April 12
Check out the very last hand of the 2026 WSOP Europe.
The World Series of Europe is officially over. Event #13 – GGMillion$ High Roller was the last tournament running, and this hand between Christian Pedersen and Punnat Punsri was the very last hand of the 2026 festival.
Coming up next – the 2026 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas!
What has Ryan Riess been up to lately?
A cool interview with the 2013 WSOP Main Event winner Ryan Riess. It’s been well over a decade since The Beast took down the poker’s largest tournament, but, unlike some winners, his passion for poker remained as strong as ever.April 11
WSOP Europe exceeds all expectations.
For the first time, WSOP Europe took place in Prague. It was expected that a more attractive and accessible location would result in a better turnout, but the 2026 series smashed it out of the park!
Over the course of 15 bracelet events, there were almost 15,800 entries and the series awarded just over €35.5 million in prizes.
The Main Event was by far the biggest in history, attracting 2,617 entries for a prize pool of over €13 million – €3 million over the original guarantee.
U.S. Poker Open is underway!
The PokerGO Tour U.S. Poker Open kicked off. The very first event attracted a respectable crowd, and it was Jeremy Ausmus ending the first day of play with a substantial chip lead over the rest of the field.Marius Kudzmanas takes down the WSOP Europe Main Event!
The record-breaking WSOP Europe Main Event is in the books. Marius Kudzmanas of Lithuania outlasted the field of 2,617 entries to claim his third WSOP bracelet and the €2,000,000 first-place money.
This was a huge year for WSOP Europe, with the series moving to Prague for the first time, and the record-breaking turnout in the Main and across the board confirmed this was the right decision by the organizers.
April 10
The final table for the 2026 WSOP Europe Main Event is set.
After a long day that cut the field from 25 to nine. Hengtao Zhu, who surprisingly qualified on GGPoker and had only $39,361 in live winnings before this, leads the way with a big stack. Chris ‘Big Huni’ Hunichen even told Zhu he was 'too f***ing good’ on Day 3.
The nine finalists return Friday at noon to play for the bracelet and €2 million.
How is the WSOP 2026 less than 2 months away?
How? I feel like it has only just wrapped? Is it just me?April 08
WSOP Europe towing the line when it comes to devices at tables.
Per the new rules, electronic devices are banned at WSOP events once the table is down to its final stages.
Poker pro Landon Tice notes how, over in Prague, the dealers are keeping everyone in check.
I, for one, think it’s a good thing to ban devices at the tables, but others at The Rail—looking at you, Ivan—disagree.
You can read why he thinks banning phones is a bad idea in his op-ed from last year.
April 07
Winner of the WSOP Europe Main Event gets a $2 million payday.
WSOP Europe has broken all-time records, drawing 2,617 entries and building just over €13 million in prize money.
And now the payouts are out: first place takes a whopping €2 million, with a total of 393 players making the money and the min-cash at €10,000. PokerNews is doing a solid job reporting live on the action.
Nedelcu turns the Irish Open into his own victory lap.
Narcis Nedelcu took home the Irish Open trophy after beating a record-breaking field of more than 5,000 players at the Royal Dublin Society. The Romanian pro, fresh off a big online win, called the victory “something so, so special” when talking to PokerNews.
The event’s massive €4.8 million prize pool smashed the organizers’ guarantee. After hours of final-table play, the last five players agreed to chop most of the money, with Nedelcu securing €336,798 and the trophy after a quick heads-up against Danilo Donnini.
April 06
WSOP Europe Main Event smashes guarantees with massive turnout.
We finally have the numbers for the WSOP Europe as late registration on Day 2 has officially closed. Across three starting flights and additional entries on Day 2, the €5,300 Main Event attracted a staggering 2,617 entries—surpassing its €10 million guarantee by a huge margin and adding another €3 million to the prize pool. Even more remarkably, this year’s prize pool is more than double that of last year’s edition.April 05
€10M guarantee for the WSOP Europe Main Event has been broken.
