Irish News

Two Million Reasons for an Open Visit



Europe's most renowned no-limit Texas hold'em poker tournament is set to return in 2007 for its 26th year, double the size of the 2006 rendition.



Paddypowerpoker.com has doubled the guaranteed prize pool of the Irish Open to €2 million, making it not only one of Europe's richest tournaments, but also the largest in terms of players.



The capacity of next Easter's event will be 800, with players being split into two opening-day groups, and the buy-in is €3,500, including registration fee.



The 2006 Irish Open saw 339 players play for a guaranteed prize pool of €1 million. It was won by Vincent Melinn, who netted the €350,000 first prize at a final table broadcast live across Europe on Sky Sports.



The minimum guaranteed payouts are:

Team Time in Cork



The Irish Christmas Poker Festival, which takes place at Cork's Macau Casino between Nov. 30 and Dec. 3, will feature a new team event.



Restricted to five players per team and capped at 30 teams, captains will have to register their squads by Nov. 16 at a cost of €2,000 per team.



"The fifth player on the team can be used as a substitute, entering anytime during the first three levels to replace an eliminated teammate," said Ken Corkery, manager at the Macau.



"Should those substitutes not be called up to enter the main event, they will instead enter a three-table tournament in which they can win extra points for their teams. All in all, the plan is to have a lot of fun."



The Macau Casino will also be staging a land-based qualifier for the $5,000 Betfair Asian Poker Tour, starting on Nov. 9.

Contact the casino on +353 21 4530477 for further details.

There are satellites Nov. 27-29, and sponsor Betfairpoker.com will be running qualifiers into the main event throughout November. Poker Masters for Emporium



Dublin's Sporting Emporium Casino will stage its first major tournament when the newly formed European Poker Masters rolls into town.



The tournament, sponsored by FullTiltPoker.com and staged over two days (Nov. 18-19), costs €3,000 to enter and will be broadcast on both Eurosport and All In Sport channels.



Strict, Says McDowell


Michael McGrath, a barrister with experience in the licensing area, has been appointed chairman of The Casino Regulation Committee – which will also include representatives of the departments of Justice, Finance, Environment, Arts, Sport, and Tourism, the revenue commissioners, and the police – set up by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to make proposals to regulate casinos in Ireland.



"I expect that the legislative proposals will bring about strict regulation over the establishment of and operation of casinos, while ensuring that public and local interests are served," stated McDowell.



Off the Boyle



Irish Poker Events and long-standing sponsor Boylepoker.com have ended their successful relationship.



However, Fintan Gavin, director of the Galway-based tournament organisers, is pressing on relentlessly with events throughout the country, with the Irish Championships at Citywest Hotel (Jan. 4-7) the next big hurrah. The entry fee is €1,500 with the prize pool expected to exceed €500,000.



Meanwhile, Leitrim landed the Irish Poker Cup and a team prize of €67,500, with Laois and Tyrone joint runners-up, netting €23,750.



Irish Poker Cup finishing points/positions were as follows:

A Jolly Green Giant?



Green Joker Poker will present its first major tournament in late November at the Boyne Valley Hotel in Drogheda.



The three-day no-limit hold'em tournament gets under way at 8 p.m. on Nov. 24, demanding a €1,000 entry fee, with an estimated €200,000 prize pool.



Supporting events are a two-day €300 hold'em tournament and a concluding €200 competition.



Best in the West


Galway has a new cardroom, with the Corrib Casino, formerly the 21 Club, opening its doors.



Sylvester Geoghegan, who's in charge of the new venue, said, "Call it tacky, but I'm giving the Corrib Casino the byline 'The Best in the West,' and it's a statement of what we are trying to achieve there.



"Initially, there will be eight poker tables to facilitate a €50 freezeout on Thursdays and a €75 freezeout on Fridays.



Furthermore, I'm very keen to start a regular Omaha cash game, which is something that is missing in Western Ireland, apart from the notorious action during the Galway Racing Festival.



"Of course, there will be all the traditional casino games – two roulette and blackjack tables, along with a three-card brag and Caribbean stud table – but it is poker that I really want to get off the ground in the city."



Meanwhile, Geoghegan reports that his other venue, the Crane Club Casino in Mullingar, is prospering. "Thursday nights in the Mullingar Club are doing well and attract a lot of new players; €25 is the entry, with up to three rebuys at €10 apiece permitted. We guarantee the winner €1,000 and the runner-up €500," he said.



Further details for both venues are available by contacting +353 868122186



Big Slick's Big Tournament



The Big Slick Card Club in Charlotte Street, Carlow, is staging a €200 no-limit hold'em freezeout on Oct. 8. Having run satellites throughout the summer, organisers are expecting more than 100 entrants.



Sister venue the K&K Card Club in Parnell Street, Clonmel, is now open seven days a week from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Here no-limit hold'em cash games hold priority, with Thursday night's €5-€10 game offering the most action. Tournaments, ranging from €20 to €100, are offered on Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.



Contact 087 2828744 or visit www.bsptour.net.



Fest at the Fitz



Dublin's Fitzwilliam Casino is staging its Winter Poker Fest Oct. 25-30. "It's centred around our end-of-month tourney and very much aimed at our regulars," said Cardroom Manager Luke Ivory. "The main event of the Festival is a €500 hold'em freezeout that's run over two days (Oct. 28-29), and this could become a regular monthly feature."



Cash games are as popular as ever at the Fitzwilliam, with between four and seven tables a night open, including the notorious "big Omaha table."



The tournament schedule has seen some changes, however, with Friday night's tournament now being €60 with one rebuy at €50 and "scalp awards" at €10 apiece.



Monday nights are now €100 with an optional rebuy or top-up. This upscaling has led to increased crowds and prize fund – approximately €7,000 – and Thursday nights are now a €150 freezeout, attracting 40 to 50 players.



In-house online poker site IrishEyesPoker is running satellites for the Fitzwilliam's monthly tournaments.