THE SKILL OF THE IRISH

Irish Flag SmallDublin is the centre of the poker world this week as the Irish Poker Open gets underway at the Burlington Hotel in the Irish capital, one of the premier events on the European Poker Calendar.

There is something about Ireland that links it to poker’s history, an unswerving appeal that ensures this week’s field of hundreds will boast players from Ireland, the UK, Europe, North America and beyond.

Various books about poker have elegantly linked Ireland to our great game, with Irish players being among the first foreign raiders to take on the home town Las Vegas crowd at the World Series of Poker, and in 1999 Noel Furlong became the first of them to win the main event.

Now, despite poker initially turning its back on Ireland with an absence of European Poker Tour events, the country remains a hotbed for poker talent with two legs of the United Kingdom and Ireland Poker Tour practically sold out each year, and the WPT in Dublin later this year.

All of whom will likely be taking part in the Irish Open this week, competing for a share of the prize pool which last year was worth nearly €2,000,000 for an event broadcast live on television and won by Niall Smyth.

Check back to the IFP news section for results of the event after the final table on Monday.