Ireland ready for poker influx

Author: Simon Dexter

As poker’s popularity has boomed, so Ireland has positioned itself as the preferred location for a clutch of new, high-profile tournaments, including the third running of the Irish Poker Championships (IPC) which take place in Galway this weekend.

A host of leading players, including Littlewoods Poker star Tony Cascarino, have been tempted to Ireland’s west coast by a prize pool expected to reach one million euros (around £700,000). Last year’s event, held in Dublin, was won by John Clancy who beat 309 others in the Main Event to collect a cheque for 114,000 euros (approximately £80,000), although most observers anticipate that first prize to be superseded come Sunday evening.

Europe’s first major poker tournament of 2008 has attracted a strong field and there has been plenty of early support in the betting markets for Joe Beevers and Julian Gardner, hardly a surprise considering both made the Poker Million final and are in fine form. Others frontrunners with the bookies include Bruno Fitoussi, Roy Brindley and Marcel Luske.

The IPC will be aired by national broadcaster RTE, who plan six, one-hour shows which are also scheduled to be transmitted across the globe.

That Ireland boasts a long-standing poker affinity is hardly a surprise; although the nation has witnessed a remarkable economic boom over the past two decades, throughout the ensuing changes, Irishmen and women have retained their reputation as friendly, accessible folk. They have always been lovers of sport as well as the odd flutter and continue to implore visitors to enjoy themselves and, of course, the craic.