The Main Event may be the main attraction at this year's PaddyPower Irish Poker Open, but whilst Neil Channing has been taking the event by storm, it's the French who have been dominating the side events.
One event that was immesnly well populated was the €1,500 No Limit Hold'Em Freezeout. Brimming with big names, including blonde poker's own Jen Mason, the event provided a great chance for players to return home with thicker wallets. Unfortunately, not everyone would receive a juicy payday, especially with France's David Miara in such fine form. With a juicy €128,200 up for grabs, the Frenchman fended off the likes of Ryan Fronda and Ian McDonald to take first place on the podium and guarantee himself a warm welcome home from the Mrs. Familiar names who also cashed included Jimmy Kenny, Roberto Romanello and current GUKPT Grand Final champion, Mike Ellis.
1st David Miara -- €128,200
2nd Darrin Melwani -- €70,490
3rd Ryan Fronda -- €36,040
4th Goran Tomic -- €28,040
5th BobbiG -- €24,030
6th Yehong Luo -- €20,020
7th Ian McDonald -- €16,020
8th Jesper Hougaard -- €12,020
9th Dominik Degott -- €8,010
10th Tristan Clemencon -- €4,810
11th Raymond O'Mahoney -- €4,810
12th David McCann -- €4,810
13th Joseph Melancon -- €4,000
14th Thomas Nielsen -- €4,000
15th Michael Ellis -- €4,000
16th Maurice Slattery -- €3,200
17th Per Hildebrand -- €3,200
18th Todd Brunson -- €3,200
19th Min Patel -- €2,400
20th Greg Marley -- €2,400
21st Patrick Donegan -- €2,400
22nd Oystein Stai -- €2,400
23rd Gary Piggott -- €2,400
24th Thomas Cloney -- €2,400
25th James Thompson-Schwab -- €2,400
26th Jimmy Kenny -- €2,400
27th Roberto Romanello -- €2,400
If you thought the French would settle for winning just the one event, then you'd be sorely mistaken, as our beret wearing neighbours also cleaned up in the Omaha event, Pascal Perrault and EPT London finalist Antony Lellouche giving the French an impressive one two finish. Perhaps due a tidy win, Late Night Poker veteran Pascal took home €46,600 whilst Lellouche left with €25,700. Mr TV Ian Frazer came in third whilst Paul Leckey, Adrian Walshe and Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliott also cashed.
1st Pascal Perrault -- €46,600
2nd Antony Lellouche -- €25,700
3rd Ian Frazer -- €14,120
4th Fernando Fernandez -- €11,300
5th Tommi Lindfors -- €8,470
6th Michael Hunt -- €7,060
7th Paul Leckey -- €5,650
8th Juan Carlos Rosa Callejas -- €4,240
9th Garcia Cayatano Ayala -- €2,820
10th Laurence Cowsar -- €1,980
11th Ken Corkery -- €1,980
12th Adrian Walshe -- €1,980
13th Alan Dillon -- €1,690
14th Sean Gregory -- €1,690
15th Neil Duggan -- €1,690
16th Colm O'Reilly -- €1,410
17th Dave Ulliott -- €1,410
18th Dennis Collins -- €1,410