Poker is the ultimate game of mixed skill and luck, open to everyone and welcoming to all – and this year’s €200 Irish Open Deaf Championship aims to promote the mindsport to more Deaf or partial-hearing players than ever before.
Spearheaded by Friend of the Irish Open Darren Chow, the Deaf Championship runs from the 10th-12th April and features two starting flights with one re-entry allowed per flight. Chow first took up poker in 2004 when a labour dispute led to the cancellation of the entire 2004-2005 National Hockey League season. Like many sports fans in Canada, Chow was looking for an alternative pursuit to get involved with – and found poker!
Chow is Deaf and hopes that his attendance at this year’s Irish Open will encourage other Deaf poker players around the world to get involved. He said: “I am hoping to develop new friendships, learn new skills and be a role model for the rest of the Deaf poker-playing community. Poker is a global community that involves both hearing and Deaf players and I just love being a part of that community and meeting people from all walks of life.”
You can read more about Darren Chow here.
The event is open to Deaf and partial-hearing players, and those who use a hearing aid. Today’s Day 1A plays to the money (15% of the field) starting at 13:00, with live coverage right here from 15:00. Starting stacks are 30,000 with half hour blind levels.
