Pokerevents.ie in conjunction with sponsor PartyPoker.com has announced details of the Irish Poker Championship 2008, to be held at the Radisson Hotel & Spa, Galway, Ireland, from Jan 3 to Jan 6, 2008. This is the first major tournament sponsorship in Ireland by PartyPoker.com and is Europe's first major tournament of 2008.
Up to 400 players are expected to ante-up the €2,000 buy-in (9 percent withheld). The tournament will be recorded for six hour-long broadcasts on RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster, and will be distributed internationally. Players expect to attend include recent WSOP bracelet winner Ciaran O'Leary, Padraig Parkinson, Robert Williamson III and Bruno Fitoussi. 
The schedule for the event is:
Thursday 3rd January 2008
- Super Satellite – €200 + €20
Friday 4th January 2008
- Main Event Day 1 – €2,000 (9 percent withheld) no limit hold'em freezeout
Saturday 5th January 2008
- Main Event Day 2 – €2,000
- Supporting Event – €800 + €80 no limit hold'em freezeout
Sunday 6th January 2008
- Main Event Day 3 – €2,000
- Supporting Event – €400 + €40 no limit hold'em freezeout
The event is in its third year and organizers Pokerevents.ie say it is going from strength to strength. "This great value festival of poker attracts all levels of player from professional, to intermediate, to novice. It offers a deep-stacked, slow-structure game as well as an array of attractive side events. It is great to have a big sponsor on board."
"The venue is great, overlooking Galway Bay, and is sure to make for a fantastic weekend of quality poker and fun in a unique Irish atmosphere. Galway is easily accessible by road, rail, and air and has a unique culture of arts, music, literature, history, and 'craic' and is perfectly suited as a location for Europe's most alluring boutique poker festival."
A PartyPoker.com spokesman said "We're very pleased to sponsor this well established, highly regarded tournament and Ireland is a great country for poker with an amazing pedigree. "
Over 500 qualifying satellites are being held in pubs and clubs across Ireland with dozens more starting online from PartyPoker in the near future. Further details can be found at www.partypokeripc.com.
