PokerStars.com, the title sponsor for the new UK & Ireland Poker Tour, couldn't have asked for a better start, with Ireland's own Padraig Parkinson winning the inaugural event in Galway, and pocketing a top prize worth EUR125,000 (about $182,000 USD).

Padraig outlasted a total field of 259 players and beat out a final table that included numerous top internet and regional pros including the United Kingdom's Paul Marrow, who lasted all the way into heads-up play but was unable to best Padraig, settling instead for second place money worth EUR82,000.

The final table finish positions for the 2009 PokerStars UKIPT Galway were as follows:

1st.  Padraig Parkinson- EUR125,000

2nd.  Paul Marrow- EUR82,000

3rd.  Ben Lefew- EUR52,000

4th.  Michael Graydon- EUR36,000

5th.  Michael McFadgen- EUR22,000

6th.  Paul Dooley- EUR17,000

7th.  Vinny Cosgrove- EUR13,000

8th.  Cat O'Neill- EUR11,000

9th. Trevor Bulless- EUR9000

For more information on the new PokerStars UK & Ireland Poker Tour visit the site at www.ukipt.com.
 

Story by Mark Anderson