Although the final numbers are still not in, it is official: the first-ever WSOP Europe Main Event to take place in Prague has beaten its €10,000,000 guarantee!It’s almost time for The Big Game finale!
It all comes down to this! The final session of The Big Game on Tour powered by PokerStars + FanDuel will go live shortly. Who will end up a big winner after all 150 hands have been played?April 04
Shaun Deeb just can’t catch a break…
Shaun Deeb found himself in a spot to win yet another bracelet at WSOP Europe. He outlasted nearly 2,700 entrants in the €565 Colossus, only to be denied the title by this sick cooler.
On the other hand, a strong start of the Prague series will certainly help Deeb in his Player of the Year efforts, putting him in a great spot ahead of the 2026 WSOP in Las Vegas.
WSOP Europe Main Event is underway in Prague.
The action is underway in the WSOP Europe Main Event, and Martin Kabrhel was in the mix. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on what side of the fence you are), it looks like we won’t see much of Martin’s antics in this one, as his pocket aces were cracked in a big pot early on.April 03
The Irish Poker Open just keeps getting bigger.
After drawing 4,562 entries last year, the Main Event has already surpassed that number, yet another record for Europe’s most iconic tournament and the event isn’t even done yet, as players can still enter the tournament.Woah, the Irish Poker Open is going global!
Europe’s largest poker festival just announced three exciting new stops, including its first foray into the US.
This year, the tour kicks off in Sydney, Australia from September 6–15, then heads to Marrakech, Morocco from November 10–15. The US debut is set for next year, with dates to be revealed soon.
Big moves for one of poker’s biggest festivals, it’s going worldwide!
It’s a busy stretch for live poker in Europe right now.
Two major Main Events are running side by side, the WSOP Europe Main Event in Prague and the Irish Open Main Event, backed by PokerStars and Paddy Power, with PokerNews keeping close tabs on both.
So far, the €5,300 WSOP Europe Main Event has drawn over 700 entries from its opening flight. Meanwhile, the €1,150 Irish Open Main Event is already well past 4,000 entries on its final Day 1 flight.
With Day 2 still to come and late registration open, there’s a real chance the Irish Open could surpass last year’s numbers and set a new record for its biggest Main Event ever.
Safe to say, it’s a packed schedule for poker across Europe.
April 02
The silent boom at the Irish Open.
Irish Open organizers rejoice. The Deaf Championship at the Irish Open went from a whisper to a roar, multiplying its attendance tenfold in just one year. What the organizers have achieved has been astounding!What the flop giveth, the turn and river taketh away.
According to PokerNews, the final hand of the €3,300 PLO Mixed event at WSOPE was one that Shaun Deeb won’t soon forget.
Deeb, chasing his ninth bracelet, went heads-up against Frank Koopmann and flopped a king-high flush. Find out how it all went down in the PokerNews article. It’s brutal.
The pink diamond Ladies WSOP Europe bracelet has officially been revealed.
Alright, ladies — first look is in! 💎
The custom pink diamond WSOP Europe bracelet for the Ladies Event has officially been revealed, and it’s looking pretty stunning. At first glance, it might seem like a classic WSOP bracelet, but take a closer look and you’ll spot the pink-coated suits, a really nice touch that sets it apart.
The Ladies WSOP Europe bracelet event kicks off in just a couple of days (April 4), taking place in Prague, featuring a €1,000 buy-in and a field exclusively for women.
With so many well-known and talented players expected to show up, this is shaping up to be one of the biggest ladies’ events outside the US. Definitely one to watch!
Negreanu is back on the YouTube streets.
We covered it via the PokerOrg article, but watch Daniels full take on the WSOP x ESPN partnership and what he thought of that Krissy Foxen fold that made the rounds last week.April 01
David Lappin responds to Terrance Reid.
A measured response from Lappin, with a call for real effective change to be made for the way staff and dealers are paid at live events.March 31
Wynn has dropped the full schedule for its 2026 Summer Classic.
The festival runs from May 20 to July 13, with the headline event being the $10,400 Wynn Summer Championship and its $10 million guarantee.
