Organizers of the Irish Poker Open (IPO) are supporting the deaf poker community by hosting the Irish Open Deaf Championship taking place between April 10 to 12. The Irish Deaf Poker Championship took place last year in Cork, but the tournament will be part of the IPO for the first time this year.
The Irish Open Deaf Championship is scheduled as Event 3, features a buy-in of €200, and allows single reentry. It will be hosted by official (and first) Irish Open Deaf Championship Ambassador, Darren Chow, who had two cashes at the 2024 IPO, and he chopped the Main Event of the 2024 Irish Deaf Poker Championship, finishing as the runner-up. The Canadian will be bringing his passion for poker to the IPO, along with players from the deaf community who will play in this tournament.
“Being able to bring the Deaf Championship to the Irish Poker Open is an incredibly special moment for me. It’s not just about competing; it’s about creating an inclusive space where the Deaf community can be part of this prestigious event,” Chow told pokerfuse. “As the Ambassador, I’m proud to help amplify voices and show that poker is a game for everyone, regardless of background or ability.”
To help make the event run as smoothly as possible, there will be a LED screens and a focus on using the PokerStars Live App so that players can clearly receive real-time updates and tournament information like flight levels remaining and chip counts. In addition, a sign language interpreter will be in attendance on the final day of the Championship to assist with any floor rulings. They will also help with player and winners interviews.
“The Irish Poker Open is a symbol of unity, and I’m thrilled to see the Deaf community have the chance to compete on such a legendary stage,” Chow added. “The combination of LED screens and the registration app significantly enhances Deaf poker accessibility. By providing clear visual cues and real-time updates, these technologies create an inclusive environment where Deaf players can easily participate, ensuring they have the same opportunities to engage in the game as everyone else.”
The Irish Open Deaf Championship joins a stellar line up of events for this year’s series, which features more tournaments than ever before and €4.5 million in guarantees spread over the course of the event. Other stand out events include the €250 Ladies Championship, the Main Event and Mini Main that now has a €1 million guarantee, double that from last year. Online satellites to the IPO are running on headline sponsors, PokerStars and Paddy Power right until the start of the series.
“This is a really special event for us and we’re so excited to be able to bring an event like this to the Irish Open,” Paul O’Reilly, Irish Poker Open organizer told pokerfuse. “The global community of deaf poker players is vibrant and growing, and it’s an honor to host this tournament, celebrating inclusivity, competition, and the love of the game.”
Back in 2024, Chow was in attendance at the IPO and was interviewed at the time about the growing popularity of deaf poker tournaments and whether he thinks he has a competitive edge against players who can hear. Find out what his thoughts were below!
Deaf poker tournaments are gaining in popularity, especially in the US. Looking ahead at the rest of 2025 there will be a 2025 World Deaf Poker Championship taking place in Resorts World in Las Vegas between July 23 to 27, run by the Deaf Poker Tour, a US organization that was started almost 20 years ago. The World Deaf Poker Championships will feature 10 events with buy-in starting from $100. It has run in Las Vegas in the July slot since 2011.
In 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Deaf Poker Tour, a special cruise, Philadelphia to Bermuda with on and off the felt activities is scheduled.
The IPO takes place in Dublin, Ireland between April 10 to April 21, 2025.
