Irish Poker Open

The Irish Poker Open is the longest running No Limit Texas Hold ’em poker tournaments in Europe, and is one of the longest running and richest poker opens in the world. Started in 1981 by Irish Bookmaker Terry Rodgers, its thirty two years of existence make it the second longest running tournament series in the world – second only to the World Series of Poker, Las Vegas. The 2011 Irish Poker Open’s Main Event prize was a whopping €1,968,000 with Main Event winner Niall Smyth collecting €550,000!

2012 saw the paddypowerpoker.com Irish Poker Open held at Dublin’s Burlington Hotel from 6th – 9th April with a total prize pool of €1,602,000. The Irish Open 2012 attracted arguably the most impressive field of poker players yet, with multiple WSOP bracelet winners Freddy Deeb and Daniel Negreanu; former world champions Phil Hellmuth, Dan Harrington, Carlos Mortensen, Noel Furlong and Jonathan Duhamel; young Irish and UK stars Dermot Blaine, Sean Prendiville, Jake Cody, Roberto Romanello and JP Kelly; online hotshots Adam Levy and Jason Wheeler; and sports legends Ken Doherty and Teddy Sheringham all in attendance!

In a field of 502 players, with some of the most formidable pros in poker making up the number, it was Belgium's Kevin Vandersmissen who won the 2012 Irish Poker Open, beating German player Thomas Beer. Below is what the IPO 2012 final table payouts looked like.

• 1st - Kevin Vandersmissen (€420,000)


• 2nd - Thomas Beer (€225,000)


• 3rd - David “Dixie” Dean (€158,000)


• 4th - Ian Simpson - (€107,500)


• 5th - Steve Watts - (€78,000)


• 6th - Jordan Lewis - (€59,000)


• 7th - Samuel Chartier (€44,500)


• 8th - Andy Black (€32,700)


• 9th - Philip Magennis (€23,000)