Record-Breaking 2025 Irish Poker Open Faces Uncertain Future

The 2025 Irish Poker Open €1,150 no-limit hold’em main event shattered records this year, drawing an all-time high of 4,562 entries and crushing the €2.5 million guarantee by nearly €2 million. This marked the largest field in the event’s storied history, reaffirming its status as Europe’s longest-running no-limit hold’em tournament since its inception in 1980. The turnout represented a massive 41.1% jump from the previous record of 3,233 entries set just last year.

After five starting flights and three intense days of play at the Royal Dublin Society, it was Ireland’s own Simon Wilson who emerged victorious. He claimed the coveted trophy and a career-best prize of €600,000.

“It’s really special. We come every year, and thousands of people enter. It’s always just a pipe dream,” Wilson said during the post-win interview on the live stream. “Really happy to be able to close it out. Of course, the first-place prize is incredible, but the memory of winning this tournament is second to none. Biggest achievement I’ve had, and I’m going to remember this day forever.”

Wilson now boasts over $1.2 million in recorded tournament earnings. Just days before his main event triumph, he placed fifth in a €10,000 buy-in side event at the same festival, earning $48,792. His previous best score had been $251,073 for a ninth-place finish in the 2023 World Series of Poker Online main event.

This year’s record-breaking celebration took place against a backdrop of uncertainty about the future of live poker events in Ireland. The newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) has yet to clarify whether and how poker festivals like the Irish Poker Open will be licensed starting from 2026. Without official guidance or a clear licensing framework in place, there is growing concern among organisers and players alike about whether Ireland’s most iconic poker tournament will be able to continue in its current form.