January has been and gone and now the month of February has started and what better way to get the month off to a great start by qualifying for the 2012 Irish Open Main Event on Betfred Poker.

The Irish Open is steeped in history and is the longest-running tournament in the world once you discount the World Series of Poker. It first started running in 1980 when it was won by Colette Doherty and since then some of poker’s most recognisable names and faces have lifted the coveted trophy, including Noel Furlong, Liam Flood, Joe Beevers, Marty Smyth and Neil Channing.

Last year 615 poker players piled into the Burlington Hotel in Dublin creating a prize pool of €1,968,000 which was shared out amongst the top 65 finishers. The eventual winner was local player Niall Smyth who bested a final table that was the home to John Eames and Surinder Sunar amongst others to walk away with the €550,000 first place prize.

This year’s €3,500 Main Event returns to the Burlington Hotel and promises to be bigger and better than ever. The feature tournament runs between April 6-9 and thanks to Betfred Poker you could be heading to the Emerald Isle to compete for a potentially life-changing sum of money.

Sit ‘n’ go and multi-table tournament satellites are now in the Betfred Poker lobby that eventually award a €4,600 package to the 2012 Irish Open. Each package consists of:

• The €3,200+€300 buy-in to the Irish Open Main Event
• €395 for five nights accommodation at the Burlington Hotel
• €50 for handling fees
• €655 for flights and spending money