The Ultimate Hybrid – Old-Style Irish Poker Meets Modern Online Paths
It’s all about hybrids these days and the poker world is no exception. WPT Global – WPTG – has accelerated that tendency in Ireland, with turbo, over the last couple of years, and the International Poker Open coming to the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin this October will be one of the finest demonstrations yet of this hybrid model. With a delicious Irish flavour.
Online is marrying live, WPTG is the matchmaker, the IPO is the priest and the Bonnington is the church.
And it’s all helping to make poker more accessible to the humbler, less professional poker player in Ireland than ever before.
This year, entry to the IPO Main Event, with a minimum guarantee of €200,000, will cost a walk-in player €350. But your road there could begin for as little as $4.40.
Those daily online feeders lead into $44 final satellites every Monday and Thursday at 8pm Irish time, with two €350 Main Event seats guaranteed in each. And you can keep trying right up until the final opportunity on October 18.
Last year’s Main Event saw Dublin’s Noel Murphy take the title and €42,340, with plenty of Irish interest surrounding him. Keith Smith took third for €20,640, another Irish player listed as C.C. finished fourth for the same amount, and Ray Wheatley made seventh for €6,550. Irish success continued in the side events too, with John Farrell taking down the Mini Main and Tomas Brady winning the Monday Last Chance.
And WPTG was already having a considerable effect on how people got there. More than 60 players qualified for the 2025 IPO through WPT Global satellites, while another 50 entries came through its OnLive Day 1.
So this hybrid business is already a bit more than a fancy new hi-jacked term….
SO WHY A HYBRID?
There are hybrid cars, bikes, coffee makers, golf clubs, energy systems and toothbrushes (don’t ask me), so what’s the big deal? Who wants the mongrel when you can have the pure-bred?
It turns out there are loads of reasons, but the main ones are usually efficiency and convenience – meeting more people’s needs, pockets and lifestyles.
Modern poker is no exception.
Combining the virtual with the real is proving to suit an awful lot of players and, what’s more, you can now not only qualify for a live event or festival online, but actually play your Day 1 in the comfort of your own home, man-cave or office.
For this year’s IPO, that Online Day 1 takes place on WPT Global on Sunday, October 18 at 8pm Irish time. Bag your stack there and you can arrive at the Bonnington for Day 2 with your virtual chips tucked firmly under your real arm.
That matters for Irish players living outside Dublin too. A Day 1 played from home can mean one less day’s travel, accommodation and expense before you have even reached the business end of a tournament.
Qualifying online for live events is hardly new, of course. But WPTG has been pushing the online/live crossover particularly hard in Irish poker through satellites, OnLive Day 1s, partnerships with Irish festivals and, increasingly, Irish players representing the brand.
The IPO is another significant piece of that jigsaw.
THE IRISH CONNECTION
There are already some familiar Irish faces in the WPTG camp.
Pádraig “Smidge” O’Neill and Shane Murphy have both demonstrated the OnLive concept rather nicely themselves. During this year’s Dublin Poker Festival, both bagged stacks through the online Day 1 before moving into the live tournament. Murphy eventually recorded what was then his biggest live cash, €2,080 for 25th in the European Deepstack Championship.
O’Neill needs little introduction to Irish poker followers. The EPT Prague champion has already proved he can mix it at the very highest level, but even a player of his calibre can apparently appreciate the attraction of getting Day 1 done without putting his shoes on.
Fintan Hand
And then, of course, there is WPTG’s own Irish ambassador, Mr EasyWithAces himself, Fintan Hand.
Hand is almost the epitome of the hybrid player. The Dubliner began his poker life in the very traditional surroundings of the Fitzwilliam Casino before becoming one of the best-known Irish online players and streamers. After more than eight years representing PokerStars, he joined WPT Global at the beginning of 2026, with WPTG itself saying that its plans for poker in Ireland played a significant role in his decision.
So the journey has almost come full circle: Dublin card room to online poker, streaming and international success, and back to helping put Irish live poker in front of an online audience.
Good man, Finto. Keep ’em coming.
Patrick Tardif, from Canada, will also be making the trip across the pond. Ambassador to WPT Global, Patrick made the trip across for the Dublin Poker Festival back in February, where he cashed the European Deepstack.
Another name worth keeping an eye out for at the Bonnington is Paul Carr. The Irish Poker Tour Team Pro already has a ticket for this year’s IPO and has plenty of previous form at the festival.
Carr finished eighth in the 2022 IPO Main Event for €3,880 and cashed the 2024 Main Event, but did considerably better in another event that year – winning the €550 Leslie McLean High Roller for €7,083.
And Carr is perhaps particularly appropriate to this story. While he famously came second in the 2010 Irish Open for a rather less humble €312,600, much of his long poker record has been built grinding events around Ireland rather than permanently chasing the biggest tournaments across the globe.
In other words, exactly the sort of player who demonstrates that there is a very healthy poker life outside the nosebleed stakes.
IPO – Everyman’s card-table
Since its inception in 2007, the IPO seemed to have made a decision to bring poker onto the main street; to take it out of the boudoirs of the high rollers and ten-gallon hat wearers and make it just one step away from your local game up the road in the pub or neighbour’s house. It was a little less daunting and because the guarantees were a bit lower, international players weren’t as plentiful and the whole tournament was that bit…familiar.
