Sunday 31 January 2010

Grading Starts Tomorrow



It’s the eve of the Black Belt Poker Grading, and those who managed to survive the recent Pre-Grading and the scrutiny of the judging team will no doubt be preparing for a gruelling, but ultimately rewarding six weeks.

Last year’s Grading saw a plethora of familiar names battle it out over an intense four-week period for the honour of being a member of the Vegas 8 and winning their dream trip to Vegas. This year, however, we decided to make the Grading accessible to a wider audience rather than just name pros with a one-week Selection period that allowed anyone to enter.

Those that successfully made it through to the other end will now have to compete with other Graders for the next month and a half. But this time around, the schedule is less hectic, in order to cater for those with full-time jobs or family commitments. Instead of forcing Graders to play a set number of hours a day at a certain level, they will be asked to play a total of 480 any-combination cash table-hours at stakes of $0.25/0.50 plus ($0.50/1 for the final two weeks).

Whilst this means that higher stake players will win or lose more money, we’ll be closely inspecting bbs/100 to ensure that everyone is given a fair assessment. Other judging categories will include ‘commitment’ – completing the hours, attending workshops, and showing a willingness to improve – and ‘contribution’ – submitting editorial content, speaking at workshops, and assisting others.

It’s going to be a slog, but it’ll be worth it with Graders being given the opportunity to not only learn from each other, but also receive exclusive mentoring from Black Belt Poker co-founders and poker pros Neil Channing and Nik Persaud. Of course, there are also the fabulous prizes, with the top performers not only winning a magnificent Irish Open package, but also being awarded Blue Belt status, a total prize equating to 100,000 Belt Points. Even those who just miss out will automatically be promoted to Green Belt, and those who don’t finish the course will earn 2,500 Belt Points for each week completed.

This is an educational process for everyone involved and whilst we expect it to be hard work, it will also be enjoyable and rewarding. Good luck to those starting their journey tomorrow, and keep your eyes peeled as we announce the lucky contestants to be taking part in Grading II: Destination Dublin.

Thursday 28 January 2010

League III: London Live



Exciting news this week as Black Belt Poker announced details of their latest league event. Scheduled to commence next Tuesday, Black Belt Poker League III will differ from prior leagues in a number of ways.

Firstly, the League will take place over five legs, rather than the usual ten, meaning participants have less of a commitment to make if they are to have a realistic chance of taking gold.

Secondly, points will be calculated in reverse order of elimination and will be dependent on the numberof runners for each leg with your score correlating with your finishing position. So, if there are 50 runners, first place will receive 50 points, second 49, third 48, and so on.

Finally, as well as Belt Points for the top five, Black Belt Poker will award the first place finisher over the five-week period a free seat into the Black Belt London Live, a deepstack $220 freezeout taking place at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino from Friday, March 12 to Sunday, March 14.

The prizes are therefore as follows:

1st = BBLL Seat
2nd = 750 Belt Points
3rd = 500 Belt Points
4th = 250 Belt Points
5th = 125 Belt Points

The League is open to all Yellow Belts and above and will run from Tuesday, February 2 to Tuesday, March 2, at 8.30pm on the Black Belt Poker skin. Each event will be a $5+0.50 No Limit Hold’em freezeout and players are free to join the League at any point.

If you aren’t currently a Yellow Belt, or have yet to download the poker client, then don’t fret, as you can still play the League. Simply download the poker client, follow the directions and make a minimum deposit of $10 to be eligible to register for the event.

This is an unmissable opportunity for players of all types to get their hands on a free seat into the Black Belt London Live. With a plethora of exciting features such as bounties, last-longers and Belt bonuses, this is a great chance to take advantage of some of the value at Black Belt Poker, whilst enjoying the experience of meeting the stars and playing a deepstacked tournament amid a friendly atmosphere.

'russellhansen' Wins BBP League II



Tuesday night witnessed the final leg of the Black Belt Poker League II in which a total of 93 players competed over a ten-week period to determine Black Belt Poker’s true MTT king. Among those participating were Brown Belt James Mitchell, League I winner Adam ‘JHobbit1’ Saunders, Black Belt co-founders Neil Channing and Nik Persaud, and Paul Marrow, the latter of whom recently finished in second place in the Dublin UKIPT for a whopping €103,500.

