PokerStars Launches Inaugural Irish Open Satellites in Ontario

Poker players in Ontario, Canada now have a pathway to the 2024 Irish Poker Open as PokerStars announced the debut of online satellites for the prestigious €1 million guaranteed Irish Open Main Event within the province.

The Irish Open holds a special place in the hearts of Canadian poker aficionados, drawing dozens of participants annually who fly across the Atlantic to immerse themselves in the vibrant festival and unique Irish Open ambiance.

Scheduled to unfold from March 25 to April 1, 2024, at the historic Royal Dublin Society, the 2024 Irish Open features the €1,150 Main Event as its centrepiece, alongside the groundbreaking Mini Irish Open. The Mini Irish Open, with an entry fee of just €200, boasts an astonishing €500,000 prize pool – the most substantial guarantee for a buy-in of this magnitude in the history of Irish poker. The complete schedule for the 2024 Irish Open can be found here: https://irishpokeropen.com/schedule/.

PokerStars, having secured its Ontario license in 2022, will be hosting weekly Irish Open qualifiers, offering prize packages worth C$3,500. These qualifiers commenced on Sunday, January 14, at 8 pm Eastern Standard Time. Each package encompasses the C$1,730 Main Event buy-in, along with C$1,770 in expenses.

PokerStars qualifiers are also available on .com and other regional sites, ensuring that over 350 players across Europe and beyond will secure seats or packages to participate in this prestigious event.

Event organizer, Paul O’Reilly, commented, “Last year, the Irish Open achieved record-breaking success, and much of that can be attributed to our remarkable partnership with PokerStars and Paddy Power. We are elated to welcome PokerStars Ontario into the fold, as we are well aware of the deep-rooted affection that Canadians have for the Irish Open. This event has truly become a part of their poker culture, and the introduction of online qualifiers through PokerStars Ontario will undoubtedly enable more Canadians to join us in Dublin and partake in this extraordinary experience.”

In 2023, a staggering total of 350 players qualified through PokerStars – marking the highest number of qualifiers for a partner event in PokerStars history. The reigning champion, David Docherty, initially secured his ticket online on PokerStars for just $109, ultimately parlaying it into a substantial €365,000 first prize. Notably, in 2017, Griffin Benger, one of Ontario’s most successful live tournament players, emerged victorious in the Main Event, clinching a €200,000 prize.