But time nor tide waits for a man, and the International Poker Open has established its name firmly in the hearts and bank-rolls of our top players. And while keeping the traditional players, WPTG’s involvement has sent it on a new journey, embracing quite beautifully the changes that are inevitable in this life.
Indeed, there is something rather pleasing about the journey. Poker technology has become vastly more sophisticated, prize pools have grown and online poker has changed how players enter the game altogether – yet the modern route can now begin with $4.40.
Mr or Ms Joe Soap can sit at home, find their way through a feeder and satellite, potentially play Day 1 from the sofa and end up sitting beside a seasoned professional at the Bonnington with exactly the same cards in front of them.
Whether Joe Soap then relieves the professional of all his chips is, of course, another matter entirely.
But we can dream. A cat can look at a king. Or sit in his lap.
THE BONNINGTON – AN OLD POKER HOME
And when the online part is over, there could hardly be a more appropriate place for the live part to begin.
The Bonnington, sits in Whitehall on the Swords Road in Dublin 9 and is no stranger to the poker world.
The hotel has been associated with major Irish poker for years and its location is certainly convenient for players far and wide: between Dublin Airport and the city centre, close to major routes and served by public transport.
The card room itself is in the hotel’s main conference area, directly off the lobby, making registration and access simple – although don’t forget your government-issued photo ID, guys.
And then there is McGettigan’s.
The hotel pub has surely witnessed enough post-poker analysis over the years to qualify for an honorary degree in the subject: winning hands reconstructed, bad beats dissected and no doubt the occasional player quietly crying into his pint while insisting that there was absolutely no way the other lad should have called.
But sure you can always jump in their fabulous pool, sweat it out in the sauna or get massaged in the spa to calm the nerve, for this treasure or a hotel has a leisure centre and spa to round off a thoroughly enjoyable few days, with maybe a few quid extra in your pocket.
This October, another generation arrives. Old faces, new faces. Old ways, new ways.
The IPO festival runs from October 20-26, with the €350 Main Event at its centre alongside a full programme of side events. But for some of those players, the tournament will actually have begun days earlier – and miles away – on a laptop or phone.
That is perhaps the most interesting part of WPT Global’s growing relationship with Irish poker. It is not trying to replace the live game that Ireland does so well. Increasingly, the online game is being used as the road into it.
Old-style Irish poker is still there: the tables, the characters, the stories, the craic and the inevitable forensic examination of a hand over a pint afterwards.
The road to the table just looks a little different these days.
Hybrid indeed.
Punch Your Ticket: Win Your Way to Dublin, Malta, Seoul and Vegas on WPT Global
Autumn is a busy one on the live circuit, and WPT Global has satellites running for just about all of it. Dublin, Malta, Cyprus, Seoul, Las Vegas: most of these start at a dollar or two, so there’s no excuse not to take a shot.
Here’s everything that’s running, starting closest to home…
International Poker Open
The IPO is back at the Bonnington Hotel from October 20–26, with €200,000 guaranteed in the €350 Main Event.
Satellites start at $4.40, feeding into $44 finals every Monday and Thursday at 8PM Irish time, with two seats guaranteed in each. The $4.40 feeders run daily.
The best part is that you don’t even have to leave the gaff for Day 1. The Online Day 1 runs on WPT Global at 8PM Irish time on October 18, or you can play a live Day 1 at the Bonnington. Bag a stack from the couch and rock up for the business end.
Route: $4.40 → $44 → €350 seat
Finals: Mondays & Thursdays, 8PM (2 seats GTD)
Online Day 1: Sunday, October 18, 8PM
Last chance: October 18
Battle of Malta
The Battle of Malta runs from October 27 to November 4 at Casino Malta, with a €1,500,000 guarantee on the €600 Main Event. WPT Global are sending at least 20 players.
The route is $1.10 → $11 → $110, with two $1,600 packages guaranteed in the $110 final every Sunday at 19:05 UTC. That’s 8:05PM Irish time. Each package includes:
- €600 Main Event entry
- 4 nights’ hotel for 2
- Breakfast, or $180 in expenses instead
- Last Longest entry
- Exclusive merch
Last chance: Sunday, October 4
WPT Prime Cyprus: Last Chance This Sunday
Remember Krzysztof Grubka at the Dublin Poker Festival? He went into the European Deepstack final table as the last WPT Global Golden Ticket holder still in contention for the €100K bonus. He finished 2nd for €34,860, one spot away from a life-changing payday.
The same deal is on offer for the WPT Prime Cyprus Championship. Every WPT Global qualifier gets a $100,000 Golden Ticket, paying an extra $100K on top of the winner’s prize money if they take down the Main Event.
The Championship runs October 15–19, with a $1,100 buy-in and a $1,000,000 guarantee. Packages are won in the $108 satellite every Sunday at 18:05 UTC (7:05PM Irish time), with $1.10 and $11 feeders running daily. One package is guaranteed each week, and it includes:
- $1,100 Championship entry
- $900 in expenses
- $100,000 Golden Ticket
- Exclusive merch
The promotion ends on September 28, so this Sunday is your last shot. It’s worth noting the venue is Chamada Casino in Çatalköy, on the north of the island, so check your travel options before you book.
