The Irish Open
2026
Tenpin Ireland's flagship international open comes to Dundonald International Ice Bowl, Belfast from 18–25 October 2026 — an EBF and IBF sanctioned singles mixed tournament with 8-game qualification and four final steps on Finals Day.
At a Glance
- Dates
- 18–25 October 2026
- Venue
- Dundonald International Ice Bowl, Belfast
- Sanctioning
- EBF Tournament and IBF Tournament — open to athletes from all zones
- Category
- Open
- Event
- Singles Mixed
- Qualification
- 8 games — 2 series of 4 games
- Re-entries
- 4 games — unlimited, subject to availability
- Squad capacity
- 36 athletes per squad
- Women’s handicap
- 8 pins per game (maximum scratch game 292)
- Ball regulations
- 78d hardness minimum
Qualification Squads & Fees
Sixteen qualification squads run from Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 October, each with 36 spots. A primary entry is 2 squads (8 games) — the cost is the total of the two squads you book.
| Squad | Day | Date | Time | Spots | Entry | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sunday | 18 Oct | 08.30 | 36 | €50 | — |
| 02 | Sunday | 18 Oct | 11.30 | 36 | €50 | — |
| 03 | Monday | 19 Oct | 19.30 | 36 | €55 | €55 |
| 04 | Tuesday | 20 Oct | 19.30 | 36 | €55 | €55 |
| 05 | Thursday | 22 Oct | 10.00 | 36 | €60 | €60 |
| 06 | Thursday | 22 Oct | 13.00 | 36 | €60 | €60 |
| 07 | Thursday | 22 Oct | 16.00 | 36 | €60 | €60 |
| 08 | Thursday | 22 Oct | 19.00 | 36 | €60 | €60 |
| 09 | Friday | 23 Oct | 10.00 | 36 | €65 | €65 |
| 10 | Friday | 23 Oct | 13.00 | 36 | €65 | €65 |
| 11 | Friday | 23 Oct | 16.00 | 36 | €65 | €65 |
| 12 | Friday | 23 Oct | 19.00 | 36 | €65 | €65 |
| 13 | Saturday | 24 Oct | 10.00 | 36 | €70 | €70 |
| 14 | Saturday | 24 Oct | 13.00 | 36 | €70 | €70 |
| 15 | Saturday | 24 Oct | 16.00 | 36 | €70 | €70 |
| 16 | Saturday | 24 Oct | 19.00 | 36 | €70 | €70 |
Primary entry (8 games, 2 squads) is the total cost of the 2 squads booked — for example, Squad 07 (€60) + Squad 14 (€70) = €130. Registration closes 20 minutes before squad times.
Finals Day — Sunday 25 October
The Irish Open concludes with four final steps on Sunday 25 October, with lane maintenance between each step.
Final Step 1
Top 36 schedule 10.00Final Step 2
Top 18 schedule 13.00Final Step 3
Top 8 schedule 15.00Final Step 4
Top 3 schedule 18.00Tournament Format
8-game qualification — two series of 4 games with unlimited 4-game re-entries — feeding four final steps, from the top 36 down to a stepladder final.
Qualifying Round8 games — 2 series of 4, with re-entries
Qualification is over 8 games — 2 series of 4 games. 4-game re-entries (unlimited, subject to availability) can be used to replace the lower of the initial two series, providing the re-entry score is higher than that series; if not, the initial series total is retained. The higher of the initial two series must be retained for the qualification total. Re-entry reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, with waiting lists made where necessary. Women’s bonus: 8 pins per game.
- 1
Final Step 1
Top 36 · 10.00The top 36 athletes after qualifying progress to Final Step 1, carrying 50% of their qualifying pinfall forward, and bowl a further 4 games. The top 18 on overall combined pinfall progress to Final Step 2. Women’s bonus: 8 pins per game.
- 2
Final Step 2
Top 18 · 13.00The 18 athletes contest a further 4 games, with the top 8 on overall combined pinfall progressing to Final Step 3. Women’s bonus: 8 pins per game.
