The Irish Open has won Best Live Poker Event at this year’s SiGMA Euro-Med Awards in Malta.
The Irish Open – the largest and richest poker event in Ireland – saw off stiff competition in a category that also featured EPT Montecarlo, WSOP Europe Rozvadov, EPT Barcelona 2024 and 888 Poker Live. The award honours the poker tournament that has delivered “exceptional organisation, competitive integrity, and memorable experiences for participants and spectators.”
The Awards took place alongside a special charity auction during an exclusive Gala Celebration on Monday evening at the Hilton Hotel, Portomaso. SiGMA wrote: “As Europe’s longest-running No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament, the Irish Poker Open continues to set the standard for live poker festivals. In 2025, the event attracted a record-breaking 4,562 entries to its €1,150 Main Event, generating a prize pool of €4.45 million.
“Beyond the tables, the Irish Poker Open offers a vibrant social experience, with nightly live music, bar games, and a dedicated player lounge known as “The Craic Den.” These elements, combined with a strong sense of community and a rich history dating back to 1981, make the Irish Poker Open a standout in the live poker circuit. “
Malta, known as the Cradle of iGaming, is a key destination for global gaming elites and SiGMA’s huge Malta Week event attracts more than 400 iGaming sponsors and exhibitors, 400 expert speakers and some 12,000 delegates. There were 24 different award categories at Monday night’s ceremony including Industry Trendsetter, Best Casino Operator and Excellence in Gaming Leadership.
JP McCann, who co-runs the Irish Open with Paul O’Reilly, flew out to Malta for Monday night’s award ceremony. He said: “We are really delighted with this award. Best Live Poker Event is a brand new category so we are very pleased that it’s our name that’s going to be first on the cup so to speak! SiGMA is an incredibly important player in iGaming so we are really thrilled to get this recognition.
“The 2026 Irish Open is taking place from March 26 to April 6, 2026 and already looks set to be one of the biggest poker festivals in Europe. We’ll be announcing more details about the schedule very soon so keep an eye on our news pages and social media channels.”
In February this year, the Irish Open won Best Stand-Alone Festival at the Global Poker Awards.
