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With this year’s World Series officially in full swing, three tournaments drew to a close in close proximity, Events 3 to 5 etching three more bracelet winners into the history books.

One of those was as close to a Brit as we’re potentially going to get, Irishman Ciaran O’Leary (doesn’t sound Irish to me…) taking top honours and a bag of $727,012 swag for his terrific performance in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’Em Freezeout.

With a record breaking 2,998 runners (only the two last WSOP Main Events have faired better) taking their seats, it was all hustle and bustle in the Rio and whoever was destined to take gold would be in for an uphill struggle.

But, with 5 successful all-ins on a final table that included young hotshot and the overly hairy Alex Jacob, the Poker Gods were smiling firmly upon the bonce of Ciaran, the Irishman disposing of Californian Paul Evans to become top dog.

Now residing in Seattle, Washington, 33-year old Ciaran has been playing for almost a quarter of a century, picking up the game when he was just nine years of age. He’s also been a regular on the WSOP scene for the past several years, but has always failed to cash, until now that is, but what away to break your duck!

‘BigC’ as he is known online was modest in victory, emphasising the standard of play around him and his good fortune with the cards: “There are so many great players that don't get a break at the right time. I am not a great player. I have so much still to learn. But I got the breaks today.”

Meanwhile, whilst Ciaran was flying an American/Irish flag, Roland de Wolfe and Karl Mahreholz were representing the Brits, cashing in at 107th and 270th respectively. Two recent champions in Greg Raymer and Chris Moneymaker also made the money, but their presence was short-lived, taking home (well, to their hotel) just a few thousand each.

As previously stated, other events in the vicinity were reaching a similar climax, the less populated but still immensely lucrative $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’Em Freezeout, and the more star concentrated $2,500 Limit Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Freezeout, both of which seemed to lure our first batch of ‘name’ players to the final like an industrial magnet.

The former, consisting of Jennifer Harman’s husband and inevitable shadow, Marco Traniello (right), saw Gavin Smith vying for his first taste of bracelet gold, but whilst Traniello was first to drop from the final table, Gavin Smith managed a commendable 2nd, just pipped at the post by Michael Spegal.

Overturning a severe chip disadvantage, Spegal, a 39-year old States Marine from Newton, Iowa, celebrated his 9th wedding anniversary in style, Norman Chad later joking, “You are the only married man I know who gets to play on their wedding anniversary.”

Finally, Event 5, although drawing a non-surprisingly thin crowd of 327, was eventually won by the curiously named Tom ‘Donkey Bomber’ Schneider, a 47-year old author and radio broadcaster from Scottsdale, Arizona.

Like Spegal before him, Schneider was forced to see off a tough cast of pro’s to achieve his goal, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, David Benyamine (left), John Phan and Josh Arieh making up what will probably be the Series’ most star studded final.

However, the author of ‘Oops! I Won Too Much Money’ came through smelling of roses to take down his 1st bracelet in what was his third ever final table appearance at the World Series.

Well done to all the winners of Events 1 to 5 and remember, if you want to keep up with action, be sure to keep an eye on the results as they come in by clicking here.