Dublin Named Europe's Top Poker City

London has lost its crown as Europe's top poker city.

Dublin's selection of card rooms and professional tournaments has seen the city named as European Poker Capital 2008.

Bluff Europe awarded the title to London in 2007, after it staged the first ever World Series of Poker Europe event, but the English capital was unable to compete with its Irish counterpart this year.

The magazine noted that in addition to hosting major tournaments such as the Irish Open, Dublin also has plenty of facilities for amateur enthusiasts, with its card rooms and pub poker leagues offering lots of events with affordable buy-ins.

Philip Conneller, Bluff Europe's editor, said that Dublin's "fantastic poker scene" meant there was only ever going to be one winner of the title in 2008.

Liam Flood, the Irish professional who won the 2007 PartyPoker European Open, welcomed the news and described Dublin as one of the top places to enjoy a game of cards.

"It's because of the craic. There's a sense of community. We find that a few drinks after the game helps you relax, too," added Flood.