However, despite the fierce competition, it was Yellow Belt Mark ‘russellhansen’ Brassington who took top honours, sealing gold before the final leg had even taken place. Nevertheless, he still finished in seventh place in Leg 10, taking his total points score up to an incredible 98 points, 20 points ahead of that of second! As a result of his victory, Mark won the first prize of 2,500 Belt Points (enough to maintain Purple Belt for a month), BBP merchandise, and, of course, the coveted bragging rights.

Second place went to Orange Belt Lee ‘virtusxetxhonor’ Clarke, the early pace setter putting in a fine performance with 76 points. Not too far behind him were Denison ‘Ranny99’ Ranson in third and Black Belt Poker’s first ever Green Belt Mike ‘Belterman’ Caroll picking up fourth.

The final positions and subsequent prizes were as follows:

1st = ruseellhansen – 96 points (2,500 Belt Points plus merchandise)
2nd = virtusxetxhonor – 76 points (1,500 Belt Points plus merchandise)
3rd = Ranny99 – 59 points (1,000 Belt Points plus merchandise)
4th = Belterman – 50 points (500 Belt Points)
5th = TheGayWaiter – 48 points (350 Belt Points)
6th = JHobbit1 – 47 points (275 Belt Points)
7th = paulmarrow – 44 points (225 Belt Points)
8th = gnomeeee – 42 points (175 Belt Points)
9th = mavperth – 40 points (125 Belt Points)
10th = RazzHands – 38 points (100 Belt Points)

Congratulations to all those who placed in the top 10, and we look forward to seeing you all in Black Belt Poker League III which starts this Tuesday, Feb 2 at 8:30pm.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Channing in Oz



There are few tournaments on the poker calendar that have the staying power of the Aussie Millions, but every year, poker fanatics arrive on Ozzie shores in their droves, all eager to stump up the $10,500 buy-in and replicate the achievements of winners past.

This week, a total of 746 pitched up at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, an improvement on last year’s 681 field in which local hero Stewart Scott prevailed to win the A$2 million first prize. Searching for gold this time around are the likes of Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Jeff Lisandro, Barry Greenstein and Tony G, as well as British hopes Karl Mahrenholz, JP Kelly, Keith Hawkins and recent WSOP finalist James Akenhead.

Also flying the flag and representing the London faithful is Black Belt Poker’s Neil Channing. Drawn on the feature table, Channing faced tough company with Casey Kastle, Erik Seidel, Annette Obrestad and a big Vegas and Internet Limit player who called himself Crazy Mike.

“Crazy Mike soon appeared to be in the top three most annoying people I'd played with,” reported Channing. “I let him bluff me twice and went down to just 11,000 from my 20,000 starting stack. I steamed a little bit and decided to three-bet him with 8-6 off-suit. I then floated on the flop and raised him on the turn of a A-K-8-T board, committing about 5,000 of my remaining chips. He called me a total nit and folded. I didn't show.”

Having risen to 31,000 with K-K versus Kastle’s missed draw, Channing quickly broke the 48,000 mark with an average of 26,000, but just as he was beginning to pick up pace, K-K ran into A-A to bash him back down to 11,000. “I worked my bollocks off to get my stack up and was raising 70 percent of hands at the time,” continued Channing. “He was in a squeeze spot too, fml.”

But despite this loss, Channing’s fortune did show signs of changing when he pushed with Q-6 and managed to crack aces to stay alive. “The woman didn’t take it too well,” revealed Channing. “She spent the next three hours whining and kept making comments while I was in pots and about to act. I had to call the floor to complain. With 25 minutes to go I was very frustrated. This woman had gifted Annette about 35,000 and all she could do was moan about a few thousand the bad beat with me had cost her. In one hand I called a raise from a tight guy with T-9 of diamonds. As I did, durrrr stopped to chat to me and shook my hand. The woman went all in for about 1,000 and it was 7,000 for me to call after the other guy folded. I was getting 2:1, durrrr had touched me and now I could knock out this miserable woman. I called, she showed 3-3 and I rivered a 10. I told her I wouldn’t usually call but I'd done it out of spite.”

Following this amusing kafuffle, Channing’s day continued to improve with a lucrative final 45 minutes which saw him finishing the day with 57,400 and in 18th position out of the 120 that survived. “Such a tough day,” concluded Channing. “I felt I played my best, but now I really need to get some sleep.”

