Irish Open "My Favourite Festival" says partypoker Sponsored Pro Louise Butler

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Apr 06, 2020 3 min read Last updated Apr 07, 2020

The Irish Open Online kicks off today on partypoker with the entire festival online for the first time in its history.

In order to get yourself in the mood for the 22 event festival, including the €1,000,000 GTD Main Event, which you can satellite into via the partypoker client, we caught up with partypoker Sponsored Pro Louise Butler

Butler knows a thing or two about online poker, and is currently the No.1 Irish female online player on pocketfives, having amassed over $555,000 in online MTT cashes.

There's still time to satellite into the Irish Open Main Event

She learned to play during university, and has been playing for two years - and counting!

"The Irish Open is my favourite festival," Butler told PokerNews. "It's a really social event with a special atmosphere, so I'm pretty disappointed not to be able to play it in the live setting. I love catching up with friends there and am really sad that won't be happening this year.

"That being said, I was delighted when partypoker stepped in and saved the festival. I know the Irish Open organisers had been working very hard putting together this year's festival and it would have been a shame if it had all been for nothing. I think it's really important the poker community comes together at this time and tries to find ways to support each other. As a player, I'm so excited to get to play the Irish Open online - it'd be a pretty sick brag to say you won what will probably be the only ever online Irish Open."

Butler previously satellite into the partypoker Caribbean Poker Party, winning a $12,000 package for just $109. She admits she's been less fortunate in satelliting for the Irish Open Online.

"I've been trying and failing!" said Butler. "There is a great schedule of satellites and I'll be playing more this week."

The partypoker Sponsored Pro expects a tougher Irish Open online than in the live setting, but says that should make it more interesting as a tournament.

"When you play live there is a wider mix of players, there's more table talk and more opportunities to adjust your game based on who you're playing against and how they perceive you - especially when you're a woman. I think the standard of play is generally higher online and you need to play a solid yet fearless game to do well. Having real names displayed for the Irish Open events should make it interesting though and a little bit more like live!"

Butler has some top tips for anyone playing the Irish Open Online, especially with how prestigious the tournament is, but reiterates that the main thing is to have fun while you're playing.

"Pay attention to what is happening at your table and make notes on players. Get a good playlist going and have fun! The Irish Open is such a prestigious event so I suggest one tabling it and focusing. It's a good idea to rail some of your friends who are also playing - WhatsApp groups are great for a bit of craic and you get to support everyone."

An experienced online player, Butler says she would love to see an Irish player ship this year's Irish Open Online, highlighting Sven McDermott and Dara O'Kearney as likely ones to watch

Aside from the Irish Open Online, Butler is enjoying an extended POWERFEST schedule on partypoker.

"I'm absolutely delighted it's been extended until the 19th of April. Online poker is so much fun at the moment and the tournament schedule for the next few weeks is absolutely class on partypoker."

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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