WPT Seoul
WPT Seoul takes place at Inspire in Incheon from October 30 to November 9. The Championship runs November 5–9, with a ₩1,750,000 buy-in (around $1,260) and a ₩1 billion guarantee.
The route is $1.10 → $8.80 → $88, with three $1,500 packages guaranteed every Sunday at 12:05 UTC. That’s 1:05PM Irish time, or 12:05PM on October 25 once the clocks go back. Each package includes:
- Day 1A entry on November 5
- $250 in expenses
- VIP Ultra Lounge access
- Player Party access
- Exclusive merch
If you’re going to go for it, go early. The first 30 winners also get 4 nights at the Brown Dot Hotel Airport New Town thrown in. You’ll also need to have your KYC done by November 1 or you lose the package, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Last chance: Sunday, October 25
WPT World Championship
And then there’s the big one. WPT Global are giving away $12,400 packages to the WPT World Championship at the Wynn in Las Vegas, running December 13–20. Each package includes:
- $10,400 Main Event entry
- $2,000 travel stipend
- $100,000 Golden Ticket for the first 30 qualifiers
The $1,060 qualifiers run every Sunday until November 29, with feeders starting from $1.10. Same story as Seoul: the Golden Ticket only goes to the first 30, so there’s a real reason to get in early.
Last chance: Sunday, November 29
Also Running
WPT Global Festival CLSOP: WPT Global have teamed up with the Caribbean Latin Series of Poker for a $200K guaranteed festival in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, from September 26 to October 4. Satellites close on September 27, so this one’s only for anyone who can get to the Caribbean at very short notice!
Polish Poker Championship: Despite the name, it’s at Banco Casino Bratislava, November 4–16, with a €150 Main Event and a €500K guarantee. The freerolls are for players in Poland only, but you can buy in further up the satellite tree, with a $620 package guaranteed in the $33 final every Sunday at 7:30PM Irish time.
At a Glance
| Festival | Dates | Final Satellite (Irish time) | Package | Last Chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPO Dublin | Oct 20–26 (Online Day 1 Oct 18) | $44, Mon & Thu 8PM | €350 seat | Oct 18 |
| Battle of Malta | Oct 27 – Nov 4 | $110, Sun 8:05PM | $1,600 | Oct 4 |
| WPT Prime Cyprus | Oct 15–19 | $108, Sun 7:05PM | $2,000 + $100K Golden Ticket | Sep 27 |
| WPT Seoul | Oct 30 – Nov 9 | $88, Sun 1:05PM | $1,500 | Oct 25 |
| WPT World Championship | Dec 13–20 | $1,060, Sun | $12,400 | Nov 29 |
| CLSOP | Sep 26 – Oct 4 | $110 | Entry + hotel + $240 | Sep 27 |
| Polish Poker Championship | Nov 4–16 | $33, Sun 7:30PM | $620 | TBC |
All the satellites are in the Live Events tab in the WPT Global client. Details can change, so check the lobby and T&Cs before you play.
Best of luck on the virtual felt, and we’ll see you at the Bonnington in October!
Beyond The Felt
As the summer begins to show signs of packing up its things and leaving the Emerald Isle yet again, those who have had the pleasure of calling this place home will know that this means a lot more time inside.
My earliest and fondest memories are of being stuck indoors while the rain poured. Enjoying time with family and friends, playing board games, watching films, eating bowls of stew and, of course, playing cards. My Granny Bawn was a card shark. There were six children, her husband and lodgers in her terraced house in Belfast. The lodgers nicknamed her “Ladyfingers”, due to the fact she cleaned them out of their wages, pipe in hand, while playing cards.
There is something about card games that resonates with all ages, all over the world.
Poker, especially live poker, has become a way for people to travel all over the globe, meet people from different walks of life, challenge themselves and have a lot of fun in the process.
This week on Beyond the Felt, firstly I would like to add a link to a fantastic article by Christoffer Karlen over on the Irish Open website.
I am quite new to the world of live poker, and especially its lore, and was unaware that the first Irish Open winner was a lady. Having read about her, it reminded me of my grandmother.
Here is the link to the article about Colette Doherty:
https://irishpokeropen.com/blog/2025/06/28/the-untold-tale-of-irish-poker-legend-colette-doherty/
Picture from irishpokeropen.com
Round Up of Irish Poker
It is safe to say I am now a poker fan. Having had the pleasure of watching poker at such a high level for the last year and a half, witnessing the stories unfold and getting to know the people involved has completely changed how I look at the game.
Back in April, which feels like a long time ago now, Daryl McAleenan did a deal at the Irish Open and walked away with €250,500. Having seen him on numerous occasions since, the big grin that was always present before April now seems to gleam with achievement.
Then there is Darren Harbinson, who I only recently found out is building a house about a mile from where I sit and type this. He has had an incredible year. Hearing that Northern twang controlling tables throughout the year has been something to behold.
The community and togetherness that poker somehow seems to create is also something I never expected to see. This year alone, Darren has won three Main Event trophies at festivals here and across the water, the most recent being the Irish Poker Tour’s Summer in Dublin for €36,125.