With Day 1C also drawing to a close, Day Two is just around the corner and Channing will be in confident spirits having survived a turbulent opening few levels. Whilst the likes of Joe Hachem, Chris Ferguson, Chris Moorman and former International bowler Shane Warne fell at the first hurdle, the remaining field is still rife with big names with Sorel Mizzi perhaps the most notable pace-setter with 112,300. Pierre Aoukar is the chip leader with 171,700

But with a renewed confidence, Neil Channing will be hot on their heels for the remainer of the comp, keen to add some more silverware to the trophy cupboard. To see if Channing can become this year’s Aussie Champion, keep your eyes peeled on Black Belt Poker for further updates.

Friday 22 January 2010

Academy Freeroll: Last Chance Saloon



Garfield might hate Mondays, but there’s no reason for you to feel the same as this Monday, Black Belt Poker look to soothe those weekend hangovers with the final Academy freeroll.

Exclusive to Orange Belts, this last chance saloon satellite will see players battle it out for one of two guaranteed seats into the inaugural Black Belt Poker Academy in association with Bluff Magazine.

Scheduled for Saturday, February 13, 2010 at the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London, the Black Belt Poker Academy will give players the opportunity to learn from professional players such as Nik Persaud and 2008 Irish Open Champion Neil Channing.

The freeroll takes place at 8pm and will only be open to those who have reached Orange Belt on the Belt-Up rewards scheme. With a total of £300 up for grabs for an investment of zero, this presents excellent value and is one of many benefits of being a higher Belt on Black Belt Poker. To play, simply boot up the poker client, search for scheduled > Black Belt tournaments > Orange Belt Bootcamp FR, and click register in the bottom right hand corner.

If you aren’t able to make the freeroll, then don’t fret, as you can still purchase your seat directly. At £150, the Academy is a snip, and a great way to improve your game through mentoring from two of the UK’s most successful players, so secure your seat now. To purchase a ticket, simply contact info@blackbeltpoker.com.

If you’re not currently an Orange Belt then be sure you check out our Belt-Up Rewards scheme to see how you can scale the ranks and take advantage of all the spectacular bonuses on offer.

For more details on the Black Belt Poker Academy (in association with Bluff Magazine), click here.

Sunday 17 January 2010

Make Mine a Double



If you think the only doubles in poker are confined to an increase in your stack or the latest order at the bar, then think again, as this February, Black Belt Poker brings to you a brand, spanking new promotion which will reward our double-up STT players.

In conjunction with iPoker, the Double-Up STT Promotion will offer double-up STT players an added incentive in the form of four weeklong leader boards, taking place on the following dates:

Mon, Feb 1 – Sun, Feb 7
Mon, Feb 8 – Sun, Feb 14
Mon, Feb 15 – Sun, Feb 21
Mon, Feb 22 – Sun, Feb 28

Scoring is simple: for merely participating in the STT, you will receive points equivalent to the buy-in. If you manage to survive and emerge as one of the victors, then you will receive points equivalent to twice the buy-in.

For each week there will be three groups of prizes dependant on the buy-in. The groups are:

$1-$5 buy-in: 150 places paid, $750 first prize
$10-$30 buy-in: 75 places paid, $2,500 first prize
$50 + buy-in: 50 places paid, $5,500 first prize

And that’s not all: if you bubble a certain part of the money ladder, or finish in 11th or 1st place, you will be automatically allocated a seat worth $535 in the iPoker Monthly Million. We are also offering 120 seats in a Monthly Million satellite (28 seats available) to those who miss out on a league finish by 10 places.

If you’ve been considering participating in the Grading, then this is a cracking opportunity to not only give yourself a chance of winning one of eight packages to the 2010 Irish Open, but also take advantage of our latest promotion by placing in one of the weekly leader boards.

Although the Pre-Grading commences tomorrow, it’s not too late to enrol. All you have to do is find the relevant option in the ‘settings’ of your community account, play the required hours, and send us your hand histories. It really is as simple as that, and even if you don’t make it into the Grading, we’ll promote you to Purple Belt as a thank you for your participation.

See here for more details.

Saturday 16 January 2010

Grading Selection: Just Two Days to Go


In just two days time, numerous online players from across the nation will be battling it out for one of 50 places on this year’s Black Belt Poker Grading and the chance to not only fast-track their way to Blue Belt status, but win one of eight mouth-watering Irish Open packages – a prize totalling 100,000 Belt Points!

