2016 Irish Open Commences On Monday, March 21 with First of 32 Events
The 2016 Irish Open poker festival has arrived and everything points to it being one of the best yet. With 32 events scheduled from March 21-28, including pot-limit Omaha, no-limit hold'em, Irish poker, heads-up, and six-max events, there is certainly something for everyone.
Now in its 25th year, the Irish Open is the longest running poker festival in Europe and trails only the World Series of Poker in terms of global longevity. In recent years, the Irish Open has been a Paddy Power-sponsored event, but this is the first edition under new management and the team hopes to see huge fields competing in every tournament, especially the €500,000 guaranteed Main Event.
Speaking on behalf of the Irish Open earlier this year, Paul O'Reilly said: "We're thrilled to be bringing the Irish Open back to the masses with a reduced buy in and guaranteeing a bumper prize pool of half a million Euros. There will be a huge week of poker partying in Dublin and anyone who's ever been here knows Dublin can party! We can't wait to welcome people from all over Ireland and the World to City West for what will prove to be an amazing week-long poker event."
2016 Irish Open Schedule
| Date | Time (Local) | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, March 21 | 4 p.m. | €60 No-Limit Hold'em Dealer's Event |
| 4 p.m. | €350 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max Triple Chance | |
| 6 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack 6-Max | |
| 8 p.m. | €60 Irish Open Satellite | |
| Tuesday, March 22 | 4:00pm | Pot-Limit Omaha Day 2 |
| 4 p.m. | €60 Pot-Limit Omaha Turbo | |
| 4 p.m. | €350 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max | |
| 4 p.m. | €150 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack 6-Max | |
| 8 p.m. | €60 Irish Open Satellite | |
| Wednesday, March 23 | 1:00pm | €350 No-Limit Hold’em Heads-Up Round 1 |
| 2 p.m. | €60 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | |
| 3 p.m. | Heads-Up Round 2 | |
| 4 p.m. | €2,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller 8-Max | |
| 4 p.m. | €60 Pot-Limit Omaha Turbo | |
| 6 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max Deepstack | |
| 8 p.m. | €110 Irish Open Satellite | |
| Thursday, March 24 | 12:00pm | Heads-Up quarter-final |
| 2 p.m. | €1,150 Irish Open Main Event Day 1a | |
| 2 p.m. | €60 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | |
| 6 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | |
| 8 p.m. | €110 Irish open Super Satellite | |
| Friday, March 25 | 12:00pm | Heads-Up semi-final |
| 2 p.m. | €1,150 Irish Open Main Event Day 1b | |
| 2 p.m. | €60 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | |
| 6 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha round of each | |
| 8 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em 3-Card | |
| Saturday, March 26 | 12:00pm | Heads-Up final |
| 2 p.m. | Irish Open Main Event Day 2 | |
| 2 p.m. | €60 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo | |
| 4 p.m. | €350 No-Limit Hold’em Liam Flood Memorial 6-Max | |
| 6 p.m. | €250 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max | |
| 8 p.m. | €150 Open Face Chinese 4-Max | |
| Sunday, March 27 | 2:00pm | Irish Open Main Event Day 3 |
| 2 p.m. | €250 No-Limit Hold’em Mini Irish Open | |
| 6 p.m. | €250 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max | |
| 8 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em | |
| Monday, March 28 | 1:00pm | €250 No-Limit Hold’em Seniors |
| 2 p.m. | Irish Open Main Event Day 4 | |
| 2 p.m. | Mini Irish Open Day 2 | |
| 2 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em Scalps | |
| 4 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em Win the Button | |
| 6 p.m. | €150 No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack Turbo |
€500,000 Guaranteed Irish Open Main Event
The Irish Open Main Event is one of the most eagerly anticipated tournaments on the European calendar thanks large in part to the amazing atmosphere that you can only experience in Ireland.
Last year, Ioannis Triantafyllidis outlasted 320 opponents to scoop the €209,500 first-place prize in what was then a €3,500 buy-in tournament. Before Triantafyllidis, Ireland’s Patrick Clarke was a popular champion, his victory ensuring the Irish Open trophy stayed on home soil.
Other past Irish Open Main Event winners include Ian Simpson, who famously proposed to his girlfriend shortly after winning €265,000, Belgium’s Kevin Vandermissen, and British duo James Mitchell and the legendary Neil Channing.
Past 10 Irish Open Main Event Results
| Year | Buy-in | Entrants | Prize pool | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | €3,500 | 321 | €1,027,000 | Ioannis Triantafyllidis | €209,500 |
| 2014 | €2,250 | 411 | €822,000 | Patrick Clarke | €200,000 |
| 2013 | €2,250 | 505 | €1,010,000 | Ian Simpson | €265,000 |
| 2012 | €3,500 | 502 | €1,606,400 | Kevin Vandersmissen | €420,000 |
| 2011 | €3,500 | 615 | €1,968,000 | Niall Smyth | €550,000 |
| 2010 | €3,500 | 708 | €2,265,200 | James Mitchell | €600,000 |
| 2009 | €3,500 | 700 | €2,240,000 | Christer Johansson | €600,000 |
| 2008 | €4,500 | 667 | €3,000,000 | Neil Channing | €801,400 |
| 2007 | €3,500 | 708 | €2,336,500 | Marty Smyth | €650,000 |
| 2006 | €3,200 | 339 | €1,017,000 | Vincent Melinn | €350,000 |
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