The Irish Poker Open may now be in the rearview mirror, and while PokerStars Live players are already turning their attention to the next stop on the tour, EPT Monte Carlo, which officially got underway today, it is worth pausing for a moment to reflect on just how successful the 45th edition of Europe’s longest-running poker festival really was.
Organizers had projected a total prize pool in the region of €10 million, but those expectations proved to be conservative.
According to figures shared with us by PokerStars, the final prize money awarded soared well past those estimates, reaching an impressive €14,799,206. Over the course of the festival, an incredible 26,474 entries were recorded across approximately 70 tournaments.
Irish Poker Open 2025: By the Numbers
- €14.8 million in total prize money awarded
- 26,474 entries across the full series
- 4,562 entries in the €1,150 Main Event (new record)
- €4.45 million Main Event prize pool
- 2,483 unique players from 59 countries in the Main Event
- 41% year-over-year growth in Main Event attendance
- 1,231 online qualifiers across PokerStars and iPoker
- 194 online qualifiers cashed in the Main Event
- €1.04 million won by online qualifiers in the Main Event
The €1,150 Main Event was, without question, the crown jewel of the Irish Poker Open schedule. It shattered previous attendance records, drawing a massive 4,562 entries and obliterating the originally advertised €2.5 million guarantee. Of these entries, 2,483 were unique players hailing from 59 different countries, while the remaining 2,079 were re-entries. The final prize pool swelled to €4,447,950, nearly double the guarantee.
Unsurprisingly, Irish players made up the largest contingent, with 697 entrants accounting for 28.1% of the total field. They were closely followed by players from the United Kingdom, who contributed 645 participants (26%). The United States came next with 110 players (4.4%), followed by Germany with 92 (3.7%), and Canada with 87 (3.5%).
A large portion of the field, more than 1,200 players, won their seats through online qualifiers hosted by PokerStars, Paddy Power, and the iPoker network. PokerStars alone was responsible for sending 764 players to the Main Event, with 701 qualifying through traditional satellites and an additional 63 earning their entries via the Power Path route.
Impressively, 194 of the 671 players who made it into the money in the Main Event were online qualifiers. Among them were three players who reached the final table, collectively helping online qualifiers amass a total of €1,040,290 in winnings from the Main Event alone.
Brandon Harris from the UK, who won his seat online, earned a sixth-place finish worth €100,000. Greece’s Panteleimon Pontos followed in seventh place, taking home €77,500, while Romania’s Robert Fluereci rounded out the trio in eighth place with a €59,030 payday.
On the iPoker network alone, 467 players won their seats through online satellites. Combined with the 764 qualifiers from PokerStars, the total number of Main Event participants who qualified online through PokerStars and iPoker reached 1,231.
Last year’s edition of the Irish Poker Open also set a new benchmark, attracting 3,233 entries to the Main Event and generating a €3.15 million prize pool. This year, however, the festival soared to new heights, with the Main Event alone seeing a 41% year-over-year increase in entries.
Beyond the headline Main Event, several other tournaments stood out during this year’s festival. The €250 Mini Irish Open proved to be a massive draw, pulling in 6,411 entries and creating a prize pool of €1,343,874. The opening event, the €1,150 Luxon Mystery Bounty, saw 1,222 entries and a resulting prize pool of €1,191,450. Meanwhile, the €350 Hendon Mob Championship attracted 888 entries and awarded €268,398, and the €350 America’s Cup welcomed 685 entries, generating €207,040 in prize money.
A particularly notable moment came in the €5,000 NLH High Roller 8-Max, which drew 147 entries for a prize pool of €680,800. PokerStars ambassador and their live event advisor Kenny Hallaert took down this event, pocketing a first-place prize of €169,400.
In total, the festival awarded an astounding €14.8 million in prize money and drew over 26,000 entries across its many events.
EPT Returns to Monaco
Now, all attention turns to the first official European Poker Tour (EPT) stop of the year—Monte Carlo. While EPT Paris was initially scheduled to open the season, it was ultimately cancelled due to political issues in France. That leaves Monte Carlo to take the spotlight, and fittingly so, this iconic destination was one of the original stops when the EPT made its debut back in 2004. This year marks the 20th anniversary of EPT’s presence in Monte Carlo, set against the stunning backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea.
EPT Monte Carlo 2025 takes place from April 30 to May 10 at the renowned Sporting Monte-Carlo. The festival is preceded by PokerStars branded events, including the €1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event, which kicks off today. Also on the schedule are the €550 PokerStars Cup, running from May 2 to 3, and the €2,200 PokerStars Open High Roller, held from May 3 to 5.
EPT then begins with the elite €100,000 Super High Roller from May 3 to 5, followed by a €25,000 PLO High Roller from May 4 to 5. The centerpiece of the festival, the prestigious €5,300 EPT Main Event, takes place from May 4 to 10. Additional highlights include the €3,000 EPT Mystery Bounty running from May 6 to 8, and the €25,000 EPT High Roller, which wraps up the series from May 8 to 10.
