paddypowerpoker.com today launches an online registration facility for the Irish Poker Open 2009 via a customised payment gateway on the official Irish Open website.  The gateway facilitates both individual and cardroom registrations, with payment possible via credit card, bank transfer and cheque.

The Irish poker room also confirms that the Irish Open will return to Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Co. Dublin for the second year running.  This world-class venue was widely praised by players following the success of last year’s festival.

“We are delighted to launch the online registration facility for the Irish Open 2009 so that players eager to secure their seat at Europe’s longest running poker tournament can gain some peace of mind before Christmas” said Eric Booth, Head of Poker for paddypowerpoker.com.  “We’re equally happy to return to Citywest; the facilities and atmosphere there really impressed the players at the Irish Open 2008 and we expect the 2009 event to exceed the achievements of last year in both respects!”

To avail of special room rates negotiated by paddypowerpoker.com, please quote promotional code IO2009 when booking your tournament accommodation. Accommodation at Citywest can be booked through Sinead O’Connor via phone to at 00353 1 4010952 or email at paddypower@citywesthotel.com.

Andy Black

There is no doubt that Andy Black will be in attendance on Easter weekend. The Ireland native will be the fan favorite and he will be looking to win this event for the first time. Black is an excellent Texas Holdem tournament player and will be a legit ament chance of taking home the crown on Easter Monday. The Once retired Black has accomplished a lot in his career, but you have to think that the main event at the Irish Poker Open is right at the top of his list. You might know Black from his final table appearances at the World Series of Poker and Aussie Million Main Events. Andy is a guy that is well known as a player who can give himself a chance to win any tournament, although he has had some trouble in his career winning the big title. Black is a great character and will demand respect at any table he plays at. Personally I think it would be a great story if he could capture that big title he desperately wants with a victory in his home country at the Irish Poker Open.

Roland De Wolfe

Roland is a gambler and commands respect as one of the best tournament poker players in the world. If you don’t know Roland, he is from England and has a great personality to match his excellent game. All indications are that Roland loves Ireland winning the Dublin EPT in 2006 and followed that up with a second place finish at the Irish Open. De Wolfe will be one of the favorites heading into the 2009 event and will be looking for a big showing. Roland is a money player who seems to show up in big events, he is good for the game. Poker needs more players like Roland De Wolfe, he has a great mix of personality and skill. If you get a chance to play with Roland look out for his aggressive style and his ability to read his opponents. Roland De Wolfe will be looking to add an Irish Poker Open title to his resume in 2009.

Dan Harrington

The old school American player, loves this tournament and will be looking to win yet another major title in his career. Harrington was the 1995 World Series of Poker Main Event champion and maybe more impressively made back to back final tables in the Main Event post poker boom. Dan is known as one of the tightest and most calculated No Limit Texas Holdem players you will ever see. He knows how to play in big fields, he is experienced and knows how to win. He has made a run in this tournament before, with an early chip lead in 2007. We haven’t heard a lot out of Harrington in the past few years, but there is no doubt in my mind that he can still be a champion. Don’t overlook the old school, Harrington can and will still compete in major poker tournaments.

David Benyamine

Born in France Mr. Benyamine has become one of the best all round poker players in the world. David frequents the biggest cash games in the world and plays against the best players. He had a cash in this tournament in 2007, but will looking for more then just a cash in 2009. Benyamine might be better known as a cash game player, but he can have the same success in tournaments if he commits to them. He can easily win the 2009 Irish Poker Open and I think he will have a big run. Benyamine wants to be considered one of the best players in the world and with a win at this tournament he will garner that respect.

Phil Laak

The “Uni-Bomber” is one of the most eccentric players you will ever find. If you look past all the antics you will find that Phil is a great player, and is a threat to win every time he enters a tournament. Never having great success in this tournament Laak will be looking for his first major win in Dublin on Easter weekend. There is no doubt that Phil will show up with his girl friend and fellow poker professional/actress Jennifer Tilly. Tilly is a very good player in her own right and will show up looking to win. Phil might be better known for his antics at the table, but when he wants to he can be a great No Limit Holdem tournament player.

This just scratches the surface of poker celebrities that will be an attendance at the Irish Open. The professional players will compete against each other as well as against amateurs and online qualifiers. This tournament will be big, and it will be entertaining. Any time there is a big money tournament with big fields and a prestigious title you will see big named poker professional show up. They might not win, but they will try. They will put forth the effort to become the Irish Poker Open 2009 champion.

The Irish Poker Open is Europe’s longest running poker tournament and was first played in 1981. For a little background information Terry Rodgers a great poker player went to Vegas and fell in love with game of Texas Holdem. At the time Holdem was mainly only played in North America, but when Rodgers met people like Doyle Brunson and Johnny Moss he decided to bring the game back to Dublin with him. He established the Irish Poker Open and went about promoting Texas Holdem in Ireland and all of Europe. Texas Holdem is now the most popular form of poker in the world and Rodgers and his Irish tournament have a lot to do with that. Past Champions include players like Noel Furlong who won the event three times, Colette Doherty who won the tournament twice and Joe Beevers who took home the crown in 2003. It has more then 25 years since the game of Texas Holdem reached Dublin and this tournament has become one of the crown jewels in the poker world.

This tournament deserves its exposure, top named pros have nothing, but great things to say about there time in Dublin. While at the tables you may sit with greats like David Benyamine, Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak or Roland De Wolfe. On Easter weekend 2009 these top named players and many more will compete for there chance at being crowned the Irish Poker Open champion. I am sure you can imagine it now you show up in Dublin to take your shot and your seated with a legend of the game, someone like Mike Sexton, it could be a dream come true. The Irish Poker Open truly deserves it spot amongst the major tournaments in the world and its winners should be proud of there accomplishments.