Commencing on Monday, January 18, 2010, the one-week Grading Selection will see players ambushing the tables in order to complete 80 any-combination cash table-hours at any stakes from $0.25/$0.50 upwards, or 120 any-combination STT table-hours with a minimum buy-in of $20. At the end of the week, they will submit their hand histories to Black Belt Poker HQ, and the 50 players who performed best under the three marking categories will then go onto the six-week Grading as a proud member of the Dublin Five-O.

The Grading, which takes place from Monday, Feb 1 to Sunday, March 14, offers a number of alluring prizes. Simply for completing the Grading, you will receive 25,500 Belt Points, which equates to over four months’ worth of Green Belt Maintenance. If, however, you are fortunate enough to finish in the top eight, you will be jetting off to Dublin to play in the Irish Open as one of our sponsored Blue Belts!

This is an incredible opportunity to play in one of the world’s most prestigious tournaments, and it’s not too late to enrol! All you have to do is find the relevant option in the ‘settings’ of your community account, play the required hours, and send us your hand histories. It really is as simple as that, and even if you don’t make it into the Grading, we’ll promote you to Purple Belt as a thank you for your participation.

This truly is a no lose situation for all you poker fanatics out there and a great opportunity to echo the achievements of Black Belt Poker co-founder and 2008 Irish Champion Neil Channing. We wish you the best of luck at the tables and look forward to seeing 50 of you in a few weeks’ time

See here for more details.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Channing Wins $104,000 in Monthly Million



2009 was a disappointing year for Neil Channing, but with the New Year comes a new start, and 2010 couldn’t have started much better for the former Irish Open Champion. There were a number of high profile players playing the Monthly Million on Black Belt Poker, but it was fittingly the Black Belt Poker co-founder who rose highest, finishing in second place for an incredible $104,000.

Although forced to endure a roller coaster start in which his stack fluctuated from 10,000 to 7,000 to 26,000 to 17,000, Channing managed to double up to 38,000 (16,000 average) courtesy of TV specialist Ian Frazer when his 8-7 suited flopped a pair of eights against Frazer’s Q-J suited. Following a good run in which his big hands stood up, Neil found himself in the top 10 with 300 of the 1,650 plus field left.

Despite having aces cracked by pocket eights with 30 players remaining, Channing managed to make it comfortably to the final, a table which he shared with online pro and SCOOP Five-Card Draw winner David ‘sexygee’ Gent. “I played David a lot throughout the event,” reported Channing. “He’s a really good player and seems to know what he is doing.”

With just four players remaining, Channing missed an open-ended straight flush draw to leave himself with 135,000 of the 16 million in play, blinds of 25,000/50,000, but despite having less than three big blinds he managed to complete a comeback of Rocky proportions to find himself heads-up with a 10:6 million chip advantage.

With $200,000.20 up for grabs, there was plenty to play for, but a failed A-Q versus A-5 encounter left Channing crippled, and a hand or two later and he was gone, happy with his $104,000 payday, but disappointed not to have taken top honours.

“My heads-up opponent was a Greek guy who’d won the first ECOOP event,” said Channing. “He was a pretty good player. When we were heads-up, he seemed keen to do a deal, but I don’t think it’s possible on iPoker between skins. The structure was pretty top heavy and he asked me if the money meant much. I answered, ‘It’s all money, it’s never a bad thing to have more of it.’ Overall, I was really pleased with how I played.”

“I had some great support,” gleamed Channing. “There was a long thread on Black Belt Poker with people posting their good luck messages, and I was also being railed by friends such as Andy Ward, Paul Zimbler and Jeff Kimber, which helped spur me on.”

This was Black Belt Poker’s first ever Monthly Million, and as a cardroom looking to become a major player on the iPoker network, we’ll be hosting the event in February too. If you fancy going one step further than Channing and taking the lion’s share of the one million guaranteed prize pool, then why not register an account and play the event at Black Belt Poker? To open a cardroom account, download the poker client and follow the simple step-by-step guide.

Click here to read about Channing’s key hands that saw him finish second in Black Belt Poker's first ever Monthly Million.

Monday 11 January 2010

FullFlush: “I’m as Good as Isildur”


Read blog...

The final digit on the calendar might be different, but Luke Schwartz is kicking off 2010 in typically controversial fashion by offering his brutally honest perspective on the poker world.

