Irish News: The Definitive Team Event

Following up on the 2005 Irish Poker Cup, in which Connacht lifted the trophy, Irish Poker Events is planning to introduce a new team event, the Irish Poker Cup.



Promised to be of the same prestigious status of the Irish Poker Championship and the Irish Poker Tour, the Irish Poker Cup will boast major television coverage and prize money, with the objective of making it the world's largest live poker-team event to date.



Furthermore, the 2006 Irish Poker Cup has also been chosen as a fitting occasion to present the inaugural Irish Poker Awards.



Designed as a mechanism to honour people in the industry, the 2006 Irish Poker Awards will pay tribute to those who have made a significant contribution to the game during the previous year.



A gala dinner will be held on Saturday, Aug. 26, with all tournament participants invited.



Irish Poker Cup and Awards:

Venue: City West, Dublin

Date: Aug. 25-27



Irish Poker Awards to be presented:

Best Live Player 2006

Best Online Player 2006

Favourite Celebrity Player 2006

Performance of the Decade

Young Player of the Year 2006

Best Ambassador for Poker 2006

Lifetime Achievement Award

Staff Award 2006



Tournament details:

32-34 teams – one from each county, with the possibility of a London and New York team

10 players per team

€5,000 (plus registration) entry fee per team

Prize money:

First place: €100,000

Second place: €50,000

Third place: €5,000

The remaining €15,000 will be paid out to the other final-table players.



Betfairpoker.com Sweetens the Pot in Cork Classic

Betfairpoker.com is adding €10,000 to the main-event prize pool at the Irish Classic Poker Festival (Aug. 16-20).



Cork's Macau Casino is hosting the festival and has teamed up with Betfairpoker to put on the event, in which organisers are expecting 170 runners paying €1,000; the anticipated prize pool is now €180,000.



There will also be a ladies freeroll for a seat in the main event to add to the increasing number of female players at the tournament.



Furthermore, a tournament called the Betfair Poker Pub Challenge will take place during the Classic Festival. This is the final of a series of pub-based qualifiers that have been staged all over Cork. For those who have failed to qualify at a pub, it is possible to buy in directly for €270.



Pub a go-go

Burke's Pub in Dunlavan Co. Wicklow has introduced fortnightly Friday night hold'em tournaments.



With close proximity to Naas, Newbridge, Blessington, and the numerous racehorse stables on the Curragh, the venue has a fine catchment area, and it was little surprise when its opening night attracted 75 players. For further details, call +353 45 401469.