The 2026 Irish Open Main Event has just one day left to play, in which the final table will be set, streamed, and eventually dominated by one player out of the remaining 10 from 5,003 entries. That player will receive €517,100 in prize money and one of the most coveted tournament trophies in the world.
The €4,852,910 total prize pool reflects the record-breaking, truly international turnout at the Royal Dublin Society this week; the final group of 10 boasts six nationalities (Italians have three spots). In all, 736 places are paid, with the first to be eliminated on the final day set to collect €39,840.
There was a true sweat over whether a run at a second Irish Open Main Event title could be in the offing, but closer and closer to the final, the prior champions made their exits: Dan Wilson was eliminated in 27th place (€15,870), Steve O’Dwyer in 16th (€24,120) and Weijie Zheng in 13th (€33,190).
Final Day Players
- Danilo Donnini, Italy – 46,400,000
- Vasyl Palandiuk, Italy – 34,100,000
- Isaac Barker, United Kingdom (PokerStars Qualifier) – 28,700,000
- Narcis Nedelcu, Romania (PokerStars Qualifier) – 28,100,000
- Daryl McAleenan, United Kingdom – 20,900,000
- Edward Dunphy, Ireland – 20,700,000
- Oliver Gayko, Germany – 19,300,000
- Jarkko Suokas, Finland – (PokerStars Qualifier) 19,000,000
- Matthew Twomey, Ireland – 16,700,000
- Francesco Gisolfi, Italy (PokerStars Qualifier) – 16,000,000
Chip leader Donnini is off to a good start in the PokerStars Live League, having made three deep runs at EPT Paris in February. One of the reasons he came to the Irish Open was the potential to boost his standing. Play will restart at Level 36, with blinds 300,000/600,000-600,000; players will return with over 40 big blinds.
The Irish Open has always been a truly international event, and players representing 60 countries have taken part in the epic 2026 Main Event.
Among those who have cashed on Day 3 yesterday are Kevin Killeen, former champ Dan Wilson, Dean Hutchison, Gavin Sardini, Jeff Kimber, Conor O’Driscoll, 2025 finalist Paneleimon Pontos, Jamie Flynn, PokerStars Ambassador Alex Romero, Friend of the Irish Open Raph Verdugo and Ian Hamilton.
Previous cashers include Hendon Mob brothers Barny and Ross Boatman, Friend of the Irish Open Elizabeth Bennett-Martin, PokerStars Team Pros David Lappin, Rory Jennings and Guillermo Sanz, EPT Monte Carlo champion 2016 Jan Bendik, Irish Open superfan June Jenkins, 2013 champion Ian Simpson, 2024 champion Tero Laurila, 2025 champion Simon Wilson and 2026 Ladies Champion Jen Frankenstein.
Main Event live coverage
The live stream will be on air from 1.30pm with our final day of Main Event coverage. Award-winning commentators James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton, plus PokerStars Team Pro Nick Walsh will be joined by 2017 Irish Open Champion Griffin Benger along with newest member of Team Pro David Lappin. All broadcasts are subject to a half hour delay so if you’re here at the event, no spoilers on socials please!!!
Watch it right here on the Irish Open website or on our Irish Open YouTube channel.
Other places to watch: If you’re in the UK or Ireland, you can watch the broadcast on the PokerStars UK YouTube channel; elsewhere, head to the PokerStars global channel.
You can also watch on the PokerStars Twitch channel, or via the PokerStars LIVE Facebook page.
PokerNews will also be closely monitoring the final and you can read their updates from noon onwards here on the Irish Open website.
Sydney-bound!
Today marks a huge day for the Irish Open as the first-ever Day 1 takes place for an international Irish Open. The remote Day 1 for the inaugural A$1,000,000 guaranteed Irish Open Sydney starts today with a €1,150 buy-in tournament at 4pm. The Irish Open will be paying 15% of the field and everyone who gets through Day 1 today will be in the money and on for the inaugural Main Event Day 2 in Australia. The Irish Open is also adding €1,000 for every winner to go towards flights! You can satellite your way into this with a €140 buy-in, 100k milestone satellite starting at noon – five seats guaranteed. If you win a seat, it’s not transferable … it must be played in the Sydney Day 1 at 4pm.
Check out our live updates page for more info – just click the event title. And don’t forget you can also see all tourney results on the PS Live app.
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