Few were able to evade the FullFlush wrath in 2009, and I doubt many will escape this time around either. In his latest blog entry, it’s Great Dane Gus Hansen who’s the recipient of the first swipe, Schwartz commenting, “I’m not surprised Gus Hansen lost more than anyone else, he’s one of the worst players in poker.”

Also returning to the docks is Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan, everyone’s favourite eye-roller still out of favour with the cheeky cockney as Schwartz continues to show his disdain for Full Tilt’s latest recruit. “He's so lucky that he got that Full Tilt deal when he did. He's meant to be broke, but now he's guaranteed like two mil a year or something.”

If there’s one player that Schwartz admires, then it’s Isildur, the Swedish sensation sharing the Londoner’s unrelenting aggression and incredible lack of fear when it comes to taking on the ‘big boys’. And it’s not just his testicular fortitude that he believes they have in common, but also their skillset, Schwartz adding, “I’m running bad at the moment, but I’d still put myself in the top three. I’m as good as Isildur.”

FullFlush may not be to everyone’s taste, but like Isildur, he has undoubtedly shaken up online poker and made the nosebleed tables a much more entertaining place. If you want to hear more from one of the UK’s most brash, but talented young players., then read his blog now by clicking the link below:

Read blog...

Also see:

Isildur: A Pro's Perspective - Part One: A Hero Arrives
Isildur: A Pro's Perspective - Part Two: Snakes & Ladders
Isildur: A Pro's Perspective - Part Three: Battle of Hastings

Thursday 7 January 2010

Grading II: Destination Dublin



2010 is braced to start with a bang as this January, Black Belt Poker will be hosting Grading II: Destination Dublin. Just 11 days away, the Grading will offer players the chance to win one of eight packages to the Irish Open in April, as well as fast-track their way to Blue Belt – a total package worth 100,000 Belt Points!

The Grading will officially kick off on Monday, February 1, when 50 competitors, the Dublin Five-O, will play 480 individual table hours over a six-week period with players being judged across three categories: commitment, contribution, and table performance. The top eight performers will then become the Dublin 8 and find themselves jetting off to play in one of the world’s biggest tournaments.

If you don’t make it into the Dublin 8, then don’t fret, as we’re awarding all players who complete the Grading process 25,500 Belt Points, which equates to a total of four months of Green Belt maintenance. Even if you don’t finish the Grading, we’ll credit your account with 2,500 points for each week completed.

Only 50 players can make it into the Grading, so we have set up a Grading Selection Week in which to whittle down participants. Taking place from Monday, January 18 to Sunday, January 24, players will need to play 80 table hours (less if you multi-table) at any stakes from $0.25/0.50 upwards. Of course, variance can prove a big factor over seven days, so priority is given to those who complete the hours and prove themselves capable of attempting the Grading.

Grading II offers players not only the chance to follow in the footsteps of 2008 Irish Open Champion Neil Channing, but also a faster route to scaling the Belt-Up Rewards System and reaching a higher Belt status. With players attending two of three Workshops, the Grading also gives players the opportunity to improve their play, hear from the Black Belt Poker pros, and discuss the game with like-minded people.

To register your interest in this year’s Grading, then simply email grading@blackbeltpoker.com. For more details, check out our events page and we look forward to seeing you at the tables in 11 days times.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Grundy Talks Isildur



Over the last few months, everyone’s had something to say about Isildur. Forums have been swamped with comments, magazines have published numerous snippets, and sites are continually asking questions about poker’s latest, and possibly greatest sensation.

However, most of the comments have derived from the rail, and rarely have the pro’s themselves, the people who know what it’s like to be a professional poker player, play large stakes, and endure swings that are larger than my annual salary, offered their thoughts on Isildur.

At Black Belt Poker, we’re going to give you just that: views from the pro’s. In an exclusive series of articles focused on the mysterious Isildur, you’ll hear from pro’s such as Nik Persaud, Roland De Wolfe, Luke ‘FullFlush’ Schwartz, Ben Grundy and the Voice of Poker Jesse May, their thoughts intertwined with a recap of the story, the incredible tale that is the rise and fall of Isildur.

Having recently posted his ‘Total Lifetime Graph’ on his blog, of which boasted a gargantuan seven million plus profit, high stakes online pro Ben Grundy is probably in the best position to comment due to his experiences at the high stakes Omaha tables. In fact, the ‘Milybarkid’ has played Blom90 before on the European sites, and although never crossed Isildur on Full Tilt, was reportedly very close to playing him:

“I’ve never played against the Isildur account, but I would have taken him on at $100/200 if I’d had the chance, but after he got a proper ‘roll on Full Tilt he only wanted to play $200/400 and bigger.”

