Irish Open crowns new champion

April 7, 2026

Events

by PokerStars Staff

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7 Minute Read

Narcis Nedelcu has joined the exalted ranks of Irish Open Main Event champions after claiming victory and €336,790 at the Royal Dublin Society. The record-breaking field of 5,003 built a prize pool of €4,852,910, paid to the top 736 finishers who represented 60 countries.

The last five players may have made an ICM deal, but to claim the title in Europe’s longest-running poker tournament is a uniquely prestigious feat, and Nedelcu’s two words as he held the trophy for the first time said it all: “It’s unbelievable.”

Final day payouts (reflecting five-way deal):

1. Narcis Nedelcu, Romania (PokerStars Qualifier) – €336,790
2. Danilo Donnini, Italy – €257,660
3. Vasyl Palandiuk, Ukraine – €255,190
4. Daryl McAleenan, Ireland – €250,500
5. Oliver Gayko, Germany – €285,380
6. Francesco Gisolfi, Italy (PokerStars Qualifier) – €105,070
7. Isaac Barker, United Kingdom (PokerStars Qualifier) – €80,800
8. Matthew Twomey, Ireland – €62,170
9. Edward Dunphy, Ireland (Online Qualifier) – €47,800
10. Jarkko Suokas, Finland (PokerStars Qualifier) – €39,840

HOW THE FINAL DAY UNFOLDED

Day 4 of the Main Event unpaused play on the final table bubble (ten players remaining), and it took over an hour to determine who would miss the line-up in front of the TV table. Leading for the start was Danilo Donnini, fresh from three top-ten finishes at the first EPT of the year.

Oliver Gayko, on what he described as “the biggest poker holiday of my life” had a successful start to the final day, doubling through Edward Dunphy just before Jarkko Suokas exited on that bubble.

For every win in poker, there must be a loss, however, and Dunphy never recovered, exiting in 9th place despite a dramatic triple-up (from 4BB to just short) and a valiant attempt to check-raise himself back into contention.

Matthew Twomey was the next to the rail, losing an all-in preflop flip against Vasyl Palandiuk, who had by this time climbed from fourth in chips to challenging for the lead.

Eventual winner Nedelcu was the next player to benefit from a big double-up, finding jacks in the cut-off and Isaac Barker with nines in the small blind. One three-bet shove and call (from Nedelcu) later, and the Romanian pro (known as “Narcisus90” to his PokerStars opponents) was suddenly a threat to Donnini’s chip lead. Barker, meanwhile, exited soon after – but doubled his live tournament earnings with 7th place’s €80,800.

Francesco Gisolfi, who won a Silver Pass on PokerStars and turned it into an Irish Open seat, had failed to make headway on the final table, and found his stack in the danger zone six-handed. He moved all in preflop with ace-jack, only to be looked up by Donnini with a suited king-queen; the deck favoured the chip leader and Gisolfi picked up €105,070 in prize money.

Five-handed, the last remaining finalists decided to do an ICM chop leaving just over €70,000 extra – plus the trophy – reserved for the winner. This was no nominal prize; play continued with Donnini and Nedelcu vying for the chip lead. Though Daryl McAleenan found two double up spots (keeping the Irish rail’s hopes alive), he was eliminated by Nedelcu’s pocket queens in the same hand as Gayko (5th for €285,380).

Finishing in third was Vasyl Palandiuk, a Ukrainian who has called Italy home for the last 15 years. He picked up both €255,190 and the PokerStars Live League points he has been chasing.

Heads up, Nedelcu held almost a four-to-one chip lead, and after an early pot-scoop, found his opponent all in preflop with king-six, behind to his ace-deuce. He stayed ahead to win the trophy, title and €336,790 in prize money, while Donnini took home €257,660.

Speaking to PokerNews, Nedelcu explained his reasoning behind making a deal: “I didn’t feel pressure because of the money, but because of the blinds. It goes very big and the variance is higher. It’s better like this.”

On how it felt to win the Irish Open Main Event, he said, “It’s amazing. It’s something so, so special that I can’t describe it.”

RECENT IRISH OPEN MAIN EVENT HISTORY

2026: 5,003 entries, €4,852,910 prize pool, Narcis Nedelcu for €336,790
2025: 4,562 entries, €4,447,950 prize pool, Simon Wilson for €600,000
2024: 3,233 entries, €3,152,175 prize pool, Tero Laurila for €292,685
2023: 2,491 entries, €2,428,725 prize pool, David Docherty for €365,000
2022: 2,040 entries, €1,989,000 prize pool, Steve O’Dwyer for €318,700

SAMI AGEL VICTORIOUS IN SUPERSIZED MINI IRISH OPEN

It’s rare that an event with a buy-in of €250 builds a prize pool of over €1.5 million; on Monday Sami Agel from Luxembourg experienced what it’s like to win when it happens. A heads up deal saw him claim the trophy and €150,855 for first place, while runner up David Penly (with whom he did a deal) took home €117,195.

