blonde poker

Tight Scots have the skills to pay the bills (finally!); Swede tastes sweet victory

Underdogs Scotland gain famous team poker victory while Sweden's Lars Kiestrup grinds opponents to dust to lift the individual prize

The first paddypowerpoker.com Grand Slam, held at the Star City Casino, Birmingham, between England, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, France and Sweden ended last night with a famous victory for Scotland.

The event, which had a unique team prize of €110,000 and individual prizes of €50,000 (1st), €30,000 (2nd ) and €20,000 (3rd), attracted some of Europe's top professionals.

The 42 players (7 teams of 6) where whittled down to a final table of Phillip Starr (Sco), Mark Williams (Wal), Pascal Perrault (Fr), Iwan Jones (Wal), Rory Mathews (Sco), Robert Cohen (Fr)

Lars Kiestrup (Swe) and Matthew Bell (NI).

The mammoth 11 hour final table session saw the rivalry between the nations and individuals balloon to epic proportions. Scotland and France were hot favourites to win the team event. The Republic of Ireland, where still challenging at the start of Day Two, but lost their final 3 players, Donnacha O'Dea, Padraig Parkinson and Len Collin in spectacular fashion in a series of aggressive moves shortly after play recommenced.

Scot Philip Starr finished 4th just outside the prize money on the final table. His fellow countryman, 21 year-old internet poker wizard Rory Mathews came 3rd , Welsh stalwart Iwan Jones battled hard to gain 2nd place but ultimately Swede Lars Kiestrup built a near unassailable chip lead, picking his opponents off in a very organised Scandinavian fashion.

Lars said his win was one of his best ever poker victories. "Of course I'm disappointed that Sweden didn't win the team event but to win the event outright is amazing. I got some good cards, some good luck and was under some pressure to defend my chips but the victory is great for me and I look forward to defending my title."

Philip Starr, Scottish team captain rated the Grand Slam 2006 as on of the best tournaments he'd ever played in. "It's the first time ever this type of event has been played and it was an amazing ride. We had a hard time getting here - we paid ourselves in and had next to no sponsorship - so it's fantastic that we have become the Grand Slam champions and are happy to take on all comers at the next event. We don't win much as a country so this is very special and we don't intend to give it up easily"

A full report on the tournament including photographs, key hands, chip counts, and the colourful background to the big game will be available and forwarded on Monday 16 January.