Padraig Parkinson, aged 49 and nicknamed "Cantona", was born in Dublin, Ireland, but currently resides in Paris, France with his wife Véronique. Padraig Parkinson got his nickname form the football player Eric Cantona, who he describes as someone who "tends to drift in and out of the game a little bit and is likely to do something either brilliant or stupid." As his favorite game, Padraig Parkinson points out No Limit Hold 'em and his other hobbies aside from poker include sports betting from the couch and drinking in the pub.
Padraig Parkinson started playing poker in Trinity College, Dublin, in the 70`s. In an interview Padraig Parkinson says that at the beginning he had not planed on taking poker seriously, but that all had changed when he discovered the Eccentric Club and the establishment of the Griffen Club and Jackpot Club in Dublin, which is said to be the start of Ireland’s poker explosion. And so, ever since 1990, Padraig Parkinson has been a professional poker player, taking part in both live tournaments and cash plays. He also writes columns for the Cardplayer and Cardplayer Europe magazines and involves himself in TV work such as poker commentary and The Poker Show.
Altogether Padraig Parkinson has 8 first place finishes, 14 final tables, 30 money finishes, total earnings that come up to $1,300,000, All Time Ireland ranking – 3 and All Time IAR Ranking – 246. The tournaments that Padraig Parkinson has finished first at are the £500 Omaha Grosvenor European Open Championships in 1996; the FF 10,000 No Limit Hold'em Autumn Tournament also in 1996; FF 5,000 No Limit Hold'em Spring Tournament in 1998; FF 2,500 Pot Limit Holdem; Spring Tournament in 1999; Game 2 Late Night Poker Series 5, Cardiff in 2002; Grand Final Late Night Poker Series 5 also in 2002; Heat 1 British Poker Open in 2005; and Heat 9; 888.com UK Poker Open in 2006.
WSOP history
Padraig Parkinson has yet to achieve many victories in the World Series of Poker games, but has 6 money cashes from different events and has reached 2 final tables, with the total winnings from the events being $707,407. The first time Padraig Parkinson entered WSOP was in 1999 in the WSOP World Championship - No Limit Hold'em event, where he placed 3rd, earning $489,125. Then once again in 2002`s WSOP No Limit Hold'em, finishing 31st and in 2006`s 37th Annual World Series of Poker events.
WPT history
Also as in the WSOP games, Padrik Parkinson has not managed to place first in the World Poker Tour events, but has 6 money cashes that come up to $ 157,593. He first entered WPT in 2003 - Five-Star World Poker Classic - WPT Championship Season 1 Pot Limit Omaha, where he placed 2nd, earning $38,819. Later in 2006 Padraig Parkinson took 56th place in the
Legends of Poker WPT Season 3 - Main Event - No Limit Hold'em. Padraig Parkinson`s most recent participation in WPT was in the Five Star World Classic Poker Classic / WPT World Championship - No Limit Hold'em Championship, where he took 87th place. Other tournaments that Padraig Parkinson has taken part in include Irish Open, Borgata Poker Classic, Austrian Masters and many more.
