:00 | 20 mins |
| 18:00 | 102 | Spin n‘ Go – On Demand Day 1/A | €50 + €0 | 4,000 | – | 4 mins |
| 19:00 | 7 | Satellite to #14 €3,000 Cuatro PLO High Roller – Milestone 50K – Unlimited Re-Entry – 5 Seats Gtd | €610 + €40 | 10,000 | 21:55 | 20 mins |
| 19:00 | 8 | Irish Open PLO Deaf Championship Single Re-Entry | €100 + €20 | 20,000 | 22:00 | 20/15 mins |
| 20:00 | 9 | Satellite to Luxon Mystery Bounty – Milestone 100K – Unlimited Re-Entry – 10 Seats GTD | €120 + €20 | 10,000 | 23:00 | 20 mins |
| 20:00 | 501 | Spin n‘ Go – On Demand | €50 + €0 | 4,000 | – | 4 mins |
