Razavi Tops UKIPT Leader Board

With the London EPT marking the conclusion of this season's UKIPT, Black Belt Poker sponsored pro Sam Razavi has been crowned UKIPT Leaderboard Champion, winning buy-ins and accommodation for the entire third season.

Sam topped the table with 240.35 points, fending off a tough chasing pack that included serial casher Rupinder Bedi, double finalist Chris Dowling, and Edinburgh Champion Fintan Gavin.

Despite being an online cash game pro, Sam secured victory with four in-the-money finishes totalling an impressive $108,754. These included cashes in Nottingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cork, where he left with the title in hand, thus giving Black Belt Poker its second Champion to date after Jamie Burland won Season 1's Brighton leg.

The final results were as follows:

1st Sam Razavi -- 240,35
2nd Rupinder Bedi -- 220,9
3rd Chris Dowling -- 206,95
4th Paul Nash -- 194,7
5th Nick Abou Risk -- 192,3
6th Mike Hill -- 178,8
7th Fintan Gavin -- 167,5
8th Richard Lawlor -- 165,25
9th Richard Haile -- 165,1
10th Sam MacDonald -- 164

Fellow Black Belt Poker pros Jamie Burland and Kevin Williams finished 14th and 19th respectively with a combined five cashes.

A former thespian from Brighton, Sam was a product of the Black Belt Poker Grading, which led him to Sidney where he final-tabled the Aussie Millions Main Event for A$225,000. His sixth place finish awarded him enough Prize Points to join Neil Channing and Richard Ashby as one of three Black Belts earning $10,000 a month in live tournament backing.

"Although I have a long way to go to cement a name for myself in tournament poker," commented a jubilant Sam, "I've enjoyed consistently deep runs throughout 2011. I only decided to put my foot into tournament poker at the start of this year, so to then go and top the UKIPT leaderboard is the icing on the cake. It should put a temporary 'cork' into the mouths of those people who think I just sit around all day waiting for fish without working on my game."

"With regards to Season 3 of the UK," he continued, "and in the words of Tony G: ''I'm going to destroy you. I'm going to send you all home. Go on. On your bike!''"

Before Season 3, however, Sam will be busy with the Champion of Champions, which is due to be filmed prior to the opening leg.

In the meantime, he will be sharing his knowledge to debuting players in a live Dojo Session at the Black Belt Nottingham Live. Tickets are a snip at just 300 Spending Points and are available via the Black Belt Poker Store under Live Events.