League VII: Party With the Pros

Grab a cracker and a glass of sherry as League VII has arrived in festive spirits. With the Christmas season approaching, Black Belt Poker have decided to invite the winner of League VII to the Black Belt Poker Christmas party at the Grosvenor Victoria as a special guest of 2010 Luton GUKPT Champion Neil Channing.

At the party, the lucky winner will get to chat, play and dine with the pros, including UKIPT Champion Jamie Burland, Irish Player of the Year Owen Robinson, and bracelet winner Richard Ashby. After a slap-up meal, the League VII Champion will play against the Black Belt Poker Team in a £1,500 SNG freeroll, the winner of which will receive £1,000 with second taking £500.

The League will be a weekly $5 No Limit Hold'em freezeout commencing on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 and running for eight weeks until Tuesday, December 14, 2010. The prizes for the top 10 places are as follows:

1st Party Package & DeucesCracked Token
2nd 1,000 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
3rd 850 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
4th 750 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
5th 600 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
6th 500 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
7th 400 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
8th 300 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
9th 200 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
10th 100 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token

Points for each leg will be awarded in reverse order, so that in a 50-runner event, 50th would earn 1 point, and 1st 50 points. The top 10 finishers per leg receive the following additional points:

1st 25 Points
2nd 18 Points
3rd 15 Points
4th 12 Points
5th 10 Points
6th 08 Points
7th 06 Points
8th 04 Points
9th 02 Points
10th 01 Point

The League is open to Yellow Belts and above and you can join at any point. This is a great opportunity to not only meet Black Belt Poker latest's recruit Richard Ashby and the rest of the sponsored team, but also get to ask them questions about your game.

If your aces are cracked in the League, then fear not, as we have two other tournaments waiting in the wings. At the new time of 8.30pm, the Mulligan is a deep-stacked freezeout that offers plenty of room for skill to prevail, and all for just $15+1.50!

Then, at 9.30pm is when the real fun starts as we introduce our $0.50+0.05 Donkament, a No Limit rebuy frenzy that gives players the opportunity to release all that pent up frustration from any bad beats suffered during the previous tournaments.

If that isn't enough to whet your appetite, then Neil Channing will be returning for Challenge Channing, a $0.25/0.50 full-ring cash game starting at 9.00pm. If you fancy fleecing Channing's pockets, then simply search for 'Table Channing' in the cash game lobby.

Super Tuesday is back and better than ever, and we'd love for you to join us next week for the opening leg, whatever your Belt level. So, log in, get signed up, and brace yourself for some poker fun and frolics, Black Belt Poker style. In eight weeks' time, you might just find yourself joining a very illustrious list indeed...

Previous Winners:

League I: Adam Saunders
League II: Mark Brassington
League III: David Meunier
League IV: Andy Brisland
League V: Trevor Myers
League VI: Mark Ranson

To open an account is easy: just download the poker client and follow the simple step-by-step process provided.

Robinson Crew So Happy

Last night, Black Belt Poker sponsored pro Owen Robinson scooped up two titles at the Irish Poker Awards at the Regency Hotel in Dublin.

Running parallel with the IPO, the Irish Poker Awards acknowledged the achievements of some of Irish poker's most celebrated players, with the likes of Donnacha O'Dea, Nicky Power and Tom Hanlon all nominated for awards.

28-years of age from Wexford Town in the south east of Ireland, Owen is a part-time poker player who got into poker after playing a home game with friends. Earlier in the year, he emerged as the biggest winner in Grading II, earning himself an all-expenses paid package to the Irish Open. In addition, he was fast-tracked to Blue Belt status in the Belt-Up Rewards System, thereby giving him $1,500 in live tournament backing every month.

Over the last several months, Owen has proved himself to be one of Ireland's biggest up-and-coming stars with three deep runs in UKIPT Main Events (including 4th in Nottingham for £21,400). It was thus fitting that he overcame a tough line-up to be win the award for Break Out Year. He then followed that up by taking down the ultimate honour: Player of the Year.

Owen was modest in victory: "I was really pleased to win, but I'm not sure I deserved to be Player of the Year. John O'Shea is a great player and he finalled a WPT earlier in the year. Sean Prendeville could have won too. Not many people will have heard of him, but he won two events for around 35K each and then went deep in two WSOP events in Vegas."

"It was a fun night," he continued. "Gavin [Hall] and Rob [Jarrett-Smith] had been playing the IPO, so I had plenty of support. Paul Marrow was also there in his shiny suit, with matching shoes, which was impressive. There weren't too many winners. Jesse [May] was joking afterwards that it was now a race between me and Padraig to see who could win the most Irish Poker Awards bracelets."

