WORLD POKER TOUR® CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR IN DUBLIN WITH WPT IRELAND

London – 30th December 2011 – World Poker Tour ® will be celebrating the New Year in Dublin this year as the main tour stops on the Emerald Isle for the very first time. The PKR.com WPT Ireland, featuring a €2,500 buy-in (10% withheld), will take place at the City West Hotel in Dublin from Thursday 5th January – Sunday 8th January 2012.

Many of poker’s top names will be in attendance including Team PKR Pros Jake Cody, Vladimir Geshkenbein, Scott Shelley, Sascha Walter, James Sudworth, Marc Bariller , Sofia Lövgren, WPT Champion Guillaume Darcourt and British Pro James Akenhead who will appear alongside some of Ireland’s most legendary players including Padraig Parkinson and father son team Donnacha "The Don" O'Dea and Eoghan O’Dea.

WPT Ireland will feature the ever popular Matt Savage tournament structure which has been well received across the poker world. In addition to this, the final table will be streamed live on the World Poker Tour website (www.wpt.com) on Sunday 8th January. With commentary provided by WPT European host Jesse May, live streaming allows viewers to experience the excitement of the final table and view hole cards with a minimum of delay. Streaming and live commentary starts at 16.30 (CET).

As well as being a major tour stop that will award a $25,500 seat for the WPT World Championship, the PKR.com WPT Ireland will also incorporate the popular Irish Poker Championships, formerly held in Galway in early January. The €750 IPC Event is part of a competitive series of side events that also features the Celtic Triple Chance Omaha Championship (Saturday 7th January, €220 + €30 Triple Chance) and the Irish Daily Star sponsored €250 Deepstack (Saturday 7th January, €220 + €30).

Away from the tournament area there is plenty of entertainment to amuse players and supporters alike. Legendary Irish sportsman Ken Doherty will be holding a pool tournament at the City West inviting players to play a frame with him for the chance to win a signed snooker cue. In addition, PKR will be hosting their own lounge where PKR players can relax away from the action and enjoy PKRs hospitality.

WPT Ireland would love to welcome media to cover the event with dedicated media rooms where you can keep abreast of all the action and also keep yourself entertained with a poker tournament especially for the media. On Friday 6 January, official sponsors PKR invite media to take part in a Sit & Go with the Team PKR Pros. There will be a bounty on Jake Cody and participants have the chance to win an electronic gadget.