Irish Open to become EPT Dublin in 2016?
Rumours circulating around the community that PokerStars might swoop to spark a revival of Europe's longest running poker tournament.
Off the back of last week's Irish Open generating another disappointing attendance and subsequent prize pool comparative to glory years gone by, rumours have begun circulating that the famous event will be taken over by the European Poker Tour (EPT) brand in 2016.
Poker pro and Irish Open regular Dara O'Kearney described the 2015 edition as the festival's potential "last supper", calling for an external party to step in and reignite the historic tournament.
"It would be truly sad for European poker if its oldest tournament were to wither further or die completely", he said in a recent blog post. "The hope is that someone with a bit more imagination and drive will step in next year to start a revival."
PokerStars armed with the growing reputation of its EPT tournaments certainly fits O'Kearney's description for an ideal candidate to drive the recovery, and it just so happens there are a few spots up for grabs on the 2016 schedule.
Hearing rumors the Irish Open is going to be an @PokerStarsEPT stop next season. Sounds good!
— Frank Op de Woeard (@webjoker) April 08, 2015
The end of an era?
Dating all the way back to 1981 - making it the second longest running poker tournament in the world after the World Series of Poker - famous Irish bookmaker Terry Rogers' creation is - as O'Kearney describes - at the very core of European poker.
The Irish Open was the continent's first major poker event, continuously contributing toward the growth of the game by attracting punters from around the globe, massive sums of cash, and plenty of mainstream media attention.
In what was arguably its most memorable edition in 2008, famous British pro Neil Channing won its biggest ever prize (€801,400) and amazingly managed to net a further £50,000 by placing a £500 bet on himself to win half way through the event.
The prize pool topped €3M that year, but has since - though the effects weren't really felt until 2012/13 - been on a steady decline.
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According to those who know the event best, it is now teetering on the brink of extinction. It might not be the classic Irish Open branded as EPT Dublin, but the change would certainly be more welcome than the notion of burying the tradition for good.
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