
PokerStars Ambassador David Lappin looks ahead to the Irish Open and the 2026 PokerStars Live League, noting the continued growth in tournament scale.
Irish Open becomes the focus of European poker this year.
along with Irish Open With its influence continuing to expand, the 2026 tournament has once again become a focus of attention in the European poker world.David Lappin It is stated that this event is not only of special significance to Irish players, but also attracts poker players from all over the world.
He pointed out that the greatest appeal of the Irish Open comes from its unique atmosphere, which allows every participant to immerse themselves in it, making it an unmissable stop on the poker tour.

PokerStars drives rapid growth in the tournament scene.
In PokerStars Driven by this, the number of participants in the Irish Open continues to rise:
2021: 1,880 people
2025: 4,562 people
Lappin predicts that the number of participants could exceed 9,000 to 10,000 in the coming years, making it one of the world's largest live poker tournaments.
In addition, 2026 PokerStars Live League This will also be a focal point, with players vying for points to compete for a €100,000 free spot.
A list of Irish Open champions in recent years (2021–2025)
| years | Buy | Number of participants | Prize pool | champion | country | bonus |
|---|
| 2025 | €1,150 | 4,562 | €4,447,950 | Simon Wilson | Ireland | €600,000 |
| 2024 | €1,150 | 3,233 | €3,152,175 | Tero Laurila | Finland | €292,685 |
| 2023 | €1,150 | 2,491 | €2,428,725 | David Docherty | Scotland | €365,000 |
| 2022 | €1,150 | 2,040 | €1,989,000 | Steve O'Dwyer | Ireland | €318,700 |
| 2021 | €1,100 | 1,880 | €1,880,000 | Pavel Veksler | Ukraine | €265,999 |
The number of people advancing online has reached a new high.
Lappin stated that the number of participants advancing online in the 2026 tournament is expected to reach approximately 1,500, setting a new record and demonstrating the continued strengthening of the trend of combining online and offline events.

As an ambassador: player-centric
As PokerStars The newly appointed ambassador, Lappin, emphasized that players are always at the core.
He stated that he hopes to keep the platform "fair and trustworthy" and is committed to improving the overall experience for players in online and live events.
Summarize
With the expansion in scale, the growth in the number of participants, and the support of platform resources,Irish Open It is gradually moving towards becoming one of the world's top poker events. The 2026 event is expected to reach new heights, becoming a must-attend event for poker players throughout the year.
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