In 2025, Irish Open Ambassador Darren Chow helped bring together the first field of Deaf poker pros and enthusiasts at the inaugural Irish Open Deaf Championship. These few dozen players have grown into a field of over 120 and this year there’s a whole Deaf series-within-the-series celebrating poker in the community worldwide.
Off the felt, well-known Deaf comedian John Smith from the UK will be appearing in the Craic Den on the Saturday night following the final of the Deaf Poker Championship.
Canadians Vasyl Dmytryshyn, Jorge Tello and Edward MacKey are all set to make their first ever visits to the festival after winning their $2,000 CAD packages in live satellites held in Toronto (satellites organised by none other than Chow). To read more on some of the players and ways in which they’ve made their way over to Dublin, click here.
Day 1A of the flagship event, the €200 Irish Open Deaf Main Event Championship, has late registration open until 17:40, with a single re-entry allowed per flight.
Although the starting flights aren’t live blogged here (Day 1B begins at 13:00 tomorrow), Day 2 – Saturday March 28 – will be.
Still want some hands, atmosphere and craic from the first day at the Irish Open this year?
Live blogs running today:
Luxon Mystery Bounty – €1,000,000 Guaranteed
Big O Championship (from 14:00)
Super Seniors Championship (60 Years Young) (from 15:00)