Yes, there is glory in winning, but lets not kid ourselves there is some money involved here. The entry fee into this tournament is 3200 plus 300 Euros. Last years champ Neil Channing took home more then 800 000 Euros, and that no doubt changed his life forever. There are other ways to get in, you can qualify at paddypoker.com and earn your chance at the millions in prize money. Last year Emmert Davis qualified through Paddy Poker and earned himself another shot by being the last online qualifier left standing. Emmert finished in 40th place and cashed 9000 Euros, to go along with his entry into the 2009 tournament. Qualifying is not easy, but you can do it through the Sole Survivor at Paddy Poker. There is two chances to qualify every week, Sundays and Tuesdays at 8:05, but you can also earn your way into these events through satellite tournaments. You can play in stage one of Sole Survivor qualifying daily for as little as $2. Can you see the headlines now, man wins Irish Poker Open with just a $2 entry at paddypoker.com. If you manage to make it through the stages and become a Sole Survivor, not only will you receive entry into the event, but the package totals 100 000 Euros. There is still more ways in to this tournament, if you play in big games at paddypoker.com, you can earn your way in. By earning player points online, you can end up at the tables in April. Simply collect a million player points between November and April and a free seat at the event is yours. Visit paddypoker.com for more information on how to qualify and start living your poker dreams.

If you are a poker player, no matter the stakes you play the Irish Poker Open is a place you want to be. There is many ways to get in, by qualifying online or just showing up and paying the entry fee. The truth is dreams can come true, we have all seen the great stories of amateurs going on to make millions in the poker world. From Chris Moneymaker to Jerry Yang to Joe Hachem this years Irish Poker Open might be your chance to become the next person on the list. Why not you? Play Texas Holdem amongst the greats, and have your chance at the millions. At paddypoker.com you can start your poker career for as low as $2, and the tournament in Dublin could be yours.

Irish Opker Open 2009

The Irish Poker Open is a major poker tournament, rich in history and is prestigious to win. Texas Holdem players from around the globe will come together on Easter weekend 2009 to compete for there chance to be the next champion. You can have your chance to play with some of the best players in the world and get your place in poker history.

You can trace the roots of this tournament to a familiar place, where familiar people introduce the game of Texas Holdem to the world. Irish born Terry Rogers on a trip to Vegas visited the Horseshoe Binions Casino, and this is where he was introduced to No Limit Texas Holdem. At the time high stakes Holdem games were popular in Vegas and Rogers sought to take the game back to Ireland with him. Terry Rogers was known for his passion for poker and the first Irish open was played in 1980, which he established. The first event was a 5 card stud tournament, which was won by Collette Doherty, she later went on to become the first women to ever play in the main event at the World Series of Poker. Collette had a great career playing poker and continued her success at the Irish Poker Open becoming a two time winner in 1991. 1982 might have been the first year, poker players truly became global, when American born players traveled to Dublin to play in the Eccentric Club Invitational. Vegas legends like Amarillo Slim and Doyle Brunson joined Rogers to compete in a poker tournament.

With the success in 1982, 1983′s event was even bigger attracting more legends of the game like Stu Unger, Tom McEvoy and Chip Reese. With 33 players entered in the tournament, you’ll never guess it, but Stu Unger went out on the first hand, Tom McEvoy won the title.  In ‘84 Tony Bryne won the Irish Poker Open and Liam Flood won the Eccentric Club Invitational beating well known Gabe Kaplan heads up. In 1985 Irene Tier became the second women to win the Irish Open.

By the time of the mid 1980′s Irish poker had taken off, led by Terry Rogers. The Irish Poker Open was growing and you could find Rogers and 10 – 15 of his friends in attendance at the World Series of Poker. In the 80′s 10 – 15 players made up a large chunk of the field and Irish poker was here to stay. By 1987 Noel Furlong was winning his first Irish Open, with the help from Terry Rogers he went on to have great success at the tournament for years to come. As the ‘90′s got under way you saw winners like Christie Smith, Liam Flood and Mickey Finn and we saw the emergence of great Irish poker players like Andy Black. To this day Black is one of the best poker players in the world, but he did retire temporarily after running into Stu Unger at the World Series of Poker. As the years went on Irish poker was strong and in 2001 the poker world was witness to one of the biggest surprises of all time when Jenny Hegarty won the Irish Poker Open. In 2006 the Irish Poker Open found itself a sponsor in paddypoker.com. They have never looked back since with guaranteed prize pools of over a million, live coverage of the final table and plenty of online qualifiers.

Paddy Power Poker has made the Irish tournament more visible, worth more money and attracts more players. Poker has boomed you can commonly find thousands of players playing in events around the world. Irish poker itself is still strong and growing, there is no doubt Ireland is world poker power. Terry Rogers deserves a major place in poker history, he brought the games to Dublin. Looking outside of Ireland, Rogers was one of the first ambassadors of the game and will go down as a truly influential personality in the game.

Irish Poker Open 2009

The Irish Poker Open 2009 is going to be one of the most prixed poker tournament, with prize pools of more then a million Euros and great players from all around the world showing up to play. On Easter weekend 2009 the this tournament captures the poker world and without a doubt someone will be crowned a champion. It might be a big named player like Andy Black, Doyle Brunson or Jennifer Harmon. There is also a good chance that an amateur who qualified at paddypoker.com will be crowned the champion making his/her dreams come true. This tournament has grown and adapted with time to remain one of the top destinations in the poker world. Rich in history, plenty of prize money and respect of your peers is the reason this tournament will continue to grow and flourish. I hope everyone has there chance to compete in Ireland on Easter weekend, visit paddypowerpoker.com for qualifying details.