Padraig Parkinson
Encyclopedia
Padraig Parkinson is an Irish
professional poker
player. He is chiefly recognised as the grand final winner of Late Night Poker
series 5 (where he defeated Korosh Nejad
) and as the third-place finisher of the 1999 World Series of Poker
, where he lost to fellow countryman Noel Furlong
.
Originally, Padraig refused to play in Late Night Poker, as he did not wish to have his cards shown to the audience. His mood changed when money was added to the prize pool, and sponsorship also became a factor. In his heat, Padraig was actually the favourite with 2/1 odds against series 3 champion Phil Hellmuth
's 5/2 odds. Despite this, Padraig bet on Ken Lennaárd
(who finished 2nd) at 6/1. Despite the fact that Hellmuth admitted he could see Padraig's cards during the heat, Padraig went on to win.
Padraig still plays numerous tournaments
and has money finishes in both the World Poker Tour
and European Poker Tour
. In December 2009 he was the winner of the inaugural event of the United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour
in his home town of Galway for €125,000. He also finds time to commentate on poker events including the Poker Nations Cup
and the PartyPoker.com Football & Poker Legends Cup
.
As of 2010 his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,610,000. His 8 cashes at the WSOP account for $780,031 of those winnings.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player. He is chiefly recognised as the grand final winner of Late Night Poker
Late Night Poker
Late Night Poker is the pioneering television show that helped pave the way for the explosion of interest in poker in the 2000's. With it's ground breaking use of "under the table" cameras that enabled the viewer to see each player's cards, the show became a cult hit on Channel 4 UK when it first...
series 5 (where he defeated Korosh Nejad
Korosh Nejad
Korosh Nejad is an Iranian professional poker player based in London, England.Nejad has played for over 30 years, but first came to the public attention with three impressive performances in the Stakis Festival in London during May 1999 where he had a 2nd place finish in a £100 Pot Limit Omaha...
) and as the third-place finisher of the 1999 World Series of Poker
1999 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*...
, where he lost to fellow countryman Noel Furlong
Noel Furlong
J. J. Furlong is an Irish businessman and recreational poker player who won the 1999 World Series of Poker main event.-Early life:Furlong was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland...
.
Originally, Padraig refused to play in Late Night Poker, as he did not wish to have his cards shown to the audience. His mood changed when money was added to the prize pool, and sponsorship also became a factor. In his heat, Padraig was actually the favourite with 2/1 odds against series 3 champion Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality...
's 5/2 odds. Despite this, Padraig bet on Ken Lennaárd
Ken Lennaárd
Ken Richard Douglas Lennáard is a Swedish professional poker player, based in Stockholm, Sweden. He was also the chairman of the Swedish Poker Federation until he resigned in October 2006.-Poker career:...
(who finished 2nd) at 6/1. Despite the fact that Hellmuth admitted he could see Padraig's cards during the heat, Padraig went on to win.
Padraig still plays numerous tournaments
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
and has money finishes in both the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
and European Poker Tour
European Poker Tour
The Pokerstars European Poker Tour is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour , created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity...
. In December 2009 he was the winner of the inaugural event of the United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour
United Kingdom & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT)
The UK and Ireland Poker Tour started in December 2009, is a major regional poker tour in U.K. and Ireland. The UKIPT is sponsored by PokerStars, like its counterparts, the European Poker Tour , Asia Pacific Poker Tour , Latin American Poker Tour and North American Poker Tour...
in his home town of Galway for €125,000. He also finds time to commentate on poker events including the Poker Nations Cup
Poker Nations Cup
The Poker Nations Cup is an international poker tournament, televised on Channel 4 from March 2006 onwards.The series is commentated by Jesse May and Barny Boatman. Padraig Parkinson covered for Boatman in preliminary match 2....
and the PartyPoker.com Football & Poker Legends Cup
PartyPoker.com Football & Poker Legends Cup
The PartyPoker.com Football & Poker Legends Cup is a televised poker tournament, airing in the United Kingdom on Five from April 2006 onwards, in the lead-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.- Format :...
.
As of 2010 his total live tournament winnings exceed $1,610,000. His 8 cashes at the WSOP account for $780,031 of those winnings.