To read more and hear what the pro’s have to say about Isildur, then check out the article now and keep your eyes peeled for more content as the week progresses.

Read Part One…

Monday 4 January 2010

Movers & Shakers - December



The festive period tends to create a certain level of stagnancy online, but at Black Belt Poker, a number of players were still badgering away at the virtual felt in order to secure a brand new shiny belt to go along with the rest of their Christmas prezzies.

In all, 15 players received a well-deserved promotion for achievements in December, including nine Orange Belts, five Purple and one Green. Perhaps most notable in his presence is Paul ‘badpab’ Foltyn, the 2008 GUKPT Grand Final Champion and a permanent fixture in the UK top 10 online rankings.

This is a great time on Black Belt Poker to become an Orange Belt or above. As well as the numerous benefits offered by our unique Belt-Up Rewards System, including a higher rate of earning Belt Points, perhaps the best reward is becoming eligible for our Deepstack Payback bonuses.

Taking place on the first Sunday of every month, the Deepstack Payback is a $20+2 No Limit Hold’em freezeout event open to everyone, but of particular value to our players who have successfully worked their way up to Orange Belt or above. If you win the event as an Orange Belt, we’ll add an additional 25 percent to first prize, and if you’re Purple Belt or above, you’ll receive an extra 50 percent! On top of that, we offer two $50 bounties every tournament.

Last night, Purple Belt Jamie Burland won only our second ever Deepstack Payback, taking away an extra 50 percent as a result. Also profiting were Warren Wooldridge and Ben Pooley who eliminated Black Belt Pros and tournament bounties Neil Channing and Hugh Kirton respectively.

To reap those rewards in the next Deepstack Payback, make sure you are Orange Belt or above by the end of this month by earning 500 points by the turn of the month. If you achieve this, you will become a January Mover & Shaker and be free to take advantage of the high value Deepstack Payback bonuses.

Black Belt Poker would like to congratulate the following players on their achievement for December and wish you the very best of luck at the tables for the month of January:

Green:

Adam Goulding

Purple:

Gavin Hall
Steve Rigby
Jamie Burland
Stephen Dickson
Andrew Miles

Orange:

Phil Heald
Paul Foltyn
Mandy Card
Carey Hollick
Mark Valentine
Mike Hill
Paul Read
Rob Taylor
Tom Drewell

For more information on the Black Belt Poker cardroom, the Belt-Up rewards system, or any of our promotions, please visit our help pages in the ‘Play Poker’ section of the site.

Saturday 2 January 2010

Deepstack Payback – Tonight!



The weather is getting chilly outside so tonight at 6pm, the Black Belt Poker team is bringing you a winter warmer. No, it's not a fleece, scarf or pair of gloves, but a present you won’t have found nestling under your Christmas tree: our second ever Deepstack Payback Freezeout Tournament.

This event, scheduled for the first Sunday of every month, is not called Payback for nothing either. As a token of our appreciation for those who have worked their way through the Belt-Up Rewards System, Black Belt Poker are offering added value for our higher Belts: if the winner is an Orange Belt, he/she will receive an additional 25 percent on top of first prize, while Greens or above will bag an additional 50 percent!

Hold up, there's more. As well as the aforementioned bonuses, you'll also get a cash boost of $50 if you manage to Bust a Brown Belt, two of whom will be participating in the event. Take down one of our Pros, and that $50 is yours!

Last month, Jack ‘UGotWTFpwned’ Sambrook topped the 20-strong field, picking up a total of $350 - $200 for winning the tournament, $100 for being a Green Belt, and an extra $50 for eliminating Brown Belt James ‘MixedBag1’ Mitchell. Tonight, you could do the same.

To take part, simply boot up the Black Belt Poker client and find the tournament in ‘scheduled’. The buy-in is $20+2 or, alternatively, you can use your Spending Points to purchase a Deepstack Payback Tournament Token. If you don’t already have an account, then download the poker client and follow the simple steps.

You'll start with 3,000 chips and will battle your way through 15-minute blinds of No Limit Hold'em. Are you ready to step up to the plate and be crowned our Deepstack Payback Freezeout champion? As the saying aptly puts it: you've gotta be in it to win it, and the value doesn’t get much better than this.