Complete Irish Open Sydney Schedule Unveiled with A$2M in Guarantees

By Samantha Doyle

1 hour ago

Samantha Doyle 1 hour ago

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Irish Open Australia debuts Aug 31–Sept 14 at Sydney's Poker Palace.
Festival features 40+ events, A$2M+ guarantees & A$1M Main Event.
Includes diverse formats, strong community focus, & global appeal.

Live tournament players Down Under have an unprecedented festival to add to their calendars this quarter. The complete schedule for the upcoming Irish Open Australia officially dropped yesterday, confirming an intensive 15-day stretch running from August 31 to September 14.

Setting up shop inside Sydney's prominent Poker Palace casino, the brand's international debut features more than 40 individual trophy events. With series guarantees targeting the A$2,000,000 mark, the schedule maps out an ambitious blend of high-guarantee freezeouts and specialized mixed games.

Let's take a look!

Anchoring the Festival with the A$1M Flagship

The major draw of the 15-day schedule is the centerpiece Irish Open Sydney Main Event, which anchors the series with a firm A$1,000,000 prize pool guarantee.

The structural particulars released by tournament directors show a highly accommodating format:

Entry Cost: The event is framed as a premier mid-stakes tournament with an A$2,000 buy-in.
Timeline: Starting flights officially commence on Sunday, September 6.
Flight Structure: The tournament features six distinct starting flights, offering standard structures alongside two fast-paced turbo versions for late entries.
Satellites: Local players can win direct entry via 18 individual super satellites run by the Poker Palace floor, putting a guaranteed pool of 170 seats into play.

Trophies and Variety Beyond the Main Stage

The secondary schedule is populated by multi-flight tournaments and specialty variants, just like you would expect in Dublin.

Headlining the side action is the popular Mini Irish Open, bringing a massive A$500,000 guarantee to the felt for a modest A$360 buy-in. To manage the massive anticipated field, directors have scheduled a total of 11 separate Day 1 flights starting right on August 31 and wrapping on September 11.

Other key additions highlighted in the schedule release include:

Lucky 8s Tournament: Making its tournament debut in the Australian market, this event offers a A$250,000 guarantee across five starting flights (including a Day 1e turbo) before crowning a winner on September 6.
Sydney Poker Open: Acting as a high-value closing event on the final two days of the series, this tournament features an A$880 buy-in and an A$100,000 guarantee.
The Deaf Championship: Scheduled for Saturday, September 5, this A$360 buy-in Main Event continues the tour's commitment to accessibility, promoted globally by ambassador Darren Chow. Exotics & High Stakes: The schedule caters to varied poker disciplines by including the new A$600 Asia-Pacific Cup, a A$200 Ladies Championship, a A$10,000 Super High Roller, the Mixed 8-Game High Roller Championship, the Sviten Special, and traditional A$600 variants like PLO 4/5/6, Seniors Championship, and Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw.

A Landmark Leap Across the Globe

Taking the oldest running poker festival in Europe and transplanting it into the competitive Australian market is a bold strategic play for organizers. Beyond the raw numbers, the tournament relies on replication of its unique social elements, utilizing the Phil Baker-hosted Craic Den lounge to deliver off-the-felt entertainment and live music.

The partnership with local venues highlights a personal bridge between the two distinct poker communities. Commenting on the logistical milestone, Poker Palace co-owner Lauren Mooney noted:

As someone who grew up in Ireland and now calls Australia home, it's incredibly special to help bring the Irish Open to Sydney for the very first time. Sydney has a fantastic poker community, and I can't wait to welcome players from Australia, Ireland and around the world to what promises to be a truly memorable inaugural event.

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