It has also been interesting to see Darren mentor those coming through the ranks.
Young Darach Rogan is one of those who has watched Darren’s success. At only eighteen, he has already bagged a trophy on international soil.
His mum, Angela Rogan, is a player I am certain no one wants to face on the felt. Having played card games here, there and everywhere in Belfast from no age, she took a break to concentrate on her career and family and is now back alongside her son to stake a claim.
She has picked up two trophies already since returning to the poker circuit. In Darach’s first-ever win, he faced Angela heads-up over in Madrid.
I have a feeling the Rogans’ story is only beginning, and it will be interesting to see where it goes.
The Bryant Brothers — what can I say? Brothers Ray and Robbie Bryant from Tullamore, Offaly both bagged another trophy at the Irish Poker Tour’s Galway Summer Festival.
Robbie, who is continuing his incredible run of form, bagged the €10K In A Day for €3,900. Then twin brother Ray, who has collected his fair share of trophies this year as well, won the Main Event for €7,100.
In Sligo, while Robbie was sewing up another Main Event trophy to bring back to the Midlands Card Club in Tullamore, I was chatting to Ray. I had hesitated to mention this at the time, as I didn’t want to spoil the surprise.
Having met their dad, who makes top-notch ham and cheese toasties at the MCC for the punters, I asked whether their parents were watching the live clock as usual. The brothers had told me that when they are running deep, the folks will not be going to sleep.
Their mother and sister had been treated to a holiday away by the boys, and while their mum was enjoying some R&R, they had new carpets and flooring fitted in the house.
It’s stories like this that make Irish poker second to none.
Most recently, we had Joel Baxter making a great run at the PartyPoker Tour Glasgow Main Event, finishing fifth for £8,150. Last month, he also bagged an Omaha trophy at an IPT event.
Making steady progress, Joel is not only a very capable player, but also analyses and critiques the game in an intricate way that now seems to be the standard for the new generation of poker.
Also over in Glasgow, Dara “Doke” O’Kearney pulled in a tasty £11,550, bagging the High Roller trophy.
Dara is Irish poker, and Irish poker is Dara. With $1,517,863 in live earnings and more than double that amount secured online, his record speaks for itself.
His trademark shirts make him easy to spot on the poker floor. With a successful podcast, ambassador roles and plenty more besides, it is always good to see him add another trophy to the collection.
Poker This Weekend?
Tomorrow there is the Athlone €30K In A Day, held in the Athlone Springs Hotel, giving Irish poker players yet another opportunity to hone their skills.
I would imagine the Bryant Brothers will be there to stake a claim.
€30,000 up for grabs.
WPT Global is giving players the chance to win their way to Dublin for the €200,000 GTD International Poker Open (IPO), with satellites starting from just $4.40.
Daily feeders lead into $44 satellites every Monday and Thursday at 8pm, with two €350 Main Event seats guaranteed, while qualifiers can choose to play Day 1 online on October 18 or live at the Bonnington Hotel, Dublin.
Beyond the Felt
The Premier League is back this weekend, with the following fixtures scheduled for opening weekend:
OPENING WEEKEND FIXTURES
Friday 21 August
8:00pm — Arsenal v Coventry City
Saturday 22 August
12:30pm — Hull City v Manchester United
3:00pm — Everton v Crystal Palace
3:00pm — Ipswich Town v Sunderland
3:00pm — Nottingham Forest v Leeds United
5:30pm — Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur
Sunday 23 August
2:00pm — Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa
2:00pm — Manchester City v Bournemouth
4:30pm — Newcastle United v Liverpool
Monday 24 August
8:00pm — Fulham v Chelsea
Formula 1 – Dutch Grand Prix
Formula 1 returns to Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, with the famous seaside circuit once again hosting one of the most atmospheric races on the calendar.
Qualifying takes place on Saturday before the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, as the championship battle continues.
Golf – BMW Championship
Some of the biggest names in golf are in action at the BMW Championship, the penultimate event of the FedExCup Playoffs.
Only the top 30 players in the FedExCup standings will progress to the season-ending Tour Championship, meaning there is plenty at stake over the weekend.
Horse Racing – York Ebor Festival
One of the biggest weeks of the British flat-racing season comes to a close at York, with the prestigious Ebor Handicap taking centre stage on Saturday.
The Ebor Festival traditionally attracts some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys from Britain and Ireland and is one of the major meetings of the summer racing calendar.
Snooker – Wuhan Open
The Wuhan Open gets underway on Sunday, with many of the biggest names in snooker heading to China.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Zhao Xintong are among the stars involved, with £175,000 awaiting the eventual champion.
WPT Global’s – Overdrive
The WPT Asia Series: Overdrive is set to deliver 43 days of non-stop online tournament action, with more than ¥200,000,000 guaranteed across the festival.
Players will battle for 13 official WPT® Rings, compete for a share of ¥2,000,000 in weekly leaderboard prizes, and take on ¥2,100,000 worth of Daily Missions.
What makes Overdrive stand out is that the action extends well beyond the tournament tables. Players can climb the leaderboards through Early Bird entries, Bubble finishes, and deep runs, meaning consistency is rewarded just as much as outright victories.
