Irish Open Will Still Be Held, Only Online

The coronavirus global pandemic has hit the live poker industry hard. The outbreak continues to cause closures and postponement of casinos and live poker events across the globe.

Recently many poker events had to be canceled due to the Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. This is mostly events that were scheduled this month or in the next month.

Initially, Irish Open was supposed to go on from April 6th to April 13th, 2020, in Dublin’s Citywest Hotel. But, because of the situation with Coronavirus, it had to be postponed.

However, there has been a change of plans, and the event will now take place online. The virtual version of the event is replacing the live one. It will feature a €1m guaranteed main event, starting on April 6th, along with a selection of smaller buy-in tournaments.

JP McCann from the Irish Poker Open commented: “Since our announcement last week regarding the postponement of Irish Open 2020, considerable efforts have been made to find an alternative date to run Irish Open 2020. 

“However, as the uncertainty surrounding live poker events continues, we feel that the best decision to take at this point is to cancel the live festival for 2020.”

He also thanked partypoker for taking the initiative to help their Festival goes ahead during these very challenging times.  “We hope to see you for the first time on the virtual tables for the 40th Anniversary of the Irish Open.”

Irish Open’s sponsor partypoker will gladly run the Irish Open Festival Online.

Partypoker managing director, Tom Waters, said: “We are delighted to be associated with Europe’s oldest poker festival. 

The Irish Open is a truly unique event and following the disappointment of its cancellation this year, an online Irish Open festival looks a perfect fit for both event organizers and partypoker.”

All in all, to look on a bright side, this could potentially lead to popularizing online poker.