“We’re excited to bring players a summer schedule built around big guarantees and a great overall experience… we think there’s something here for every type of player.”
If you will be in Vegas for the WSOP this may be a good series to check out as the date coincide.
March 30
Deaf NHL High Roller at Irish Open more popular than ever.
Gregory Olson’s win in the €350 High Roller was the headline act, but the real story was the surge in attendance. The Main Event alone grew from 29 runners last year to 224 this year.
This kind of inclusivity at the poker tables is amazing to see.
March 29
What’s going on at the Irish Open?
Irish Open is underway, and many players will tell you that this is one of the most relaxed and most enjoyable of all poker festivals of the year.
Spraggy and Phil Baker bring you some atmosphere from the venue as the action picks up, both on the felt and on the sidelines.
March 28
Doug Polk’s video on the Lodge situation coming next week.
A few days back, Doug Polk, one of the largest co-owners of the recently closed Texas card room has announced he’ll be putting out a video further explaining the entire situation and, possibly, what comes next.
However, the poker world will have to wait for a few more days. It looks like Polk wants to make sure this particular video has all of its i’s dotted and t’s crossed, and, given the whole ordeal, we can’t really blame him for it.
What has Joe Hachem been up to recently?
With the Aussie Millions making its big comeback, who better to talk to than the only player from Australia to win the WSOP Main Event?
Once one of the biggest names in the game, Joe Hachem has been away from the spotlight in recent years. He still plays poker, but he’s content to stick to the games where he believes there is still an edge to be had.
In his recent interview with PokerNews, Joe Hachem remembers his historic 2005 win, shares his thoughts on modern poker, talks about his involvement with the Aussie Millions, and much more.
March 27
Mainstream coverage of the WSOP x ESPN deal.
What I missed the first time around was that the Main Event will break for 20 days before returning for the Final Table.WSOP calling for content creators for this year’s summer series.
Where is the year going? Not before too long, it will be the return of the WSOP 2026, which kicks off in May in Las Vegas. If you want to be part of the summer spectacle, the WSOP organizers are hiring!March 26
Check out the hand that everybody’s talking about.
Kristen Foxen folds pocket kings at the final table of the Triton Main Event, and the poker world goes crazy. What else can we say other than check it out yourselves!WSOP x ESPN partnership is officially back…
Ok wow, this is a big deal! WSOP has signed a multi-year agreement with ESPN to bring the Main Event final table back to live TV.
We’re getting a three-night, prime-time finale on August 3–5, 2026.
And we now know the final table dates finally! It’s not November Nine!
Foxen in the mix, Lonis on a heater.
Kristen Foxen headlines the final table at the Triton Jeju Main Event, sitting sixth in chips and looking to add to her $13.5 million in live earnings.
According to PokerNews, Ben Tollerene leads the pack with a commanding stack, while Xu Yang and Elton Tsang round out the top three. The final nine will return on Thursday to chase the $3.76 million top prize.
Jesse Lonis has already wrapped up another title in the $50k Turbo Bounty Quattro, busting nine of the last twelve players and banking $474,000 plus another $540,000 in bounties.
As PokerNews puts it, Lonis’ hot streak continues, and Foxen still has work to do if she wants to join him in the winner’s circle.
It’s go time. WSOP Europe and Irish Open get underway today.
It’s a huge day for live poker in Europe as two prestigious festivals get underway today. WSOP Europe starts in Prague and the Irish Open hits Dublin.More PokerNews deep dives on the Lodge via Chad Holloway.
Holloway digs into whether FinCEN and the Bank Secrecy Act have roles to play in what went down at the Lodge.
His take below.
Caitlin Comeskey’s husband sets up GoFundMe for ex-Lodge employees.
The fundraiser aims to reach $30,000 USD. Doug Polk has already donated $10K, and Brad Owen $5K. However, some are skeptical that this will move the needle for the hundreds of employees who are now looking for work.March 25
How to use the WSOP Live (formerly WSOP Plus) app.
We’ve already posted on this, but with WSOP Europe Prague just around the corner, brush up on how to use the live app now.Why have other card clubs in Texas not been targeted?
