'It's Something So, So Special': Narcis Nedelcu Crowned Champion in Record-Breaking Irish Open Main Event

Narcis Nedelcu's record-breaking Irish Open Main Event win — 'something so, so special' in his own words — reflects the continued growth of European live poker's flagship spring festival. The Irish Open's 2026 edition setting records for entries signals that live poker's post-pandemic recovery in Europe isn't a temporary bounce: players are committing to the festival calendar in volumes that exceed pre-pandemic baselines. For players targeting the European live circuit, the online satellite pathway runs primarily through PokerStars (EPT/WPTE feeder events for Irish Open access) and GGPoker (WSOP Circuit Europe satellites). Both platforms offer strong rakeback for players grinding their way to live festival buy-ins online. Our room reviews cover satellite structures, and the rakeback calculator models the online grind ROI when buy-ins include ongoing rakeback.