On top of that, Daily Missions provide another route to prizes by awarding seats into ¥50,000 guaranteed Daily Finals, giving everyone extra opportunities to turn a session into a big payday.
With multiple ways to win, official WPT® hardware on the line, and rewards available every single day, the WPT Asia Series: Overdrive offers a fresh twist on the traditional online poker festival.
Here is newly appointed Irish Poker Tour team pro – Paul Carr speaking about WPT Global event….
If you want to join Paul and play this series, sign up now!
WPT Global’s – Thomas Murphy sitting at the top of the High Roller Final – 536,000
Thomas R Murphy — 536,000
Richard Halabi — 534,000
Jannik Karim — 405,000
Santos Silva Diones — 334,000
Gareth Hamilton — 293,000
Jason Tompkins — 244,000
Luke Walsh (The Duke) — 234,000
Micheál J O’Neill — 191,000
Dublin Poker Festival Final Days – European Deepstack Championship
European Deepstack
The European Deepstack Championship brought in 475 entries, and smashed the guarantee with a prizepool of €285,665. The top prize was €55,065 and the championship belt to go with it.
Over 2 live flights plus an online flight, 143 players bagged a stack for day 2. The Top 3 stacks going into day 2 were:
- Kyle Rafferty 886K
- Declan Connolly 733K
- Panagiotis Kostopanagitis 701K
Other notable players include:
Mark Macdonnell 698K
Mark Johnston 573K
Derek Baker 503K
Simon Wilson 328K
Dara O’Kearney 291K
Mick Graydon 251K
Annette O’Carroll 157K
Jason Tompkins 128K
Representing WPT Global:
Lucas Robinson 516K
Fintan Hand 375K
Romulo Dorea 210K (all the way from Brazil)
Some notable players who bagged a stack in the online day 1
Padraig O’Neill (EPT Prague Champ, Representing WPT Global)
Aidan Quinlan (European Deepstack 2025 Champ)
Davide Raschella
Patrick Tardif (Representing WPT Global from Canada)
Shane Murphy (Representing WPT Global)
The bubble was reached after 5 hours of play. Patrick P Rooney went all in preflop for 165k and was called by John Farrell. It was pocket Jacks vs 89 off suit, 89 hit 2 pair by the river to knock Patrick P Rooney out on the bubble.
Defending champ Aidan Quinlan was out shortly after in 60th for €1,220
Shane Murphy came in 25th for his best ever live cash of €2,080, well done Shane!
After 12 hours and 15 levels of play, 18 players bagged for day 3. The chip leader was Gavin Melaugh Mcgrath with 5.98M chips. Some other notable stacks were:
Pablo Villena 4.67M
John Ward 4.2M
Mick Graydon 3.35M
Annette O’Carroll 2.8M
Krzysztof Grubka 1.08M
Day 3 started at 12PM on Sunday. €55,065 up top and the championship belt to play for.
Kenneth Crowley was the unfortunate man to burst the final table bubble, but cashed for €5,200.
Gavin Melaugh Mcgrath went into the final table with a massive chip lead of 21.12M. The next down was Audrius Daugvilavicius with 7.6M. Krzysztof Grubka was the last surviving WPT Global Golden ticket holder, who was still eligible for the €100K bonus for taking down the tournament. He went in 7th in chips with 2.25M. Irish legend Annette O’Carroll was still in the mix with 2.27M chips.
However Gavin’s chip lead was enough to overcome the field and he had a resounding victory, winning the €55,065 top prize and the prestigious Championship Belt.
The Top 8 were:
1: Gavin Melaugh Mcgrath – €55,065
2: Krzysztof Grubka – €34,860
3: Michal Havavka – €25,000
4: Audrius Daugvilavicius – €19,860
5: John Ward – €15,560
6: Adam Green – €12,200
7: Annette O’Carroll – €9,160
8: Marcus Mchale – €6,520
Beer Poker Tour
The craic was had at the Beer Poker Tour’s event. The €25K guaranteed tournament saw 137 entries and a prizepool of €39,870. On Day 1, winning the first hand of each level won you a free beer token or some merch, and during the second break, there was the players party. Free beers were had, beer pong was played, and prizes won, what more could you want! This 2 day event saw 21 players bag a stack for the final on Sunday. The chip leader was Evan Lester with 496K chips. Other stacks included:
Danny Verheij 436K
Marcin Wojtunik 371K
Paul Carr 261K
Ray Wheatley 228K
Dean Dowling 105K
Dara O’Kearney 71K
18 players were paid, with Antonino Gagliano bubbling the tournament.
There was €9,720 up top, and a serious trophy for the winner!
The Final Table saw Marcin Wojtunik chip leading with 371K, Paul Carr 261K close behind in second and Ray Wheatley in the mixer with 228k. In the end it was Olof Thorson from Sweden who took it down.
High Roller
The €1.1K High Roller, smashed its €25K guarantee, with a prizepool of €51,410. With 53 entries, it saw 18 players bag a stack for day 2. Notable players include:
Barry McMahon 247k
James O’Brien 112k
David Lappin 79,800
Romulo Dorea 78,200
Padraig O’Neill 43,200
Darren Harbinson 26,600
Patrick Tardif 11,700
In the end it was Luke Walsh who won the top prize of €16,190, with Barry McMahon second for €11,700 and ACOP & Omaha GP winner, Mark Johnston in 3rd for €7,460.
