For many poker players from all over the world, the Irish Open is their favourite tournament of the year. Now MainEventTravel is set to make it even better! MainEventTravel is now the Irish Open’s Official Travel Partner, making it easier than ever for players to sort out all their travel needs for the longest running No Limit poker tournament in Europe.
The Irish Poker Open Festival will take place in the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, Ireland from April 15 to 22 and you can book your accommodation, flights and buy-ins direct with MainEventTravel for this year’s event - and be assured of some fantastic hotel deals whatever your budget. MainEventTravel will also be offering combined hotel and buy-in packages enabling players to book accommodation and register for the Main Event in advance with no admin fees in either EUR, USD or GBP.
The €1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event, coupled with legendary Dublin hospitality, makes the Irish Open a truly unmissable event. Since it was launched back in 1981, the event has grown to become one of the world’s most prestigious and lively poker festivals. Now operated by Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann, it’s the longest-running No Limit Texas Hold’em poker tournament in Europe and the second longest in the world after the World Series of Poker. The festival has become a must-attend stop on the international poker circuit for players from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the USA – and provides craic on a level seen nowhere else in the world.
The flagship event of this year’s Irish Open extravaganza is the €1,150 Main Event which starts on April 17. This year, there are four start days including a Day 1d Turbo on April 19. On all the start days, players kick off with a 30,000 starting stack; one re-entry per day is permitted, and players can re-enter right up to the start of Day 2. Days 1a, 1b and 1c all have 60-minute levels and the 1d Turbo has 20-minute levels.
As well as the Main Event, a packed schedule features a total of 27 events this year including the €2,100 High Roller, the €350 NLH Heads-Up, the €550 America’s Cup Championship Event, the €250 Ladies Event – sponsored by Poker League of Nations, the €550 JP Poker Masters, a €150 Bounty event, the €250 Mini Irish Open and the €350 Liam Flood Memorial 6-Max Turbo.
Last year British player Ryan Mandara took down the Main Event after beating a huge field of 1,340 players; his €210,000 first prize was by far the biggest of his live poker career. His heads-up rival Ferdia O’Connell won €140,000 after qualifying online for just one penny.
MainEventTravel Managing Director Fraser MacIntyre (pictured above), who is himself a semi-professional player with over $750,000 in live tournament winnings, said: “It’s almost a dream come true to be the Official Travel Partner for the Irish Open. No one who has competed in this event will ever forget it – the atmosphere is incredible – so we are delighted to be affiliated with the Irish Open as its Official Travel Partner. We look forward to helping everyone competing in the event with all their travel needs – whatever events they’re playing and wherever they want to stay.”