A total of 7,349 entries over 14 starting flights made this the biggest Mini Irish Open ever seen, paying all 363 Day 2 players.

In another corner of the cavernous Royal Dublin Society (which hosted ten side events on the final day), Irish Open Ambassador Karen Muir won the 49-entry €1,150 Ladies High Roller Championship for €16,200.

Full side event results
Side event info, galleries and blogs (click any event in the schedule).

HISTORY OF THE IRISH OPEN

The Irish Open has been a must-visit stop on any poker player’s travel list for decades. 

It’s not just the incredible Dublin location or the festive community spirit that makes it essential on the international poker calendar, however. This is an event steeped in history.

The festival is the longest-running no limit hold’em tournament outside of Las Vegas, with a history dating back more than 43 years. It firmly established itself on the world stage in 1984, when 25 American players–including the legends Stu Ungar, Chip Reese and Doyle Brunson–made the journey to Dublin. That tournament was televised, the interest was huge, and the Irish Open hasn’t slowed down since.

There’s only one Simon Wilson

Last year’s champ was local lad Simon Wilson, who defeated 4,562 entries and won a staggering €600,000 in the €1,150 Main Event. All week, we’d been hearing how Wilson was poised to be the next great Irish poker talent, and boy, did he prove everyone right, as well as producing one of the all-time great final table rails.

CHECK OUT IRISH OPEN 2025 COVERAGE HERE

Steve O’Dwyer (who has lived in Dublin for the past 12 years) and PokerStars commentator Griffin Benger have also taken down the Main Event over the years. O’Dwyer beat a field of 2,040 entries in his home city to win the first-place prize of €318,700 in 2022.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2025 – Simon Wilson – €600,000
2024 – Tero Laurila – €292,685
2023 – David Docherty – €365,000
2022 – Steve O’ Dwyer – €318,700
2020 – Pablo Silva – €462,100
2019 – Weijie Zheng – €300,000
2018 – Ryan Mandara – €250,000
2017 – Griffin Benger – €200,000
2016 – Dan Wilson – €150,000
2015 – Ioannis Triantafyllakis – €200,000
2014 – Patrick Clarke – €200,000
2013 – Ian Simpson – €265,000
2012 – Kevin Vandersmissen – €420,000
2011 – Niall Smyth – €550,000
2010 – James Mitchell – €600,000
2009 – Christer Johansson – €600,000
2008 – Neil Channing – €801,000

IRISH OPEN DOCUMENTARY

You’ve seen where the magic happens, now see HOW it happens! The Irish Open has released its first-ever documentary with a fly-on-the-wall look at the enormous preparation that goes into creating the festival.

Very few of the 4,300 players who attend the Irish Open will have any idea just how huge an operation it is to turn the historic Royal Dublin Society into a premium poker festival venue. Scores of people are involved – from riggers, techies, sparkies and set builders, to tournament directors, cashiers and dealers.

Footage captured during the build-up to the 2025 festival shows the immensity of the task. The logistics involved are mind-boggling. Over the course of just three days, hundreds of pallets, laden with equipment, are wheeled into the RDS: thousands of chairs, 280 tables and dozens of banners. 320 square metres of LED displays – the largest LED show ever installed at an Irish event – including a 20m long LED wall. Miles of internet and electricity cables. Millions of chips sorted and a completely secure cashier area constructed from scratch.

And, finally, The Craic Den is created – the beating heart of the Irish Open festival where players can relax, share bad beat stories and enjoy hours of live entertainment, games and competitions.

Read more about the documentary here.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2025

SPRAGGY INTRODUCED HIM TO POKER. NOW HE'S BROUGHT HIM HOME TO DUBLIN.
When Bernard “Benny” Norris broke his foot and wrist in a moped accident four years ago, he had no idea the crash (and a guy called Spraggy) would steer him onto a new path. 

HASHTAG UNITED FOUNDER SPENCER FC’S ALL IN FOR A NEW GROUND
Spencer Carmichael-Brown usually spends his Saturdays on the sidelines, commentating on the action and cheering for goals. But this Saturday was different, and the founder of the football club Hashtag United was hoping to impact his team in a unique way: By playing a poker tournament with a top prize of €600,000.

HALLAERT CELEBRATES AMBASSADOR ANNIVERSARY WITH HIGH ROLLER WIN

SKINNER SLAYS LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

INSANE WIN IN IRISH OPEN LOTTO