The beloved Irish Poker Open series traces its roots back to the visionary Terry Rogers, who brought the spirit of Las Vegas to Europe after the 1979 WSOP, sparking the No Limit Hold’em era on the continent.
From the outset, the Irish Open was not just a local event. The breakthrough came in the 1980s, when top names in world poker such as Stu Ungar, Tom McEvoy, Chip Reese, and Doyle Brunson graced the tournament. This "invasion" of American stars garnered massive media attention, confirming that Dublin could stand alongside the world’s biggest stages for a few days each year.
Organizers proudly remind us that it’s the longest-running NLH tournament outside of Las Vegas. The Irish Open is a brand that has survived various eras, changing trends, and generational shifts while remaining a magnet for recreational players, online qualifiers, and pros alike.
The Extraordinary Year of 2025: 25,000+ Entries and Nearly 15 Million Euros Paid Out
Despite its rich history, the Irish Open is far from just a historical relic. Thanks to partnerships with online partners, the event has grown year by year, culminating in the record-breaking 2025 edition.
Last year posted numbers that read like statistics from an online series: nonstop poker action, a buzzing poker room, over 25,000 entries across 69 tournaments, and more than €14,500,000 paid out. And the Main Event? It wrote its own record-breaking story: 4,562 entries, a prize pool of €4,447,950, and a €600,000 winner’s prize – making it one of the most significant European NLH stories of the season.
The perfect finale came with local player Simon Wilson's victory, sparking a wave of unrestrained Irish emotions in a grand celebration:
The 2026 Edition Kicks Off Soon
The upcoming 46th edition is set to run from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society (Ballsbridge) – and it's shaping up to be another "festival resembling a packed stadium." Organizers talk about 86 tournaments in the official schedule, further expanding the offerings compared to the past.
The festival will feature three main highlights:
- The Main Event returns with a €1,150 buy-in and a €2,500,000 guarantee – numbers that make it the flagship event and a true test of players’ desire for the Dublin title.
- The Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty will once again open the festival with a €1,000,000 guarantee – a format that attracts the masses and quickly built a reputation for being a major event in Dublin after its debut.
- The Mini Irish Open with a symbolic €250 buy-in offers even more starting flights (with mention of up to 14) – exactly the type of tournament where "one-time" vacation stories mix with regulars who know that large fields mean big opportunities.
Question of the Year: Can This Be Surpassed?
The Irish Poker Open enters another year with the best kind of "luxury problem" – the audience has seen records and now wants more. The program is larger, guarantees are significant, and qualifying paths through online satellites make Dublin a destination even for players who wouldn't normally play a €1,150 buy-in.
The only question hanging in the air from the first flights: after a record year with over 25,000 entries and €14,500,000 in winnings – can the Irish Poker Open raise the bar even higher in 2026?
Sources: https://irishpokeropen.com/, Flickr/PSlive
