One of the most exciting new tournaments on the schedule next year is the two-day Kings and Queens tourney starting on March 29.
Designed as a true battle of the Kings and Queens, the tournament will pit female players against the men in a unique and highly competitive format that’s sure to become a festival favourite.
Lisa and Scott Roberts – the poker-playing couple from Atlanta widely known as Team Roberts – will be hosting the debut event and are looking forward to playing out their own personal poker rivalry in the dedicated men v women tournament.
By next March, Team Roberts will have been married 44 years while the Irish Open will be celebrating its 46th anniversary. Scott and Lisa have already competed at the Irish Open twice and – so far – it’s Lisa who holds the lead. The former personal trainer has won over €9,000 at the Irish Open across six different events while real estate investor Scott has won around €4,700. The pair both cashed in the 2024 JP Poker Masters but – at the Irish Open at least – that’s the only time that Team Roberts has gone deep in the same event.
Scott said: “Lisa and I both love the Irish Open, and we’re thrilled to be directly involved as hosts of the new Kings and Queens tournament. The format sounds like a blast, and we can’t wait to be part of it.”
How it works …
Unlike some 50/50 events, there will be no need for men and women to rush around trying to find a “partner” for the Kings and Queens tourney. It’s not a team event – just one featuring balanced numbers of male and female participants. The Ladies’ flight will take place first and the number of female entrants will determine how many can enter the subsequent Men’s flight which gets underway three hours later.
The €250 buy-in tournament features unlimited re-entries for the first three hours on Day 1 and both starting flights will end with an equal number of survivors. Day 2 will therefore begin with an equal number of men and women still in contention for the title. Players will get a starting stack of 30,000 with 25-minute blind levels.
The concept has already sparked plenty of buzz in the poker community. Kings and Queens is a clever twist on the traditional 50/50 model and a playful nod to the ongoing conversation around gender balance in the game. The Irish Open has long been known for its inclusivity and sense of humour, and this new format fits right in.
Hippodrome Ambassador and 2025 Ladies event runner-up Lydia Cugudda has competed in several 50/50s at the Pokerstars Women’s Winter and Summer Festival and loves the vibrant atmosphere. She said: “The 50/50s were electric and the Irish Open format is something I’ve not seen before. It’s a great twist!
“Hopefully, those men who are always grumbling: “Where’s the men’s only event?” will find themselves sitting at a table which is all men and realise it doesn’t feel any different to what they are used to!! And those that progress to Day 2 will then see what it is that women bring to the game … exactly the same as them but with added fun and laughter!”
It’s no secret that female players are usually in the overwhelming minority at live events. A glance around the room at any poker festival will show that female players are few and far between and typically represent only around 10% of the total field – a figure that’s barely shifted in years. While many women embrace the challenge of competing in open events, they also relish the chance to compete in dedicated Ladies Events.
The Kings and Queens event will give female players the chance to enjoy a full day of poker without the blokes! As Barry Carter wrote on PokerStrategy.com: “Female poker players, most of the time, have to spend their time at tables with men talking about what men like to talk about. Even if the men in question are very much in touch with their feminine sides, that is still going to be ‘dude stuff’ a lot of the time.”
So ladies, if you fancy a dude–free day at the Irish Open, put March 29th in your diary and come along. But be prepared for table talk, teasing, and tension in equal measure once the two groups combine on Day 2. Crowns optional!
Click here for more info on the dedicated Ladies events taking place at the 2026 Irish Open.