Over the Weekend
There was plenty of more action over the weekend with loads of side events throughout. here are the highlights:
DPF Daily Turbo
Runners: 15
Prizepool: €1,455
Winner: James Mcmahon – €665
The Nightly Thursday
Runners: 48
Prizepool: €5,820
Winner: Liu Dong – €1,580
The Nightly Friday
Runners: 52
Prizepool: €6,305
Winner: Florian Machnig – €1,965
The Nightly Saturday
Runners: 66
Prizepool: €8,003
Winner: Sebastian Trela – €2,067
DPF 200
Runners: 96
Prizepool: €15,830
Winner: Robert Mcdowell – €3,320
Round of Each BOMB POT (NLH/PLO)
Runners: 17
Prizepool: €2,805
Winner: Kamil Dariusz Maslowski – €1,025
Last Chance Saloon
Runners: 4
Prizepool: €338
Winner: Liu Dong – €388
A great weekend was had at the Bonnington Hotel. It has always been a great venue for poker over the years. Tune in later this year for the International Poker Open
Dublin Poker Festival Update
It’s been an exciting week here in the Bonnington Hotel. The action continues after a very successful ACOP.
Seniors Championship
The Irish Seniors Championship commenced on Monday the 23rd of February. This saw many Irish legends and notable players, including Andy Black, Dara O’Kearney, Ciaran Cooney and Collette Murphy
With a total of 263 entries, they played 9 hours and 83 players bagged a stack for day 2, with Martin Cassidy the chip leader with 275,500 chips. A total prizepool of €53,576 was generated.
Martin managed to make the final table, and cashed in 7th for €1,910. Also on the final table was Colette Murphy who came in 5th, and the top 3 were Chris Rourke: €6,000 in 3rd, Aidan Finnerty: €6,000 in 2nd, and Kieran Mcivor taking home €8,375 and the Championship Belt
Women’s Championship
The Women’s Championship saw 45 runners and generated a prizepool of €7,420 Prizeool. Mighty craic was had, and the atmosphere was heard around the room and a champagne toast was had at the first break. Some notable players were IPT Ambassador Tanya Masters, Mary Galvin, Katie Harrington, Annette O’Carroll.
June Jenkins placed in 3rd place for €1,100 and Katie Burke got 3rd for €1,600, but Colette Murphy came out on top for €2,070 with the Championship Belt to go with it.
Side Events
It’s been a packed week of tournaments, with a lot of variety, including the Irish Mixed Games Championship, for the growing mixed games community, a Round of Each, and 5-Card Draw Jacks or Better tournament. June Jenkins managed to scoop one of the daily turbos, and is having a good festival overall with 4 cashes so far! The Mystery Bounty was a popular one with 140 runners, but was ran away with by Robert, who won 8 bounties with a total cash of €6,900
Win the Button
25 runners
Prizepool: €3,031
Winner: Darragh Flynn €891
Tuesday Daily Turbo
41 runners
Prizepool: €3,977
Winner: June Jenkins €1,367
Irish Mixed Game Championship
30 runners
Prizepool: €7,570
Winner: John Murray €3,190
Round of Each
77 Runners
Prizepool: €9,340
Winner: Simon Keating €2,560
5 Card Draw Poker
24 runners
Prizepool: €2,330
Winner: Keith O’Connor €1,000 Deal made
Mystery Bounty
140 runners
Prizepool: €8,827
Winner: Robert €6,900 Including 8 Bounties!
European Deepstack Championship
The European Deepstack Championship started yesterday. This prestigious tournament, First won by Dara O’Kearney back in 2008, saw 148 entries on Day 1A. 45 managed to bag a stack with the big stacks of the day including Kyle Rafferty 886k, Marc MacDonnell 691k, and the ACOP and Omaha Grand Prix double champ Mark Johnston bagging 575k.
Other notable players include:
Daryl McAleenan 452k
Dara O’Kearney 291k
Jason Tompkins 128k
David Masters 108k
Fintan Hand (375k), Padraig O’Neill (100k) are also in the mixer representing WPT Global.
Romulo Dorea and Patrick Tardiff, have both come from afar to represent WPT Global, and have managed to bag a stack in the online day 1.
Will defending champion Aidan Quinlan be going for the two in a row, like Tomas “Lucky Mo” Geleziunas did the previous two years in 2023 and 2024?
Day 2 of the European Deepstack Championship is on now and late reg is open until the start of Day 2 on Saturday.
More Fun
Saturday is an action packed day with Day 2 of the European Deepstack. For those knocked out, or just looking for a bit of craic, the Beer Poker Tour starts at 2PM. The lads over on the Beer Poker Tour run a great tournament, with prizes and beers given out throughout, and a players party during the first break! There’ll be plenty of bluffing as the day goes on as everyone gets hammered together. It also has one of the best looking trophies on the circuit, so one not to miss!
Also on the schedule is the High Roller at 6PM, then Sunday sees the DPF 200 and the Round of Each Bomb Pot (NLH/Omaha), for all ye degenerates out there!
