600,000 Euros Poker Win for Student in Ireland PokerStars Event

_{Simon Wilson, a 22-year-old student from Ashbourne, County Meath, celebrates his €600,000 win at the 2025 Irish Poker Open, Dublin. (Image: Danny Maxwell Photography)}

Most students struggled to buy a curry at the weekend, or at least they did in my day, when we had to eat all we could for 99p at the newly opened Pizza Hut chain.

For one lucky student from Ireland, it could be smoked salmon and caviar washed down with some prosecco following a giant win at Ireland’s largest-ever poker tournament.

22-year-old Simon Wilson, a student from Ashbourne in County Meath, beat thousands of poker players to win Ireland’s largest-ever poker tournament and secure a giant prize of €600,000. 

Wilson Beat Massive Field of Poker Players 

Incredibly, the rugby-playing poker player beat a field of 4,562 entrants who paid a buy-in fee of 1,150 euros each, generating the massive pool of 4,447,950 euros.

Wilson, who is aptly studying economics and business at Trinity University, said, "It’s really special. We come every year, thousands of people enter, it's always just a pipe dream, you know.

The first-place prize is incredible, but the memory of winning this tournament... it's second to none. It’s the biggest achievement I've had, and I'm going to remember this day forever."

Irish Eyes Were Smiling and Beer Was Thrown

The Irish like a sing song, and there was plenty of that at the event for Wilson from family and friends who sang and chanted their support for the maverick poker player.   

_{Simon’s victory means ramen nights could be off the menu. (Image: Danny Maxwell Photography)} 

The 2025 Irish Poker Open marked its 45th year. Sponsored by PokerStars and Paddy Power, it is the second-longest-running poker event in the world. Players from around the globe descended on Dublin, Ireland, for the weeklong tournament held April 10–21.

There were extraordinary scenes following Wilson’s win, with fans, friends and family surrounding the Irishman and others throwing beer in the air. His opponent Roberto Ruggeri took defeat gracefully after a crowd-thrilling finale that saw Wilson crowned as the Irish Poker Stars Champion 2025.

Wilson said, “I don't even really believe it. It's been an incredible couple of days. A lot of ups and downs, but it all came together for me in the end.

“My supporters came from all over – from home, school, rugby, everything, and all the Irish poker community. I really felt them behind me even when things weren't going my way. It’s the main event. It's why we all travel here and compete every year. The trophy is coming home to Ashbourne.”