Friend of the Irish Open Elizabeth Bennett-Martin has enjoyed a sensational year since taking down last year’s Irish Open Ladies Event. Her myriad achievements have included a runner-up finish in the PCA Ladies Event, a final table at the WSOP Ladies Circuit Event in New York, two WSOP cashes in Las Vegas and a cash in the WSOP Paradise Mini Main.
“I feel I have really moved up a level in my game”
Elizabeth Bennett-Martin
It was one of her most successful years to date but she puts most of it down to the fact that she has been working hard on her game. She said: “I have had other years where I have won more money but I’ve been reading a lot of poker strategy in the last year and it’s definitely had an impact. I have had a lot of deep runs and feel that I have really moved up a level in my game. To me, that’s a much more important sign of success than money!”
Elizabeth is a keen traveller and, in addition to the Irish Open, the Bahamas is also high up her list as a poker destination. She said: “I love the Bahamas! It’s where I got my start in poker in 2009 and I have been back there many times since. The PCA was such an awesome event and I was really excited to win the $30,000 championship package last year. It meant I had the opportunity to play their PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship last January and that was really amazing.
Home game satellite winners
“But it’s no secret that the Irish Open is my favourite event. My friends and I travel the world playing poker and we have returned to Dublin every year since 2016 because we simply love it. As a friend of the Irish Open, I have no hesitation recommending the event to everyone I meet. Last year the organisers of our home game even decided to run a satellite for this year’s event. Five players are coming from that game including the two that won their trip in the satellite.”
Elizabeth also considers the Irish Open a great place for women to play poker. She said: “The Irish Open is one of the few tournaments where a female player, travelling on her own, will always feel safe and super-welcome. The people are super friendly and are so accommodating. You can get help with just about anything and new players should definitely come along. Just relax, have fun, and enjoy your time in the city as well as the poker.”
For this year’s festival, Elizabeth is determined to defend her Ladies Event title but is also looking forward to catching up with friends, playing a lot of poker and listening to live Irish music. She will also be hitting the cash game tables. She added: “I’m not a regular cash player but I always play in Ireland because I enjoy the people and the game so much. It’s exciting that there will now be a dedicated cash game area with its own bar. That will be fun!”
Last year, Elizabeth beat a 63-strong field – and Michelle Bricknell heads-up – to win the Ladies Event, collecting €3,690 from the total prize of €13,513. PokerStars Team Pro Georgina James was third with Katie Ramsden and Tina Abery fourth and fifth respectively.
Fellow Canadians now have a wealth of options to qualify online for Irish Poker Open 2024. PokerStars are offering satellites in Canada including Ontario while iPoker sites Bet365, Champion Poker, Coolbet, Guts, Redstar, TitanBet and William Hill are all offering satellites in Canadian states excluding Ontario.
The Irish Poker Open is the longest-running No Limit Texas Hold’em poker tournament in Europe and is taking place this year from March 25 to April 1 at the Royal Dublin Society.
Last year’s record-breaking Main Event attracted a total of 2,491 entries creating a guarantee-busting €2,428,725 prize pool. More than 620 players won their seats online including champion David Docherty who qualified for just €109 and won €365,000.
You can follow Elizabeth and her poker adventures on Twitter (X).
Pic credits: Mickey May/Irish Poker Open; Danny Maxwell/PokerNews
