This coming spring, for the first time since 2019, the "live" Irish Poker Open (IPO) will take place. The 2022 Irish Poker Open returns April 11-18, 2022, with a busy 42-event slate. The poker festival will be held at Citywest Hotel Dublin, in Ireland.
The recent dropping by Irish authorities of occupancy restrictions connected to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic allowed the Irish Poker Open to return, according to festival organizers Paul O’Reilly and J.P. McCann. "The luck of the Irish has come through in full force for the Irish Poker Open 2022!" a statement from the series proclaims.
The Irish Poker Open's return is a welcome indicator of live poker's continuing return toward normal. The IPO is one of the most historic of all tournament series, dating all the way back to 1979 when Irish poker visionary Terry Rogers began organizing the first European counterpart to such Stateside poker series as the World Series of Poker and Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker. Rogers' first Irish Poker Open ran in 1980, and today it ranks as Europe's oldest poker series, and the second oldest anywhere on the planet, trailing only the WSOP itself.
"We have always said how exciting it is to launch the Irish Poker Open each year, however, the launch of Irish Poker Open 2022 definitely feels a little extra special, given the particularly difficult times people have gone through over the last two years," said O'Reilly and McCann. "We are really looking forward to welcoming all of our Irish and International players back to the Irish felt, whilst ensuring that player and staff safety remain at the forefront of our minds."
"After a two year hiatus," the organizers added, "we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring Irish Poker to life again with the return of the Irish Poker Open Festival in April 2022."
Fourteen championship events highlight festival
The eight-day series includes 14 events designated as "Championship" offerings, covering various formats and with buy-ins ranging from €350 to €5,000. Affordably-priced complimentary events and satellite tourneys make up most of the remaining schedule.
Among the 2022 Irish Poker Open's highlight events are its two high-roller tourneys, with buy-ins of €2,000 and €5,000. The IPO's main event begins on April 15, and features a buy-in of €1,150. The last time the IPO was held, in 2019, its main event drew 1,807 entries, building a €1,805,870 prize pool. Ireland's own Weijie Zheng won the title and its €300,000 ($337,797) first-place prize.
April's 2022 edition features online qualifiers as well. Both Paddy Power and partypoker will send online players to the series, with satellite tourneys to the IPO already underway. The complete live schedule for the 2022 Irish Poker Open is available here.
Featured image source: Irish Poker Open
