PaddyPower launches new loyalty bonus

To qualify for the free ticket players must earn 750,000 Paddy Points by playing on paddypowerpoker.com. Players earning this number of points will be operating from the top tier of the site's C*A*S*H* VIP programme and will be entitled to many other benefits including up to $600 in monthly cash bonuses.

"The Irish Open is the longest running and most prestigious poker tournament in Europe," enthuses Paddy Power, Communications Manager for paddypowerpoker.com.

"In 2007 the queues were out the door and tickets were like gold dust. It's going to be bigger, better and more popular again next year so we are giving our online players the chance to secure their tickets by simply playing on the site."

Power is also delighted to be offering the site's players the chance to prove themselves against the best in the world. "We think we have the players on our site capable of winning the Irish Open. In the last two years Pat O'Callaghan and Thomas Finneran have come close, fingers crossed one of our lads will take it down this year."

As well as entry through VIP Go Free, players can register directly on Irishpokeropen.com or qualify from paddypowerpoker.com's full schedule of online qualifiers. Daily feeders and fortnightly Grand Final satellites are already underway offering tickets and expenses worth $8.500.

The Irish Open will take place in the Citywest Hotel, Ireland's premier Conference, Leisure and Golf Resort Conference, during Easter Week, 19th - 24th March 2008.