Stay tuned here on LivePokerUpdates for updates from the event, or follow dublin.poker.festival (https://www.instagram.com/dublin.poker.festival/) for more
The Dublin Poker Festival 2026
The Dublin Poker Festival in partnership with WPT Global, is well underway, it kicked off on the 19th of February with 11 days of poker set to be played at the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin.
Offering over €400,000 in guarantees. The event has been running since 2015. Set up by local Dublin based poker promotion company D4 Events specifically to combine two longstanding tournaments, the Amateur Championship of Poker (ACOP) and the European Deepstack Poker Championship. It has now become a staple on the Irish poker circuit.
Time for a quick recap of how things stacked up over the weekend in the fair city.
In the Friday Nightly, 102 entries brought the prize pool to €9,894 coming in first was Jip Larooi, €1,810. This was after a 5-way ICM deal shared with his Dutch travelling companion Robertus Van Den Bergc, €1,575, who came in 2nd. Jip and Robertus are part of a group of ten travelling from their native land of the Netherlands. A flying start for these two dutchmen.
Saturday’s Nightly saw 92 players joining in, with the lion’s share of the €8,924 prize pool being split between Cathal O’Shea, Christian Marian Nica, Jeroen Mulder, Eoin O’Shea after a 4-way deal all receiving €1,521.
Recent runner up at the Irish Poker Tour’s Galway Poker Festival Main Event, Davide Rachelle, took down the Saturday Flyer that saw 62 entries create a prize pool of €7,520. Jip Larooi, cashed again in 6th along with fellow Dutchmen, Martijn Den Enting who finished 5th and Joeri Zuiderwijk who came 3rd banked €1,050.
Saturday saw the culmination of the Irish Omaha Grand Prix Final which saw 44 entries whittled down to 14. The prize pool was €21,340, with Daryl Mcaleenan finishing third, €3,200, Luke Walsh was second €4,910. From the North was Mark Johnston who came first with €7,370.
The following day the ACOP Main Event Final was settled. €212,294 was the prize pool from 706 entries. It was announced that 95 places were to be paid. When that tense moment arrived it was Darren Harbinson who put out Gerry Mcardle on the bubble. But Gerry wasn’t finished just yet.
One of the livepokerupdates very own, an avid fan of the game and recreational player David Lyons made the final table banking €8,450. David is an integral part of the LPU team who handles everything IT related. He also helps out at major events to provide integral on the floor updates from bad beats, big swings and the sampling of spice bags.
Play continued and when it got down to the final three and a deal was done, €25,000 each, plus an extra €2250 for second and €6000 for first. Play continued and it ended with third place going to Paudie Cusack, €25,000. Second was Robert Mcguirk, €27,250 and for the second night in row the winner was Mark Johnston, €31,000.
Mark who sits in 7th on Northern Ireland’s all-time money list before the DPF came third in the Irish Poker Open in 2024 (€232,685). Now that he is securing number one spots he is definitely one to watch, and so far the festival belongs to him, he lifted the belt with fellow comrades from the North, Darren Harbinson and Joel Baxter on the rail.
On the same day the One Day Classic was played and lived up to its name attracting 228 entries bringing the prize pool to a whopping €37,600 for a €200 buy-in. Three Irish men fought through the pack and went all the way with Evan Lester coming third and banking €3,870. Michael Breen was second securing €5,620, with the “bubble boy” from the ACOP, Gerry Mcardle coming in first with €8,340.
With the European Deepstack Poker Championship still to take place, which has a sure to be surpassed €200,000 guarantee. The live Day 1’s kick off on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th of February two days later is the Final on Sunday 1st March.
WPT Global are running a bubble protection promotion for this event which means –
- Any direct online buy-ins for the event makes you eligible for Bubble protection.
- If you bubble the event, finishing the last position before “in the money”, WPT Global will credit your buy-in back as cash.
Head to WPT Global to secure your seat before Thursday…
WPT Global
WPT Global was created in close partnership with the World Poker Tour, one of the most respected brands in poker for more than two decades, and serves as the official online home of the WPT. Built by experienced poker industry professionals, the platform was designed with a clear purpose: to connect online players directly to the live WPT circuit and provide realistic, affordable pathways to some of the biggest stages in tournament poker.
Unlike many online poker platforms that operate independently of live tours, WPT Global is structurally aligned with the World Poker Tour ecosystem. Its tournament schedule and satellite system are built specifically to feed into flagship WPT events, WPT Prime stops, and major live festivals around the world. Players are not just grinding for online titles; they are playing for seats, travel packages, and opportunities to compete on the global stage. Over time, numerous players have turned small online buy-ins into meaningful live scores, reinforcing the site’s focus on accessibility and progression.
The platform offers a full schedule of cash games and multi-table tournaments across a wide range of formats and stakes, alongside a regionally tailored online series. A defining feature of WPT Global is its emphasis on satellites, which regularly award seats into live WPT events worldwide. This live-qualification model is central to its identity and differentiates it from competitors whose offerings remain primarily online. Behind the scenes, the company uses AI-driven game integrity tools and experienced security teams to maintain fair and sustainable gameplay, reflecting a broader commitment to long-term player trust.
