It’s Scotland, shrugging off it's tight image that will be crowng for the next 12 months

Forget the Six Nations rugby championship – when it comes to home nations bragging rights, the PaddyPowerPoker.com Grand Slam is the one to win.

Putting other sporting disappointments to one side it’s Scotland, shrugging off its tight image, that will be crowing for the next 12 months at least, after fending off challenges from England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, France and Sweden, to take the inaugural PaddyPowerPoker.com Grand Slam title and the €110,000 team prize.

Philip Starrs, Scottish team captain said: ‘We don’t win much as a country, so this is very special and we don’t intend to give it up easily.’ Starrs led by example with a fourth place finish from the 42 starters at the Birmingham event.

Teammate Rory Matthews grabbed the third spot with only Welshman Iwan Jones (2) and Swede Lars Kjestrup (1) stopping the Scots from recording a total (blue and) whitewash. Maybe the Scottish national football team could take some pointers for their upcoming Euro 2008 football qualifiers against France, Italy and the Ukraine.

Growing interest

Following the success of the event, PaddyPowerpoker.com head of poker Cormac Barry, said that more than 10 countries are expected to participate next year. ‘Spain and Denmark have already expressed an interest in playing.’ Bring ’em on!

Final standings

1) Scotland
2) France
3) Wales
4) Republic of Ireland
5) Sweden
6) England
7) Northern Ireland