Dublin is playing host to Ireland's first €1 million poker tournament during its annual Festival of Poker later this year.

The 25th Irish Open poker competition will charge €3,000 entry plus €200 registration fee to take part in the main event which is expected to draw big name players from across the world.

The historic four-day event, organised by Paddypowerpoker in association with Liam Flood and the Merrion Casino Club, will be held at the Jurys Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin, from April 14th with the final table sitting down on April 17th.

Players can pay €10 to take part in the online qualification rounds on paddypowerpoker.com. The online player who then places the highest in the Irish Open tournament will win a $12,500 package to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in August.

A Spokesman for Paddy Power said: "Forget the Ryder Cup, this is going to be the biggest, baddest and best sporting event in Ireland this year. It's not often the man on the street gets a chance to put his money where his mouth is against the best in the world, especially not when there's a million euro up for grabs.

"It'll be a nice little Easter nest egg for somebody and I for one can't wait to watch the best of the best put each other to the sword."

The Irish Open is Europe's oldest No limit Texas Hold ‘Em tournament and is the main event of Dublin's Festival of Poker. The tournament was started by Irish bookmaker Terry Rogers and his friend Liam Flood in 1981.