Some of poker’s most influential and well known stars from the US and across Europe have confirmed their participation in the 26th Irish Poker Open being held at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin over Easter weekend, 6-9 April 2007.

Mike Sexton, host of the World Poker Tour television series, World Series of Poker bracelet holder and all-round ambassador for the game will play the main event as will Academy Award nominated actress Jennifer Tilly and her Dublin-born partner Phil Laak.

Laak, also know as ‘the Unabomer’, was predictably excitable about his prospects of playing in the Irish Open. “The Irish Open, wow. Very cool. Very cool indeed,” he enthused. “Fully Genius sir. Fully genius.”

WSOP bracelet holder and Laak sidekick, ‘The Magician’ Antonio Esfandiari, is also playing the main event and will be joined by fellow countrymen Chad Brown (TV presenter and actor) and World Poker Association head Jesse Jones.

Between them these six world-class players have earned almost $10 million in tournament poker payouts.

The charismatic Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott who has won over $4 million in tournament play is one of dozens of top European players attending the event. This list also includes Roland De Wolfe who has won both World and European Poker Tour titles

Other players who have registered for the event to date include: Donnacha O’Dea, Padraig Parkinson, Andy Black, Roy ‘the Boy’ Brindley, ‘Mad’ Marty Wilson, Dave Colclough, Lee Nelson, Jan Molby, Michael Greco, Barny Boatman, Scott Gray, Ivo Donev, Rolf Slotboom, and Julian Gardner.

Registrations have been pouring in from all over the world and with well over half the 700 seats taken the event is on track to be the biggest poker tournament ever held in Europe.