The paddypowerpoker.com-sponsored Irish team emerged victorious at the Amateur Professional Association Tour (APAT) European Team Championship held on November 1st-2nd 2008 in Brighton, England. Led by non-playing captain Len Collin, team mates Pat O’Callaghan, Brendan Byrne, Colin O’Prey and John Murray were up against squads from England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany and Hungary.

Despite finishing the first day of play in 3rd position, the Irish dominated the final days’ play and when O’Callaghan won the last tournament outright, Ireland finished with a points haul significantly greater than that of runners-up Scotland and 3rd-placed Germany.

“The championship is an amateur event but our participation was for pride and country more than prize money. Paddy Power Poker is a name synonymous with Irish Poker and it's a credit to them that they would consider such sponsorship,” said Len Collin. “The European Team Championship is a new event but it will grow, as APAT has fifteen thousand members and the Russians, Austrians, Spanish and Italians are all expected to field teams next time. Ireland will be back to defend their title and I can’t wait!”

“We were more than happy to sponsor the Irish team at the APAT team championship and we would like to congratulate them on taking the title and the glory back to Ireland” said Eric Booth, Head of Poker at paddypowerpoker.com. “Poker is not just about the huge buy-in tournaments played by professionals in Las Vegas; this event showed that amateur events can have the same level of excitement and that poker is for everyone!”