Irish Open to be Televised

The final table of the paddypowerpoker.com Irish Open 2006 will be broadcast live on Sky Sports 2 at 9.30 p.m. on Monday 17 April (Easter Monday).

The event will be filmed before a select VIP audience at a top secret location in Dublin. Six players will compete for their share of the €1 million guaranteed (plus €50,000 added by the sponsor) prize pool. Produced by Winmedia International in association with Sky Sports the transmission will be the first of its kind from Ireland.

Poker explosion on TV

Poker is one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the world. Under-the-table cameras allow the audience to see all the drama unfold and make calls just as if they were playing the game themselves.

Poker is the third most watched cable TV sport in the US and has proved a hit with mainstream audiences all over Europe. Over 10,000 will try to qualify online for a seat at the Irish Open and thousands more in live satellite competitions. Internet and satellite qualifiers will be joined by some of the biggest names in US and European poker.

Bet on a party

Players, members of the poker community and the general public are invited to attend and watch the live broadcast in a friendly, fun environment at Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin. Paddy Power bookmakers will be offering 'in-play' betting on the final table at www.paddypower.com

History

The €3,000 entry Irish Open is the longest established poker tournament in Europe. The main event starts on 4pm on Saturday 15th April and will play down to a final table of six players on Monday 17th April.