paddypowerpoker.com, in association with Winmedia International Ltd, has announced the first UK screening of the 26th Irish Poker Open - Europe’s largest and longest running poker tournament -on Challenge TV in the UK this weekend.

The event, held over Easter weekend in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, has already been broadcast on Irish TV and doubled its expected viewing figures.

Six one-hour programmes will be broadcast on Challenge TV on:

Friday 20 April, Saturday 21 April, and Sunday 22 April at 11pm
Friday 27 April, Saturday 28 April and Sunday 29 April at 11pm

Challenge TV can be found in the UK on Virgin TV 152, SKY 124 and in Ireland on Sky 124.

The shows is presented Michelle Gillick and commentary will be handled by the legendary ‘voice of poker’ Jesse May along with a host of international poker stars such as Phil Laak, Jennifer Tilly and Padraig Parkinson.

This year’s event, the second longest running poker tournament in the world and one of the most prestigious, doubled in size with a €2.4 million prize pool (€650,000 for the winner).

A record 708 players paid €3,300 (+€200 reg) to play over Easter Weekend 2007 against the best players in the world.

Last year, Dublin accountant Vincent Melinn won the €350,000 first prize in only his second ever live tournament and the final table was broadcast live across Europe which was a world’s first