The Unibet Open has announced the first stop of 2020 with a five-day festival in Dublin next February.
This will be Unibet Open’s third visit to the Irish capital – following a record-breaking event in 2018 and the tour’s debut there in 2011. Unibet Open Dublin, which takes place at the Bonnington Hotel, kicks off on February 26, with the €250,000 guarantee Main Event starting on February 27.
The Main Event features a €1,000 + €100 buy-in and there will be three start flights in total – Day 1a, Day 1b and a Day 1c turbo. All players receive a 30,000 starting stack and have a single re-entry option into Day 1c.
Ha’penny Bridge Dublin
As well as the flagship Main Event, other highlights of the festival will include the invitational Unibet Tag Team Championship and Unibet Battle Royale tournament. The schedule also features a two-day €2,200 High Roller starting February 26 with a single re-entry option. Other tournaments on offer include the #QueenRules Ladies Event, Turbo, Hyperturbo and Flip tournaments, a Pot Limit Omaha event, a SuperStack tourney, Progressive Knockout and the popular Unibet Community Freeroll. There is also a new €100 + €10 event on the schedule called the Mini ME which will mirror the Main Event giving players a generous 30,000 starting stack.
How to Qualify Online
There will be plenty of opportunities for players to qualify for the Unibet Open Dublin Main Event online. Satellites are already underway on Unibet Poker with €2,000 packages up for grabs that include the €1,100 Main Event buy-in, four nights’ accommodation at the beautifully-refurbished Bonnington Hotel for qualifier and guest plus €250 towards travel expenses. Feeder satellites start from as little as one cent with five packages guaranteed in the weekly €250 qualifier on Sundays.
All Unibet qualifiers will get a free dinner each night of the event, as well as must-have Unibet merchandise, the chance to mingle with Unibet Ambassadors and full access to the Welcome Drinks and Players Party.
The Bonnington Hotel, which has been fully refurbished to a very high standard, is an outstanding venue for the Unibet Open. Ideally located just 10 minutes’ drive from both the airport and city centre, the hotel boasts a ton of amenities including a gorgeous indoor swimming pool, well-equipped gym, spa, sauna, steam room and hot tub. The hotel is just 15 minutes’ walk from Croke Park – the third largest sports stadium in Europe.
Off the felt
Off the felt, there will be plenty of opportunities for players to have fun at Unibet Open Dublin. Unibet will be hosting a Welcome Drinks party at the start of the festival followed by the Unibet Players Party on the Saturday night.
Live Stream in Dublin
Unibet Ambassador David Vanderheyden and co-commentator Henry Kilbane will be hosting a live stream throughout the festival covering the Tag Team Championship, the Unibet Battle Royale and the flagship Main Event. The live stream can be found on Unibet Open website, Twitch, youtube and facebook.
Unibet Open Dublin history
The last Unibet Open in Dublin was held in 2018 and attracted more than 1,500 entries across the whole festival, with nearly €600,000 awarded in prize money. British player Paul Jux-Holderness defeated a 359-strong field in the Main Event to win a first prize of €74,900 with 47 players paid from the €359,000 prize pool. Jux-Holderness, who hails from Bournemouth, also finished third in the €2,200 High Roller for a further €8,860.
The first Unibet Open Dublin was in 2011 when English poker pro Paul Vas Nunes took down the Main Event for €105,300 after besting a field of 260 players. It was one of Nunes’ earliest recorded cashes and he has since won more than $1.7 million at live poker tournaments.
Dublin Poker Festival
In addition to the Unibet Open, Unibet is proud to announce that it will also be sponsoring the 2020 Dublin Poker Festival which takes place just before the Unibet Open in mid-February. The festival, which is also at the Bonnington Hotel, kicks off on February 13 with a packed schedule featuring nearly 40 events. Highlights of the 11-day festival include the €570 European Deepstack Main Event and €230 Amateur Championship of Poker. Satellites for both events will be running on Unibet Poker from early January. ACOP satellites start from as little as €2 with weekly qualifiers at 8pm on Tuesdays guaranteeing two €230 seats. The European Deepstack satellites start from €5 with weekly qualifiers at 8pm on Mondays offering two €570 seats guaranteed.
Unibet Open event manager Kasia Scanlon said: “We’re really looking forward to our return visit to Dublin in February. The last Unibet Open there – in 2018 – was just fantastic; it’s always an incredible atmosphere in Dublin with players having a great time, enjoying both the poker and the city’s legendary hospitality. Heading to Dublin is always very special for me because my very first event with Unibet was our debut festival there in 2011. We know next February’s Dublin stop is going to provide an amazing start to the 14th season of the Unibet Open.”
Unibet Open Tournament Director Glenn Doyle added: “This will be the first time I’ve been Unibet Open Tournament Director in my home city and I’m really looking forward to it. Obviously, I have a lot of experience when it comes to poker tournaments in Dublin and I can say without any hesitation that nothing beats the atmosphere here – the Irish love poker and they love ‘the craic’ so I know all our players are going to have a great time.”
Further 2020 Unibet Open stops will be announced in the New Year.
