2018 Irish Open Features a €1 Million Guaranteed Main Event
One of the most popular live poker tournaments in the world is the Irish Open, the longest-running live event behind the World Series of Poker.
Colette Doherty triumphed in the first Irish Open in 1980 after a deal with Terry Rogers. Doherty won the title again in 1991 and is only one of five players to have won two Irish Open Main Events.
Double Irish Open Winners
| Player | Years won |
|---|---|
| Colette Doherty | 1980 and 1991 |
| Mickey Finn | 1994 and 1998 |
| Liam Flood | 1990 and 1996 |
| Noel Furlong | 1987 and 1989 |
| Jimmy Langan | 1983 and 1988 |
The tournament’s reigning champion is Griffin Benger who topped a field of 1,129 players to get his hands on the €200,000 first-place prize last year. It was Dan Wilson who won the Main Event in 2016, besting 801 opponents to claim the €150,000 top prize.
This Decade’s Irish Open Champions
| Year | Buy-in | Entries | Champion | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | €1,275 | 1,129 | Griffin Benger | €200,000 |
| 2016 | €1,150 | 802 | Dan Wilson | €150,000 |
| 2015 | €3,500 | 321 | Ioannis Triantafyllakis | €209,500 |
| 2014 | €2,250 | 411 | Patrick Clarke | €200,000 |
| 2013 | €2,250 | 505 | Ian Simpson | €265,000 |
| 2012 | €3,500 | 502 | Kevin Vandersmissen | €420,000 |
| 2011 | €3,500 | 615 | Niall Smyth | €550,000 |
| 2010 | €3,500 | 708 | James Mitchell | €600,000 |
The 2018 Irish Open Main Event sees its guaranteed prize pool double from €500,000 to €1 million. Costing €1,150 to enter, the Irish Open Main Event features two starting flights. Day 1a commences on Mar. 14 with the final day’s play taking place on Mar. 18.
Several online poker sites are running satellites to the €1 million guaranteed Main Event, including bet365, Betfair Poker, Paddy Power Poker, and partypoker. You can grab yourself a welcome bonus at each of these sites if you download the software via PokerNews and use our bonus codes.
There are 20 tournaments scheduled at the Citywest Hotel between Mar. 12-18, with the festival concluding with the ever-popular Norwegian Poker Championships. Please note: only holders of a Norwegian passport are permitted to play in the series-ending Norwegian Poker Championships.
2018 Irish Open Schedule
| Date | Time | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 12 Mar | 4:00 p.m. | Event 1 - Irish Open €350 NLH 6-Max |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 2 - €150 NLH Deepstack 6-Max | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 3 - €80 Irish Open Satellite - 5 Seats Gtd | |
| Tue 13 Mar | 1:00 p.m. | Event 4 - Irish Open €350 NLH Heads-Up Round 1 |
| 3:00 p.m. | Event 4 - Irish Open €350 NLH Heads-Up Round 2 | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Event 5 - Irish Open €2,000 High Roller 8-Max | |
| 5:00 p.m. | Event 4 - Irish Open €350 NLH Heads-Up Quarter Final | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 6 - €150 PLO Deepstack 6-Max | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 7 - €100 Irish Open Satellite - 10 seats Gtd | |
| Wed 14 Mar | 12:00 p.m. | Event 4 - Irish Open €350 NLH Heads-Up Semi Final |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event 4 - Irish Open €350 NLH Heads-Up Final | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event 8 - €1,150 Irish Open Main Event Day 1a | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Event 9 - €150 PLO 6-Max Deepstack | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 10 - €150 NLH Deepstack Turbo | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 11 - Irish Open Satellite - 20 seats Gtd | |
| Thu 15 Mar | 2:00 p.m. | €1,150 Irish Open Main Event Day 1b |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 12 - €150 Round of Each (NLH/PLO) | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 13 - €150 NLH Deepstack Turbo | |
| Fri 16 Mar | 2:00 p.m. | Irish Open Main Event Day 2 |
| 4:00 p.m. | Event 14 - €550 JP Poker Masters Day 1 | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 15 - €150 NLH Deepstack Turbo | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 16 - Irish Open €350 PLO 6-Max Day 1 | |
| Sat 17 Mar | 2:00 p.m. | Event 14 - JP Poker Masters Final Day |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event 16 - Irish Open €350 PLO 6-Max Final Day | |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event 8 - Irish Open Main Event Day 3 | |
| 4:00 p.m. | Event 17 - Liam Flood Memorial €350 6-Max Turbo | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 18 - €150 PLO Deepstack Turbo | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 19 - €150 NLH Deepstack Turbo | |
| Sun 18 Mar | 2:00 p.m. | Event 20 - €250 Mini Irish Open Day 1 |
| 2:00 p.m. | Event 8 - Irish Open Main Event Day 4 | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Event 21 - Irish open €250 NLH Seniors | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Event 22 - €150 PLO Deepstack Turbo | |
| Mon 19 Nov | 2:00 p.m. | Event 20 - Mini Irish open Day 2 |
| 4:00 p.m. | Norwegian Championships - NLH 8-Max | |
| 6:00 p.m. | Norwegian Championships 8-Max | |
| 8:00 p.m. | Norwegian Championships - Deepstack Turbo |
If you love playing poker in a fun-loving atmosphere and want the chance to win a massive cash prize, why not try and qualify for the 2018 Irish Open Main Event at one of the online poker sites mentioned above. Trust us, you'll love every second of your time in the Emerald Isle.
