Most players have been through this at some point. You’re deep in the tank when, out of the corner of your eye, you clock someone with a notepad hovering on the periphery.
Shove? Don’t shove???
The blogger waits patiently. Pen poised. Ready to record history — or the worst beat ever.
An army of tournament reporters
Behind the scenes at the Irish Open is a small but mighty army of tournament reporters. They are the eyes and ears of the festival — firing out hundreds of live updates, capturing the drama hand by hand, and making sure players, railbirds and all those following from home are in on the most dramatic moments.
Some, like award-winning Christian Zetsche, are seasoned veterans who’ve been covering poker tournaments across the globe for over a decade. Others — including Christoffer Karlen, Dom Clementson and Richard Hayes — are newer to the role but just as passionate about the game they love.
They work long hours, sprint between tables, survive on caffeine and adrenaline… and somehow still find time to join the Craic Den chaos once their laptops close. (If you haven’t read Dom’s hilarious dispatches from the Craic Den, you’re missing out).
But what’s it actually like to blog at the Irish Open? How do you keep up with 10 tables going off at once? Which events are the toughest to cover? And what makes the Irish Open so special?
We asked our bloggers to lift the curtain — and tell it exactly as it is.
What are the most important skills you need as a blogger?
Dom: Speed! I probably spend too much time finessing my post when I really should be getting back out on the floor! Blogging is about balancing competing expectations: I want an interesting hand, players want to see their name in the blog, readers want to know about their favourite players, and everybody wants more frequent updates. There’s a lot to juggle! You also need to hunt out the interesting narratives. Live stream commentator James Hartigan railing Ladies Event winner Michelle Skinner was an absolute gift last year but it was just as much fun following the fortunes of Lydia Cugguda’s ‘lucky potato’.
Richard: Typing fast and being able to melt into the background!
Christian: The ABC! Always Be Counting (the pot size, stacks, bet sizes).
Favourite events to cover?
Christian: Anything but two cards! The more the merrier … but PLO will always be the number one.
Christoffer: Last year, it was 2-7 triple draw but this year, it will 100% be Sviten Special which combines elements of both Five Card Omaha and Five Card Draw. This is the first Sviten tournament at the Irish Poker Open and, given that I’m Swedish and it was invented in Sweden, I feel a big connection to it.
Dom: The Deaf Championship, Open Face Chinese and the Ladies Championship – don’t believe all that nonsense about the sisterhood, they were out for blood!
Richard: I’m really looking forward to all the Deaf events this year. It’s the only festival I’ve worked at that specifically caters for the Deaf community.
Which are the hardest events to blog?
Dom: Anything with Stud games. If three people get to the river, that’s nearly half the deck you have to catch! And if it’s hi/lo, there’s probably chops.
Christian: Stud variants can be a sucker punch especially in multi-way action
Christoffer: Stud!
What can players do to make life easier for you?
Everyone: Stack your chips nicely (20 per stack is ideal!) Do tell us your name or nationality if asked and also, for god’s sake, stay seated during the bubble!
What makes the Irish Poker Open special?
Christoffer: For me, it’s the history. It all started with Colette Docherty winning the inaugural event in 1980 and it just keeps growing bigger and bigger. To meet players who’ve been attending the tournament for years is incredible, and it warms my heart to see ‘old school’ poker: lots of chatting, lots of Guinness, questionable calls, laughs… the players are having fun! Then you have the young guns – players like Simon Wilson, Parker “Tonkaaaa” Talbot, Benjamin Spragg. They have a different understanding of the game compared to the guys who’ve been playing for 50 years or more and to see a player like Spraggy clash with an old hand like Padraig Parkinson is really entertaining.
Christian: The Irish Open was one of my first international live poker events – back in 2010 – and the atmosphere at the tables is always great. You get some really funny quotes if you listen close enough! I was there in 2013 when Ian Simpson won and then immediately proposed to his girlfriend right there at the table.
Dom: The Irish Open is my favourite event by a mile. Everybody loves it — the players, the staff, the bloggers.
Richard: The Irish Open feels more like a carnival than a poker tournament; the Craic Den is a real party and the cash action is crazy. I think it’s in a lot of people’s diaries as the event they won’t miss.
What were the stand-out poker moments for you from 2025?
Dom: Javier Francort winning three PLO events in the space of 10 days.
Christian: Ditto. Javier Francort – even though he barely had any sleep in between his victories.
Christoffer: Leo Worthington-Leese dramatically bubbling the Luxon Pay!
Richard: Simon Wilson’s amazing Main Event victory – I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like it at a poker tournament; it was unreal. As Simon dived into the crowd, a table of probably about €300 worth of drink hit the floor, the place went absolutely bananas and the jubilation from his family and friends was amazing. It’s always special when an Irish player wins the Irish Open.
And off the felt?
Everyone: The Craic Den!!!!!
The 2026 Irish Open festival is taking place from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society with 86 different tournaments including the €2.5million guaranteed Main Event, €1m guaranteed Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty and €1m guaranteed Mini Irish Open.
See also our story about Irish Open staff and how they feel about working at the award-winning festival.
