2019 Irish Poker Open Ready to Break Another Record

December 10th, 2018 | by Kaycee James

The 2019 Irish Poker Open will embrace the latest innovation from Partypoker in a bid continue its recent record-breaking run.

Players will have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Griffin Benger when the Irish Poker Open gets underway in April 2019. (Image: Twitter/Irish_PokerOpen)

Publishing the details in a December 7 press release, the Irish Poker Open’s Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann announced next year’s festival will run between April 15 and April 22. In tandem with a €1 million/$1.14 million guaranteed main event, the 2019 edition of Europe’s longest running poker festival will feature a selection of “affordable” tournaments.

Playing for the Craic in Dublin

As well as contributing to the recreational vibe the Irish Poker Open has become known for, the side action will help generate interest in the €1,150/$1,140 main event.

In 2016, the tournament attracted its biggest ever field with 1,129 entries. Last year, that figure was beaten as players from around the world joined the action inside Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.

“It is always exciting to launch the Irish Poker Open each year. The 2018 event smashed its €1 million/$1.14 million guarantee after attracting 1,348 entrants from 68 countries. This represents a sizable 19 percent increase from last year’s Main Event,” organizers McCann and O’Reilly said in the official press release.

With the first of four starting flights getting underway on April 17, those in charge of the Irish Poker Open are hopeful another record will fall. To improve the chances of that happening, entrants can use Partypoker’s new tournament currency.

Online Innovation Makes Irish Poker Open More Accessible

Being the headlines sponsor, Partypoker will not only offer online satellites but the opportunity for players to enter using PP Live $$$. By streamlining the buy-in process and bridging the gap between the online and offline worlds, attendance figures should improve.

Indeed, with Partypoker recently hosting the richest online MTT in history, the Irish Poker Open will be able to ride the coattails of an operator on the up. What’s more, with additional satellites available on Paddy Power, Betfair and the iPoker Network, there are more ways than ever for players to take part.

Should the 2019 Irish Poker Open beat its current record, players will be competing for the lion’s share of a prizepool worth more than $1.6 million.