The UK at the World Series of Poker

As ever, summer for British poker players means evaluating the financial implications of a trip to the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Or, in other words, booking a ticket, trading some online dollars for the greenback equivalent and heading out already hypnotised by the lure of the shiny bracelets, ready to sell pieces, put a bookmark in the chapter on bankroll management and take some shots.

And after all but the main event are wrapped up and anthems sung, it turns out not to have been a terrible decision for quite a few of them. Tied with Canada for the most bracelets in a Series won by non-US nationalities at this point (five), the UK has put on quite a show this year on and off the table.

Seeing as a rundown of all the WSOP excitement (the Mizrachi effect, Ivey winning his eighth bracelet in the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. and god knows how many side bets, ten $10,000 World Championship events plus 47 others) is impossible in a short article, please bear with my country-bias for this rundown of the unprecedented British success at this year’s Series.

First up was Praz Bansi who topped a field of 2,092 in the first of this year’s first $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event, earning his second bracelet amid rapturous celebration from his supporters, several of whom have had considerable success out here themselves.

It’s been a good calendar year (measuring from WSOP to WSOP seems to make sense for poker players) for Bansi and the rest of the “Hit Squad”, with James Akenhead of course being one-ninth of the 2009 November Nine and taking down the Poker Million, Karl Mahrenholz and Sunny Chattha both winning Grosvenor UK Poker Tour main events and Chaz Chattha racking up over $50,000 on the international tournament circuit.

They weren’t the only ones supporting Bansi as he went on to enjoy his first bracelet ceremony (the first one he received quietly), and he expressed his enjoyment with some quickly-corrected pessimism, “To be honest the British national anthem isn’t going to be played that many times at this World Series – well, I hope it will be!”

His wish came true as his win was followed by that of James “Flushy” Dempsey, who won the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em event (the same won by his friend JP Kelly last year). Dempsey went on to finish runner-up to Sammy Farha in the $10,000 Omaha High-Low Split Eight-or-Better event and for most of both of these final tables he was cheered on enthusiastically, loudly, and drunkenly by a rail which was eventually refused alcohol service. So excitable were they that their numbers had to be occasionally thinned; once the floor manager approached what could only by that time be called the mob and insisted that some of them would have to make their exit. No one volunteered, so he selected two and sent them out of the final arena. Let that be a lesson ⎯ ordering endless beers and shouting “He’s a doctor!” is a recipe for a view from the cheap seats.

Notable near misses include that of Sam Trickett, who finished runner up in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event to Jason DeWitt. Trickett’s been a force to be reckoned with in Las Vegas in the last few years, finishing fourth in the same event in 2008 and if there were another 57 events to play he’d be a good bet to continue racking up cashes.

Also keenly watched from across the pond was the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, where Joshua Tieman took the title pipping Neil Channing and Stuart Rutter who were part of a Euro trio along with France’s Nicolas Levi making it to the deep end. Interestingly, Levi got his hometown noted on day two as “Paris, UK,” so it seems fair to adopt him in the British rundown. Seeing the slight laxity with which places of origin were typed up occasionally, Stuart Rutter also managed to get himself registered overnight as hailing from “Budget Town.” “It’s not far off the truth,” he mused.

Channing, garrulous English pro, raconteur, and internet-kid-baiter, has yet to put on a WSOP gold bracelet of his own, however he will tell you an amusing story about his watch resembling one if you ask him. At the risk of ego-inflation, I have one good tangential story regarding him. I was playing in a small cash game with a friendly older crowd, one of whom started the “Where are you from?” conversation.

“Oh, England,” my new friend mused. “I know it’s a long shot, but do you know Paul McCartney?” I replied that although England was a small place compared to his country of residence, I had not yet run into Sir Paul in Tescos/down the pub just yet. He paused for a moment. “Do you know Neil Channing?”

British names with which the cross-section of Vegas live-game players might not be so familiar included Richard “Chufty” Ashby, who won the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event ⎯ not usually a game synonymous with British high-stakes online players.

Like Praz, he seemed underwhelmed by the UK’s chances, citing “Scandinavians” as the best players, although with the huge tax-on-winnings issue facing these players in the U.S. there’s little wonder the Rio isn’t crawling with Norwegian online phenoms.

Following Ashby came Mike Ellis, beating another recession-mocking 2,300-strong field in another $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event earning him a cool half million and some poker jewellery of his own.

The fifth bracelet heading back across the Atlantic will be on the wrist (or in the suitcase) of Steve Jelinek, who took the top spot in the $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha High-Low event. Both of these latter players are established veterans of the UK and worldwide tournament circuit but had yet to win WSOP gold.

Now they are part of the UK’s best year at the Series ever; the Amazon room will all know the words to God Save the Queen by mid-July, or at least be able to hum the tune.