Richard Ashby Joins Black Belt Poker

Black Belt Poker are proud to announce that 2010 WSOP bracelet winner Richard 'Chufty' Ashby has joined the Black Belt Poker team and will play the circuit as a Black Belt and sponsored player for the company.

A former Options and Futures Market Maker from London, Richard started playing poker at his local tennis club and with his dad at home, before entering his first live tournament at the age of 18. 17 years on, and Richard's ascent has been nothing short of spectacular.

Richard's first recorded win came in a Seven-Card Stud event back in 2001, but since then he has collated a near $1.2 million in live tournament winnings including final table appearances in the Aussie Millions, GUKPT, WSOP and UK Open.

Richard's greatest moment, however, came at this year's World Series when he won his first bracelet, taking down the $1,500 Seven Card-Stud event for $140,467. Two weeks later, he finished second in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship for a further $378,027.

Perhaps Richard's most impressive achievement is the mountains he has climbed in the virtual world, playing some of the largest stakes available online and quickly becoming known as one of the world's most prolific Pot Limit Omaha players.

Only last night, Richard won the award for Best All-Round Player at the British Poker Awards, an illustrious honour that was judged by a panel of professional poker players. This award further showcased the respect Richard had garnered from his peers.

Many have noted Richard's commitment to putting in the hours, his dedication to developing his skills across all games, and his hunger for success, and it is for this reason that we believe Richard and Black Belt Poker are a perfect match. Black Belt Poker is centred around improving via our Enlightenment Training Programme, and Richard is destined to play a vital role in that process.

"Richard has quite rightly just won the best all-round player at the British Poker Awards," highlighted 2010 GUKPT Luton Champion Neil Channing. "He's been on multiple finals, has won a bracelet, is skilled in all formats, and has conquered the nosebleed stakes like no other UK player. Why wouldn't we want him on board?"