- 3
Final Step 3
Top 8 · 15.00The top 8 compete in a 7-game round robin to determine the top 3 stepladder finalists. Bonus points: win 30, draw 15, loss 0. The 3 athletes with the largest overall combined pinfall and bonus total following the position round match are seeded 1 to 3. Women’s bonus: 8 pins per game.
- 4
Final Step 4
Top 3 · 18.00The top 3 athletes contest a stepladder final. Seed 3 plays Seed 2 in a one-game semi-final; the winner meets Seed 1 in the final. Seed 1 must be defeated twice to lose the title. Women’s bonus: 8 pins per game.
In Qualifying, Final Step 1 or Final Step 2: the athlete with the highest last game takes the higher position; if still tied, the highest penultimate game, and so on until the tie is broken.
Following Final Step 3 and Final Step 4: a one-ball roll-off on a full set of pins, repeated until the tie is broken.
Entries & Booking
Entries are open now via the entry form. Squad reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, with waiting lists made where necessary.
Primary entry
2 squads (8 games). The cost is the total of the 2 squads booked — for example, Squad 07 (€60) + Squad 14 (€70) = €130.
Booking before the tournament
A maximum of four squads can be booked in advance: a primary entry (2 squads) and 2 re-entries. If squads are oversubscribed, primary entries take precedence over re-entries.
Booking during the tournament
Unlimited, subject to availability.
Cancellations
Booking cancellations are possible.
Registration deadline
20 minutes before squad times.
Prize Fund
trending_up Increases with entriesThe prize fund is conditional, increasing per entry received — the more entries, the bigger the fund and the more places paid. The two columns below are worked examples from the tournament application. No tax is applied to prizes.
| Position | 80 Entries and 80 Re-entries | 150 Entries and 150 Re-entries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €3,000 | €5,000 |
| 2 | €1,950 | €3,000 |
| 3 | €1,500 | €2,100 |
| 4 | €1,200 | €1,750 |
| 5 | €975 | €1,500 |
| 6 | €825 | €1,300 |
| 7 | €725 | €1,150 |
| 8 | €625 | €1,000 |
| 9 | €575 | €850 |
| 10 | €525 | €800 |
| 11 | €475 | €750 |
| 12 | €450 | €700 |
| 13 | €425 | €650 |
| 14 | €400 | €600 |
| 15 | €375 | €550 |
| 16 | €350 | €500 |
| 17 | €325 | €450 |
| 18 | €300 | €400 |
| 19 | — | €375 |
| 20 | — | €350 |
| 21 | — | €325 |
| 22 | — | €300 |
| 23 | — | €275 |
| 24 | — | €250 |
| Total | €15,000 | €24,925 |
Worked examples of the conditional prize fund — the final fund and places paid are determined by entries received.
Lane Conditions & Movements
- Oil pattern
- Kegel Navigate
- Oil machine
- Kegel Kustodian Ion
- Cleaner
- Kegel Defense-C
- Pattern prepared by
- Tenpin Ireland
- Dressing done by
- The centre
- Lane draws
- Randomly done by the organiser, then according to qualifying positions in following rounds
- Athletes per pair
- 2 to 4, depending on squad sizes
- Frequency of movement
- After each game
- Movement method
- Left lane moves left, right lane moves right
- Lanes to move
- 2 to 4, depending on squad sizes
The Centre
Dundonald International Ice Bowl
location_on 111 Old Dundonald Road, Belfast, BT16 1XT
call +44 (0)28 9080 9100
language theicebowl.com
- Lanes
- 20
- Approaches, surfaces & pin decks
- AMF HPL
- Pin setters
- AMF 82/70
- Pins
- Brunswick Score King
- Score system
- QubicaAMF BES-X
Tournament Contact
Partners
The Irish Open is supported by Tenpin Ireland's partners. See all our partners.
Entries are open
Book your primary entry — 2 squads, 8 games — and up to 2 re-entries in advance. Squads are limited to 36 athletes and reservations are first-come, first-served.
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