WPT Global works closely with ambassadors, champions and online qualifiers who represent the bridge between online and live poker. One of the most notable recent partnerships is with Irish professional poker player and content creator Fintan Hand. As one of Ireland’s most recognisable poker personalities, Hand has built a substantial following through streaming and tournament success. His role as ambassador strengthens the WPT’s connection to the Irish poker community while promoting the platform’s satellite pathways into live events.
Promotions are a major part of the WPT Global offering. Recently concluded campaigns such as the five-million-dollar Christmas and New Year Gift Giveaway promotion delivered added value through free daily gifts and boosted tournament guarantees. The company has also indicated that one of its most significant tournament series to date will be announced in the near future, signalling continued expansion of its flagship online events.
One of the standout current opportunities is the route to WPT Prime Cyprus, where players can win a $2,000 package that includes championship entry, travel allowance, exclusive merchandise and a $100,000 Golden Ticket bonus awarded if the qualifier goes on to win the live event. Qualification is available through Sunday satellites and daily feeder tournaments, with additional freeroll opportunities and the option to use Passport Dollars toward entry. The structure allows players to compete for a major live package for as little as $1.10, or in some cases without direct outlay.
WPT Global has also strengthened its presence in Ireland through satellites feeding into the Dublin Poker Festival, which runs from February 19 to March 1, 2026. Players can qualify online for both the €200,000 guaranteed European Deepstack Poker Championship and the €100,000 guaranteed Amateur Championship of Poker. Entry routes begin at micro-stakes levels, building through step satellites to secure live seats in Dublin.
In addition, selected satellite winners receive a €100,000 Golden Ticket bonus, which adds an extra layer of incentive should they go on to win the live event. Across ten days of action at the Bonnington Hotel Conference Centre, the festival features more than €400,000 in guaranteed prize pools, with online Day 1 options available through WPT Global before play moves to Dublin.
WPT Global positions itself as more than a standalone online poker site. It functions as the digital extension of the World Poker Tour, offering structured routes to live events, significant promotional value, ambassador-led community engagement and technology-driven game integrity. By blending online accessibility with live aspiration, it continues to expand its footprint as a key gateway into the modern WPT ecosystem.
WPT Global OnLive golden ticket winners have the chance to bank a further €100,000 if they win the Main Event
Here at livepokerupdates we will keep you in the loop as the players journey through the stages of the Main Event.
The Golden Ticket winners are –
Padraig O Neill
Raymond Wheatley
Tadhg Ryan
Gerard Santamaria
Dara O’Kearney
Colum Higgins
Joseph Carey
Stephan Campbell
David Cleary
Dwyer Monaghan
Shane Keary
Dijoni Cili
Andrew Black
Aidan Quinlan
Tadgh Kelly
Jason Tompkins
Eoghan MacGabhann
Michael Weissmann
Stephen O Hara
Kenneth Greaney
Neil O Reilly
Fergal Coyle
Tomas Glynn
Neil Higgins
Mircea Rus
Jamie Wynne
Jamie Flynn
John Enright
Kevin Hayes
Mohamed Fawzi
Kenneth Crowley
WPT GLOBAL Onlive on Aug 31st – The Road to Killarney Continues
WPT Global OnLive Day 1 – Irish Poker Cup
What is OnLive?
OnLive allows players to play Day 1 online while carrying their chips directly into Live Day 2, exactly as in a traditional live event.
Why Play OnLive Day 1?
Play from home without the need to travel for Day 1.
Identical starting stack and blind structure to the live version.
Faster format designed for convenience and flexibility.
Qualify in advance and arrive prepared for a streamlined championship weekend.
Tournament Information
Buy-in: $815 USD (€700)
Guaranteed Prize Pool: €500,000
Starting Stack: 40,000 chips (400 BB)
Date & Time: August 31st, 18:00 UTC+0
OnLive Day 1 provides the same structure, fairness, and competitive balance as live play.
The Golden Ticket Bonus
The top 30 finishers of OnLive Day 1 will also receive a Golden Ticket.
How it works:
If a Golden Ticket holder wins the Irish Poker Cup Main Event, they will earn an additional $100,000 cash bonus on top of their prize.
Tickets remain valid even if a player does not qualify through OnLive and instead buys in directly to the live event.
Take your shot at the Irish Poker Cup with WPT Global. Play OnLive, play smart, and set yourself up for a winning weekend.
WPT GLOBAL doing online day 1 for The Killarney Poker Festival 2025.
From Your Home Screen to the Final Table
One click, and you’re in the €500,000 guaranteed Irish Poker Cup without leaving your chair.
Online Day 1 puts you in the heart of the action from the comfort of home. Qualify, and roll into Live Day 2 no flights, no fuss.
And the kicker:
Finish in the Top 30 and you’ll score a Golden Ticket your chance to add a €100,000 cash bonus if you take down the Main Event.
Killarney Main Event Day 1 Online Structure
• 15min Levels
• Level 1 blinds adjusted to 50/100.
• Level 14 blinds adjusted to 2500/5000.
• Ante will be set for 8-Max format and configured as 12.5% of the big blind.
*Also available to European and Canadian players
Now live over at wptglobal.com
