The 2025 Irish Poker Open just made history. With 4,562 entries, the €1,150 buy-in main event became the largest in the tournament’s long run, easily topping the 2024 record of 3,233. The prize pool climbed to $5,119,590—far above the promised €2.5 million guarantee.
Good to know
- The 2025 Irish Poker Open drew 4,562 entries, smashing last year’s record by over 1,300 players.
- The €1,150 main event generated a total prize pool of $5.1 million, nearly doubling the €2.5 million guarantee.
- Simon Wilson won the event for €600,000, marking his biggest career payday.
The final showdown played out inside the Royal Dublin Society after five opening flights and three more days of intense poker. In the end, it was Simon Wilson from Ashbourne, near Dublin, who emerged as the winner. He took home €600,000 ($684,000 USD), his biggest win so far.
Wilson shared his excitement after the final hand on the PokerStars live stream. “It’s really special. We come every year, and thousands of people enter. It’s always just a pipe dream,” he said.
He added, “Of course the first-place prize is incredible, but the memory of winning this tournament is second to none. Biggest achievement I’ve had, and I’m going to remember this day forever.”
Wilson now boasts over $1.2 million in live tournament cashes. Just days before winning the main event, he placed fifth in a €10,000 buy-in side event for $48,792. His previous top score came from the 2023 WSOP Online Main Event, where he finished ninth for $251,073.
A total of 671 players made it into the money. Among those deep in the event were several well-known names in the poker world. Soheb Porbandarwala (25th), Carl Shaw (21st), and 2013 Irish Open champion Ian Simpson (20th) all posted strong finishes. Terrance Reid, a poker journalist, made it to 11th place, just shy of the final table.
The Irish Poker Open started back in 1980 and continues to grow. The 2025 edition raised the bar yet again—not just with numbers, but with stories like Wilson’s.
For those preparing for the summer poker season, don’t forget to check out Kenny Hallaert’s annual spreadsheet. It’s become a trusted guide for tracking every tournament running around the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
Final Table Results 2025 Irish Poker Open Main Event
| Result | Player | Prize |
| 1 | Simon Wilson | $684,000 |
| 2 | Umberto Ruggeri | $360,240 |
| 3 | Ignotas Kirsis | $256,500 |
| 4 | Georgios Skarparis | $193,800 |
| 5 | Michel Karim | $148,200 |
| 6 | Brandon Harris | $114,000 |
| 7 | Panteleimon Pontos | $88,350 |
| 8 | Robert Fluereci | $67,294 |
| 9 | Joe O’Donaill | $52,212 |
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