Irish Poker Open: Complete Guide, Schedule & History

The Irish Poker Open (often referred to simply as the Irish Open) holds the legendary status of being Europe‘s oldest continuous live poker festival, and the second-longest running No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament series in the world, trailing only the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Renowned worldwide for its legendary Irish hospitality and vibrant atmosphere (often hailed as the ultimate “craic”), the tour seamlessly blends world-class competitive poker with an unmissable social experience.

Tour History & Prestige

The origins of the Irish Poker Open trace back to the late 1970s when the visionary Irish bookmaker Terry Rogers began organizing poker events in Dublin. After visiting Las Vegas and witnessing the excitement of the early World Series of Poker created by Benny Binion, Rogers set out to introduce the No-Limit Hold’em format to European shores. In 1980, the inaugural Irish Poker Open was held, establishing a foundational pillar for European poker.

Following Terry Rogers‘ passing in 1999, his close friend and poker veteran Liam Flood stepped up to spearhead the tournament’s growth. To honor his legacy, the festival continues to feature the celebrated annual Liam Flood Memorial event. In 2016, management of the tour transitioned to Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann, who modernized the festival structure and restructured the Main Event buy-in to €1,150. This strategic shift spurred exponential field sizes and breaking prize pool records in Ireland.

Over the decades, the Irish Poker Open has crowned iconic champions, including international star Steve O’Dwyer (2022 champion) and Scottish pro David Docherty (2023 Main Event winner). It remains one of the most coveted titles in international poker.

Events & Tournament Structure

The cornerstone of the festival is the multi-day Irish Poker Open Main Event, featuring deep starting stacks, smooth blind structures, and massive guaranteed prize pools. The festival schedule accommodates players of all bankrolls, from seasoned high-stakes professionals to recreational enthusiasts.

• Main Event: The marquee €1,150 buy-in tournament offering multiple Day 1 starting flights, world-class structure, and multi-million euro prize pools.
• Mini Irish Open: A highly popular lower buy-in event designed to provide big-tournament excitement for recreational players with massive fields.
• High Roller & Mystery Bounty: Premium offerings for top-tier pros and high-stakes lovers, alongside action-packed Mystery Bounty tournaments.

Online Qualifiers & Partner Integration

A key driver of the Irish Poker Open‘s massive attendance is its robust online satellite ecosystem. Through official partnerships with leading poker operators, players across the globe can win full packages or main event seats for a fraction of the direct entry fee.

Players can secure their seat at the festival via official online satellites hosted on partner platforms such as GGPoker, where daily step-satellites and package promotions are offered in the months leading up to the event.