The Irish Open Ladies Championship is one of those events that goes from strength to strength at the festival every single year. Always generating a great atmosphere, the tournament appeals to players of all kinds – from seasoned pros to amateurs and recreational players alike.
This year, the two-day event is kicking off on Thursday, April 17 and a huge field is expected. The €250 buy-in, single re-entry tournament starts at 2pm and features a 25,000 starting stack and a 25-minute clock. For the first time ever, the event will also mark the start of the Irish Open live stream.
Paddy Power is running weekly, €10 buy-in online satellites for the Championship – with a €250 seat in the event guaranteed. The women-only satellites are running every Saturday evening at 8pm until April 5.
On PokerStars, Kerryjane Craigie – the PokerStars Ambassador for Women in Poker – celebrated International Women’s Day last weekend with a €27.50 buy-in women-only tournament. The tourney attracted 36 entries with five women winning their entry into the Ladies Championship. Kerryjane will be back on hosting duties again next Tuesday (March 18) with a special Ladies Event satellite at the Hippodrome Casino in London. Up for grabs is a fabulous Irish Open package featuring three nights’ accommodation in Dublin, travel allowance and a €250 ticket into the Ladies Championship.
Paul O’Reilly, co-organiser of the Irish Open, said: “The ladies will be in the spotlight even more this year as the Ladies Championship is the very first event up on the live stream. It’s also the first time ever that the live stream has ever covered this event so it’s going to be a very exciting tournament for everyone involved. It also means that friends and family all over the world will be able to follow along and enjoy the action in real time.”
Irish Open Ambassador Karen Muir, who will be hosting this year’s Ladies Championship, will be ensuring a warm welcome for all competitors and every player who makes the final table will also receive a gorgeous sterling silver Crystal Illusion Celtic Tree of Life necklace.
The necklace celebrates the Celtic Tree of Life – a powerful symbol that links heaven and earth with the trunk and roots representing the Celtic heritage. The branches of the tree are decorated with Cubic Zirconia & Green Crystal Glass and surrounded by a Celtic circle. This necklace is Irish-hallmarked by the Assay Office in Dublin Castle and comes with an 18-inch sterling silver trace chain.
Karen said: “As Irish Open Ambassador, this time of year is like Christmas!! I’m particularly looking forward to the Ladies Championship which will be live-streamed this year for the first time. I’ll be on commentary as much as possible and joined by some very special guests including Kerryjane.
“Of course, Jenny Steele – who was High Roller runner-up at the PokerStars Women’s Winter Festival – will also be competing. Jen and I will have our usual rivalry going on – best friends in life and arch-enemies at the poker table! I’m also looking forward to seeing friends and greeting new ladies from all over the world.”
Others participating this year include Friend of the Irish Open Elizabeth ‘Lucky Lizzie’ Bennett-Martin. Elizabeth won the tournament in 2023 and was an enthusiastic presence on the rail last year when her friend Miruna Muller took it down. Lizzie and Miruna travelled to Dublin together to celebrate Miruna’s 50th birthday.
Lizzie said: “I’m super excited to be coming back to the Irish Open again this year. Many more first-timers from Canada are coming this year including lots of poker friends from my home province of Newfoundland. The Ladies Championship is always so special – really lively, full of fun and laughter while, at the same time, being fiercely competitive. Everyone wants to bring home the trophy! Miruna can’t come this year – she says she has to give someone else a chance to win it – but she promises to be back in 2026 for a second victory!”
Last year’s exciting event saw Miruna fighting it out Manal Bousnina heads-up. The tournament culminated in a dramatic final hand when a diamond on the turn gave all-in Manal a shedload of outs for a double-up. However, with no spade or Q appearing to help her out against Miruna’s trips, she bowed out in second place. Miruna became the new Ladies Champion for €6,132 and a highly-coveted trophy.
Overall, the 2024 event attracted 136 entries, more than double the previous year – with a total of 23 players snagging a share of the €28,508 prize pool. Those in the money included PokerStars ambassador and Global Poker Award winner Marle Spragg who finished 12th.
Debs the Destroyer
UK-based American Debs “The Destroyer” Worley-Roberts is a huge Irish Open fan and ardent supporter of Ladies Events. She said: “Gotta love a Ladies Event…and especially at the Irish Open. Many women travel many miles for this event for a very good reason…whether you are a seasoned pro or recreational player, the Irish Open gives you it all. Great structure and it won’t conflict with other tourneys on the schedule. You can play to get drunk or a trophy…I fancy both sometimes lol. And there’s always a friendly face you haven’t seen for months.”
She added: “Going to Dublin is always awesome, the whole camaraderie of it is amazing. The cash games are mental, the music is great, the chance to see everyone … it makes losing easier!”
