Fintan Gavin is a professional poker player and tournament organizer who has played a pivotal role in shaping the poker landscape of Ireland. He is the founder and CEO of the Irish Poker Tour—the second-largest poker series in Ireland, behind only the Irish Poker Open.
In this report on poker industry visionaries, we delve into the journey of Fintan Gavin, who has nurtured the Irish poker scene with his innovative ideas and contributions.
Fintan Gavin: Early Life and Introduction to Poker
In an interview with CardPlayer Lifestyle, Gavin revealed that he began playing poker at the age of 10 with his older brother and friends. He initially played 5-Card Draw and 7-Card Stud before discovering Texas Hold’em in the late 1990s.
Before pursuing a career in poker, Gavin ran a few small retail businesses and transport in the 2000s. His passion for poker eventually led him to found the Irish Poker Tour (IPT) in 2006, and the rest is history. The Irish Poker Tour has since become one of the leading poker series in Ireland, offering low buy-in events with massive guarantees. Before founding the tour, Gavin had run major poker tournaments and festivals all over Ireland and internationally and has used his years of experience to develop a player friendly tour – IPT, which continues to break records.
Gavin is also a well-known poker player with over $1.8 million live cashes. His reputation led to roles with PokerStars and the UKIPT, and eventually to poker commentary gigs at King’s Resort.
Fintan Gavin: Poker Career Highlights and Winnings
Gavin’s first recorded live cash came in 2004, when he finished 5th in the Grosvenor UK Open €100 PLO event for $4,314. The following year, he placed 3rd in the IPO €100 NLH, pocketing $4,281. In 2007, he claimed back-to-back victories in low buy-in tournaments, starting with a win at the Eglinton Recurring Tournaments €100 NLH for $1,504, followed by wins in €90 and €30 buy-in events.
While he continued dominating low stake events, his breakthrough came in 2008 when he finished runner-up in the EPT Barcelona €8,250 Main Event, earning a life-changing $1,129,750. Later that year, he won the Irish Poker Championship Tour €350 Main Event for $9,996.
In 2011, Gavin added another trophy to his collection, winning the PokerStars UKIPT Edinburgh €550 Main Event for $99,859. He followed that up with a win in the 2017 PokerStars Megastack €170 NLH for $10,655. In 2018, he triumphed again in the same event, this time in Ulster Gormanstown, earning $22,851.
In recent years, Gavin has continued to thrive in mid-stakes tournaments, winning five such events and earning over $20,000 in total. His most notable recent cash came in 2025, when he finished 5th in the Thermal PLO Festival Main Event for $31,754.
As of April 2025, Fintan Gavin has accumulated lifetime poker earnings of $1.8 million, ranking him among the top 15 on Ireland’s all-time money list.
The Birth and Evolution of the Irish Poker Tour
Although the Irish Poker Tour’s new format was launched during Pandemic 2021, the tour itself dates back to 2006, when Gavin originally founded it. In its earliest days, the tour helped lay the foundation for a more organized and welcoming poker scene in Ireland, well before the recent explosion in popularity.
After years of growth, a pause during the pandemic, and Gavin’s journey of sobriety and renewal in 2020, the tour returned stronger and more focused than ever. What began as a pioneering grassroots project has now evolved into a full-scale operation with nationwide reach and international aspirations.
Bringing Poker to the People
At the core of the Irish Poker Tour is Gavin’s dedication to giving enthusiasts access to quality poker. The tour offers low buy-in, high-guarantee events with a level of professionalism normally reserved for elite tournaments. From €50 rebuys to €3,000 championship events, the emphasis remains on fair play, transparency, and an outstanding player experience.
Unlike one-off festivals like the Irish Open, the Irish Poker Tour runs year-round and travels to towns and cities across Ireland. Gavin and his team—supported by partners like PaddyPower and a strong staff of dedicated professionals—have built an operation that is equal parts community-focused and commercially sustainable.
Future of Irish Poker Tour
The Irish Poker Tour’s consistent growth, well-structed events, and increasingly ambitious guarantees will probably expand it further, possibly beyond Irish borders. Still, Gavin’s vision remains grounded: bringing the game he loves to players where they are, in a format they can afford, without sacrificing quality.
Through his efforts, Fintan Gavin has not only built a successful poker tour, but he’s also built a community, a legacy, and a lasting contribution to Irish poker that shows no signs of slowing down.
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