Picture your dream holiday. 

Are you seeing pristine beaches, beautiful blue waters, and the hot sun beaming down while you sip a cold beverage?

Or are you seeing yourself deep in a prestigious poker tournament, outwitting your opponents, riding the rush as you battle towards big-money prizes?

Combine those two scenarios and you’ve got yourself perfection – and that’s exactly what the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) is offering players in 2024.

Sun, sea, sand and poker await you in Malaga this June as the electrifying atmosphere of the UKIPT returns to Spain for a special summer holiday stop. The tour will join forces with the always-incredible Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) to create a must-visit event for players in the UK, Ireland, Spain, and around the world. 

Elegant yet affordable, exotic yet familiar, the Costa del Sol is the ideal location for a poker getaway. Plus, the Euros kick off over the final few days of the stop, making this an event that can’t be missed.

But that’s not the only stop being announced. Huge UKIPT events in London and Nottingham are also on the calendar and you won’t want to miss any of them.

Satellites for UKIPT stops will run regularly online, plus you can win your way to every event through Power Path – the qualification route designed to get more recreational players to live events.

Moreover, PokerStars has also announced a leader board running throughout the year, with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Keep reading for more details on that.

UKIPT 2024 SCHEDULE

MALAGA (UKIPT/ESPT) – JUNE 10-16, 2024

LONDON – AUGUST 3-11, 2024

NOTTINGHAM – NOVEMBER 8-18, 2024

UKIPT and ESPT Malaga

Dates: June 10-16, 2024
Venue: The Gran Madrid | Casino Torrequebrada

The introduction of UKIPT and ESPT Malaga follows the footsteps of the successful UKIPT Marbella which took place from 2013 to 2018 – an event that became a hugely popular stop with recreational players on both the ESPT and UKIPT schedule. 

The ESPT & UKIPT Malaga event will take place from June 10-16, at The Gran Madrid | Casino Torrequebrada in the heart of the Costa Del Sol in the beautiful Municipality of Benalmádena, an incredibly popular and accessible location for poker players and holidaymakers, just 2.5 hours from the UK. 

To celebrate the joining of forces, PokerStars will be awarding 10 Malaga Main Event Seats at the Irish Open this week as the action kicks off in Dublin, giving players packages and the opportunity to head out to Spain to join the fun and experience UKIPT ESPT Malaga.

Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer to the game, this festival promises something for everyone. And if you’re worried about cost, don’t be. Accommodation near the venue is plentiful and affordable, and the festival schedule will ensure everyone can join in without breaking the bank. 

UKIPT LONDON

Dates: August 3-11, 2024
Venue: The Hippodrome Casino

PokerStars players can also play closer to home with the return of UKIPT London from August 3-11 at The Hippodrome Casino, sure to guarantee nine days of exhilarating poker action. 

Newcastle’s Dylan Bradley bulldozed his way to victory in this event back in October, leaving the Big Smoke £71,650 better off.

UKIPT NOTTINGHAM

Dates: November 8-18, 2024
Venue: Dusk till Dawn Poker Club

Returning once again to the iconic Dusk till Dawn Poker Club, the 2024 UKIPT Nottingham stop will take place from November 8-18, guaranteeing a cool £1M Main Event prize pool.

Vincent Meli emerged victorious as Nottingham champion back in November, collecting the shiny trophy and a whopping £159,325.

UKIPT LEADER BOARD

PokerStars are thrilled to bring back the UKIPT Leader Board for 2024, encompassing all events including the Irish Poker Open, UKIPT ESPT Malaga, UKIPT London and UKIPT Nottingham.

The leader board is a points-based system, whereby every player who cashes in an eligible event (all standard Multi-Table Tournaments with a buy in over £200/€200, excluding satellites) will receive points based on their finishing position and number of event entries. Prizes will be awarded to the top three players on this leader board:

• 1st Prize: a £15,000 UKIPT 2025 Package (£11,000 in 2025 live event credits plus £4,000 cash expenses)
• 2nd Prize: £2,200 in 2025 live event credits
• 3rd Prize: £1,100 in 2025 live event credits

David Docherty topped the leader board in 2023, getting his tour off to a flyer by winning the Irish Open. Best of luck to everyone hoping to follow in his footsteps this year!

ABOUT THE UKIPT

The UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT) holds a special place in the hearts of countless European poker players. 

For some, it provided a first foray into the world of live poker, a training ground on which they could apply the skills they’d developed from playing online before moving up to play on the European Poker Tour (EPT).

For others–particularly those in the UK–the UKIPT was the reason they discovered poker in the first place. With events broadcasted on Channel 4, it not only introduced an emerging crop of poker talent to the game but lit the flame for the poker dream:

On the UKIPT, you could play on the feature table, end up on television, AND win big.

The tour has helped countless players to hone their craft before moving up in stakes. 

Since its introduction in 2009, the tour has seen plenty of big-name winners, including:

• Fintan Hand – £44,200 (Edinburgh, October 2023)
• Benjamin Spragg – £69,120 (Brighton, September 2023)
• Martin Jacobson – £232,300 (London, October 2022)
• Niall Farrell – €54,940 (Dublin, May 2022)
• Ludovic Geilich – €130,000 (Malaga, June 2013)
• Sergio Aido – €144,555 (London, March 2013)
• Benny Spindler – £750,000 (London, October 2011)
• Max Silver – €72,000 (Dublin, September 2010)
• Padraig Parkinson – €125,000 (Galway, December 2009)

FURTHER READING:

UKIPT OFFICIAL SITE

NIALL FARRELL ON THE RETURN OF THE UKIPT: “IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE IT BACK”

Back to Top