Katie Stone and others get into it over on X.Permanent staff at the Lodge to be let go.
This will come as a severe blow for the employees of the club.
There is no timeline for how long the investigation will take to conclude, nor when players will be made whole. It is a nightmare situation for all.
March 24
Annette’s return to poker is confirmed.
Annette Obrestad, a poker phenom from Norway who stunned the world nearly two decades ago triumphing in the WSOP Europe Main Event and becoming the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet, is making her big comeback.
Obrestad will be playing at the upcoming WSOP Europe festival in Prague, and this is one of the biggest comebacks we’ve seen in a long time.
As we wait, this article will catch you up on what she’s been up to in the meantime and what prompted her return to the green felt.
Things aren’t looking good for the Lodge…
According to the latest X post from Todd Witteles, although no criminal charges have been filed against the Lodge at this time, the situation is pretty bleak.
The Williamson County DA’s office maintains that the club operated illegally. The Lodge, naturally, denies it. So, it seems we have a stalemate, which means that the club won’t be opening any time soon.
According to Witteles, the club also laid off all of the staff, which further indicates they are not expecting to be back in business for a while.
Not long until the WSOP Europe is over in Prague.
We expect to see a lot of famous faces in attendance.March 23
888poker’s Glasgow stop saw a familiar story: a packed casino, a smashed guarantee, and a Main Event that drew players from all over.
This time, though, it was Austria’s Martin Lechner making his first appearance and walking away with the trophy after a deal with Richard Kellett.
The festival ran from March 14 to 22 at Grosvenor’s Merchant City Casino, offering buy-ins most players could afford.
The Main Event saw 348 entries and a prize pool that topped 264,000 pounds. Lechner, who had already racked up 220,000 dollars in live earnings, managed to outlast the field and finish the job after a 45-minute heads-up battle.
PokerNews delves into the grey areas that may have led to the raid on the Lodge.
The article is definitely worth a read if you want more context around the legality of live poker in Texas.Ebony Kenney keeps breaking records—and the glass ceiling.
Ebony Kenney has become the most accomplished female player in the history of the Triton Poker Series, according to a new press release.
Her performance at high-stakes events, including a 5th-place finish for $1.7 million in 2022 and a recent $614,500 runner-up, has put her at over $3.3 million in live tournament earnings.
The CEO of Americas Cardroom, Phil Nagy, said:
“Ebony continues to raise the bar—not just for women in poker, but for everyone competing at the highest level. She’s proving, again and again, that she belongs in the biggest games in the world.”
David Lappin, now a PokerStars Ambassador, has very strong feelings about the Irish Open.
He told PokerNews that it’s his favorite event and not just because he’s Irish. He reckons the festival atmosphere converts everyone who attends into an honorary Irish person.
“The moment you walk through the doors…Poker players have a lot of serious poker to be played through the year and you go off and you play your high rollers or your EPTs and you go to the Irish Open it’s an opportunity to blow off some steam.”
Lappin credits PokerStars for the event’s impressive growth, citing entry numbers ballooning from under 2,000 in 2021 to over 4,500 in 2025. With PokerStars now fully on board, he predicts fields of up to 10,000 before the end of the decade.
WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus is cancelled.
With the state of things in the Middle East it comes as no surprise that WSOP organizers have taken steps to cancel the series that was to take place in Cyprus in April.Some Irish Open love coming our way.
We put loads of effort into our poker guides to give you the best resource on the internet to any given poker topic.
We have guides to lots of different topics, but in this instance, it is a guide all about the Irish Open—written by humans, for humans.
Thanks for sharing, Irish Poker Open team 🫶
March 22
Texas Mike is all set for another tournament grind.
Texas Mike, a man who became known to the wider poker public for his exploits in high-stakes streamed games, is locked in for another tournament grind.
Mike is travelling to Prague to play in WSOP Europe and, apparently, has his eyes set on the Player of the Year title. He may not be the most experienced of tournament players, but we all know he’s very stubborn when he sets a certain goal, so it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.