PokerStars Ambassadors Face Off in the Shamrock Showdown at the 2025 Irish Open

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Feb 25, 2025 7 min read Last updated May 06, 2025

The 2025 Irish Open is only weeks away, with the first eagerly anticipated event shuffling up and dealing at noon on April 10. Expect a star-studded field, including eight PokerStars ambassadors, to be right into the thick of the action in the €1,150 buy-in Mystery Bounty. Not only does that event have a €1 million guarantee on its prize pool, but it is the first chance for PokerStars ambassadors to earn points for their respective teams in the Shamrock Showdown.

PokerStars describes the Shamrock Showdown as "a thrilling mix of fun, fierce competition, and outrageous challenges." A leaderboard battle is the main focus of the Shamrock Showdown. It sees teams captained by PokerStars Team Pros, Irish Open ambassadors, poker personalities, and PokerStars players earn leaderboard points from select Irish Open tournaments.

Those teams will also engage in some off-the-felt challenges, although PokerStars is keeping these activities close to its chest.

Fintan Hand, Benjamin Spragg, Marle Spragg, Caitlin Comeskey, Parker Talbot, Sebastian Huber, and Lasse Jagd Lauritsen will head the teams. Felix Schneiders will also compete as the captain of Team GRND. Each team consists of:

• A Team Captain
• An Irish Open Ambassador
• Poker personalities handpicked by the captains
• A lucky player who win a Special Edition Emerald Pass

Team captains are giving away special edition Emerald Passes worth $2,500 +10% added value on their streaming and social media channels, so now is the time to follow them if you do not already.

Schneiders, Huber, and Lauritsen have dished out their Emerald Passes, meaning five more are waiting to be won. Be one of the lucky winners, and you'll receive:

• €1,150 Irish Open Main Event entry
• €350 Irish Open side event entry
• €250 Mini Irish Open entry courtesy of the Irish Open
• Remaining value credited as expenses
• Limited edition merchandise
• Live event liaison support & exclusive Irish Open activities

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2025 Irish Open Full Schedule

The 2025 Irish Open runs from April 10 through April 21, four days longer than in 2024. This extension was required to accommodate additional events at the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

Thanks to partnering with Paddy Power Poker and PokerStars, the 2025 Irish Open Main Event sees its guarantee more than doubled compared to last year. In 2024, the guarantee was €1 million, but an incredible 3,233 entrants resulted in a €3,152,175 prize pool. The 2025 edition boasts €2.5 million as a guarantee, but you should expect that sum to get blown out of the water.

Finland's Tero Laurila is the reigning Irish Open Main Event champion. The Finn got his hands on €292,735 after a three-way deal involving Ninh Van Hiep (€335,636) and Mark Johnston (€232,685).

Irish Open satellites are running right now at Paddy Power Poker and, of course, PokerStars. You have a choice of satellites at PokerStars. There is a €109 Irish Open Main Event Qualifier that awards €1,150 seats only, or a €109 satellite with €1,500 packages guaranteed. Those packages include a €1,150 Main Event seat and €350 toward expenses.

Win your way into the 2025 Irish Open and see for yourself why the long-running festival just won a Global Poker Award for the Best Stand-Alone Poker Festival.

Matthew Pitt hails from Leeds, West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and has worked in the poker industry since 2008, and worked for PokerNews since 2010. In September 2010, he became the editor of PokerNews. Matthew stepped away from live reporting duties in 2015, and now concentrates on his role of Senior Editor for the PokerNews.

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• Tags Benjamin Spragg Caitlin Comeskey Felix Schneiders Fintan Hand Lasse Jagd Lauritsen Mark Johnston Marle Spragg Parker Talbot PokerStars Sebastian Huber Team GRND The Hendon Mob Irish Open Turbo Satellite
• Related Tournaments Irish Open
• Related Players Parker TalbotBenjamin SpraggMarle SpraggFelix SchneidersFintan HandCaitlin Comeskey