The greatest thing by far about working in the weird and wonderful world of live poker is the people. All walks of life stroll onto the poker floor, making it a unique and fascinating place to be. Watching from the sidelines, I get the chance to see how people handle themselves both at and away from the table.

For the next instalment of Rising Star, we take a closer look at Robbie Bryant, one of the most consistent performers on the Irish Poker Tour this season. Soft-spoken away from the tables, he transforms into a fierce competitor once the cards are in the air. Initially, it was the relationship with his twin brother Ray that struck a chord with me. I often travel with my own younger brother and see it as an incredible gift to share that kind of bond. But for this one, the focus is firmly on Robbie.

At 34 years of age, Robbie Bryant has built a life around hard work, family and poker. Raised in Kildare before moving to Offaly as a teenager, Robbie comes from a close-knit family made up of his mother Jane, father Declan, twin brother Ray, brother Jack and younger sister Becky. Poker, however, became the thing that truly tied Robbie and Ray together.

Before poker tournaments and trophies, life was spent on construction sites. Robbie has worked in construction for most of his life, joking that he is “nearly a qualified electrician” with the amount of time he has spent doing the work. The routine was simple for years: work hard all week, save every spare euro, travel to a poker event somewhere around Ireland, usually with the Irish Poker Tour, then head back to work on Monday morning and start the cycle all over again.

Poker first entered Robbie’s life through a local pub game. A €10 buy-in tournament with a €2 best-hand side prize quickly became the highlight of every week. For three years, those games laid the foundations for what would eventually become a serious passion.

His first major live experience came at the Green Isle Hotel during a Celtic Poker Tour event. Robbie and his twin brother Ray travelled up together with just enough money for one bullet each. Ray managed a deep run early in the festival, covering the hotel costs and buying them both into the Main Event. What followed became one of the defining moments of their poker journey. Both brothers reached the final table of the Main Event and returned home not only with money, but with a feeling they had never experienced before.

That momentum eventually carried onto the international stage. Robbie describes Malta as his most memorable poker experience to date. The brothers travelled out together for the Battle of Malta and both reached the final tables of the same two events. Robbie won one tournament, while Ray won the other.

“Two trophies. It was some feeling for us both to do it at the Battle of Malta.”

Outside of poker, Robbie admits there are not many hobbies competing for his attention. The game has become part of everyday life. During two years living in Australia, poker remained central, with the pair playing every second weekend and finding plenty of success. Ray recorded his biggest live score at The Star Casino in Sydney, while Robbie captured an APT title during their time abroad.

Over the last three years, poker travel has become a regular part of life for the Bryant brothers. Trips across Europe are now routine, with another return to Malta already planned for October alongside several more stops abroad.

Despite the growing travel schedule, Robbie credits the Irish Poker Tour for giving Irish players something consistent and special at home.

“Without the Irish Poker Tour we’d probably be travelling every week. It’s nice that we have something we can play in Ireland every couple of weeks that’s enjoyable to play and has good prize pools.”

This year I have watched Robbie navigate some of the biggest fields on the Irish Poker Tour, repeatedly finding himself among the contenders when the trophies are handed out.

At the €100k for €100 Main Event in March, Robbie battled all the way to heads-up play. A deal was agreed which saw him take home €15,665, narrowly missing out on the title but proving he could compete with the very best in these massive fields.

The breakthrough finally arrived at The Monster Main Event in April. Earlier in the evening, Ray had already secured The Monsterstack trophy and €7,540. Rather than celebrate, he headed straight to the rail to support his brother.

Hours later, Robbie completed the family double.

Holding the chip lead with eight players remaining, he produced a commanding final table performance, negotiated a deal and went on to claim the title and €27,780. It was a victory that felt fully deserved after years of dedication to the game.

Most recently, Robbie added another deep run to his growing résumé with a third-place finish in The Siege of Clonmel Main Event, collecting a further €6,500 and continuing an impressive run of form. It is yet another sign that 2026 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year.

To understand Robbie’s success, it helps to understand the poker community he comes from.

Recently, I took a trip to Midlands Card Club in Tullamore, Offaly. Along with Brendan Naughton and his brother Ray, Robbie helped establish the club, and it has gone from strength to strength since its inception. When you walk through the doors, you immediately feel welcome. Looking around the room at the players who call it home, it is easy to see why this club is producing so many talented poker players. It provides regular competitive action blended with an inviting and enjoyable atmosphere.

With a summer packed full of poker action around the globe, the Bryant brothers will once again be on the road chasing titles. If recent results are anything to go by, there is every chance a few more trophies will be finding their way back to Offaly before the year is out.

Tomorrow evening the MCC is expecting yet another big turnout as Fintan Hand will be in attendance, with a bounty on his head. Fintan is one of Ireland’s most recognizable poker personalities, combining high-level tournament success with an entertaining online presence as ‘EasyWithAces‘.”