Irish Open Bigger Again
The PaddyPowerPoker.com
Irish Open, already Europe's largest and most historic poker tournament, will be even bigger in 2008 with an increased buy-in, capacity, and guaranteed prize pool. The guaranteed prize pool is now €3 million, with a buy-in of €4,200 plus €300 registration fee, and with a capacity field of 1,000 players.
A record-breaking field of 708 players came to Dublin to sample the tournament's unique atmosphere and compete for more than €2.3 million in prize money in the 2007 rendition, where poker's royalty turned out for the event.
The field included
World Series of Poker champions Dan Harrington and Carlos Mortensen, but in the end it was popular Northern Irish player Marty Smyth who reigned victorious, taking home €650,000 after an epic heads-up battle with Roland De Wolfe.
To accommodate the huge demand for tickets, the 2008
Irish Open will be split into two day-one fields, allowing for a capacity of 1,000 players, although no venue for the competition has yet been announced.
New Club for Galway
A new cardroom and casino in Galway boasts 3,000 square feet of luxurious air-conditioned space. The Eglinton Club, managed by Fintan Gavin, features 11 poker tables and seven gaming tables, a restaurant, and complimentary bar.
"The emphasis is on poker," said Gavin, "and we are therefore offering nightly tournaments ranging from €25 to €150 entry, plus we have cash games with the blinds starting at €1-€3. On the first Friday of each month, there also will be a
Monster Monthly event with a €350 buy-in and 10,000 in starting chips."
Another feature of the new venue is a salon privé for high-roller cash-game players who visit Galway annually for the world-famous racing festival.
Details of the club can be found at www.theeglinton.com.
Irish Poker Championships
The
Irish Poker Championships will take place in January 2008 at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Galway. Demanding a €2,000 entry, which includes a registration fee, the tournament is being televised for state broadcaster RTE; 400 players are expected for the tournament, which is set to be sponsored by a major poker site.
Charity Date
The second
Simon Community Charity Tournament will take place on Nov. 3 at the Royal Dublin Society Hall in Dublin. Organised by Padraig Parkinson and Eamonn Connolly, the proceeds of the €330 buy-in event - €100 from each player registered - will go to the good cause that provides for the homeless.
Irish Rankings
Antesup.com has introduced and is collating an Irish Player Rankings based on a point system scored solely in domestic events.
GreenJokerPoker.com has donated prizes for the top players - €2,500 to the winner, €1,500 for second, and €1,000 to third - which will be presented in January 2008.
Added Money at the Jackpot
Dublin's Jackpot card club has announced that it is adding €500 to its Friday night tournaments, and also €400 to its Wednesday tournaments. Details of both of these nights are as follows:
New Cardroom for Dublin
Respected Irish tournament director Luke Ivory has opened his own club on the site of the old Merrion Casino in Dublin. The Georgian building at 81 Merrion Square has played host to previous stops on the
European Poker Tour, and "Cool Hand Luke's" is a welcome addition to the increasingly busy Dublin scene.
Tournament bad-beat jackpot - Ireland's first tournament bad-beat jackpot will run every night during tournaments, and will feature a guaranteed €500 nightly; €5 will be taken from the entry fee and added to the jackpot, with 50 percent going to the current jackpot and 50 percent going to the next jackpot.
The minimum criteria for the jackpot will be aces full of jacks beaten, using both holecards, including an ace; the hand also must come to a showdown.
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