Although Owen scooped the major award, the night also proved fruitful for Padraig Parkinson and John O'Shea who both picked up two awards themselves, the former defeating Paul Marrow, Marty Smyth, Fintan Gavin, and Thomas Nolan to become Poker Personality of the Year. ("That was just a list of the biggest Guinness drinkers," laughed Owen.)

However, the night clearly belonged to Owen, who, after an impressive year, received a well-deserved nod for his undeniable talent and potential. Next stop: the Oscars.

If you would like to be mentored by Owen, then check out our brand new Enlightenment Training Programme.

The Home Stretch

After a week of battling the virtual felt, the finishing line is now in sight as Pre-Graders enter into the final two days of this month's Pre-Grading.

Commencing on October 08, the Pre-Grading has seen a near 150 players ambush the cash tables in order to earn a spot in the Aussie Four-O and an opportunity to win one of three £10,000 packages to the 2011 Aussie Millions.

Grading III: Journey to Oz kicks off on Monday, November 01 and will see 40 Pre-Grading qualifiers compete over a six-week period. Players will be playing minimum stakes of $0.50/1 for the first four weeks, before moving onto $1/2 for the final two weeks. Meanwhile, they will be asked to attend Workshops and contribute editorial.

But before then, players must survive the Pre-Grading, and the conclusion is a gnat's nostril hair away. Many have already completed the required number of Grading Points, playing a mixture of full-ring, six-handed and heads-up, whilst others are just inches away. Even for those who have been lagging behind, a strong finish over the weekend could easily see them qualify at the very latest of seconds.

This year's Pre-Grading has attracted impressive numbers, with an eclectic line-up including GUKPT finalists Adam Stoneham and Jamie Sykes, PKR Live Champion Vincent Diver, and former Graders Mike Shaw, Mike Carroll, Joe Roberts and John Hayes. Even community favourite and former League winner Adam 'JHobbit1' Saunders is mounting an assault from the Isle of Man!

However, only three poker gladiators can become our latest Brown Belts and receive $4,000 in live tournament backing every month, but that short-list is about to get even shorter. Make sure you check out the site next week to see who made the cut and pushed themselve one rung closer to Oz.

Free Money for MTT Players!

Christmas may still be over two months away, but iPoker are already in a giving mood with the announcement of their latest promotion: MTT Leaderboard.

Kicking off on Monday, November 01, the MTT Leaderboard will reward no fewer than 500 iPoker players with additional cash prizes for performance in iPoker tournaments based on position and tournament buy-in.

The promotion will run for three months, with the following cash prizes awarded, as well as a $2,500 freeroll scheduled for Sunday, December 5:

1st $1,500 + Freeroll
2nd $1,000 + Freeroll
3rd $750 + Freeroll
4th $500 + Freeroll
5th $350 + Freeroll
6th $250 + Freeroll
7th $175 + Freeroll
8th $125 + Freeroll
9th $100 + Freeroll
10th $80 + Freeroll
11-20th $70 + Freeroll
21st-30th $60 + Freeroll
31st-40th $50 + Freeroll
41st-50th $40 + Freeroll
51st-75th $30 + Freeroll
76th-100th $25 + Freeroll
101st-150th $20 + Freeroll
151-200th $15 + Freeroll
200th-500th Freeroll

At the end of the three months, the top 10 players in the quarterly leaderboard will then be eligible for a second freeroll in Feburary in which a $14,000 winner's choice package will be awarded.

Unlike many networks/cardrooms, iPoker recognise that not everyone is a full-time player, so to ensure that it doesn't boil down to 'who plays the most wins', only the top 20 results of each player will be considered for the leaderboard, thus giving everyone an equally opportunity to top the charts and become MTT King.

If you play MTTs, or simply fancy mixing in your cash play with the occasional tournament, then the MTT Leaderboard is a promotion you simply can't miss. There's absolutely no catch and participation won't affect your Belt Points, so be sure to give us a spin at Black Belt Poker - the UK's most up-and-coming cardroom.

Of course, to play, you have to donwload the Black Belt Poker cardroom. But don't worry, it's as easy as a Sunday morning: simply click this link to download the client and follow the step-by-step process provided to opening an account.

Keep an eye out on our promotions page later in the week for all the details including detailed terms and conditions.

Chufty Confirmed for BBP Academy

Just a fortnight after signing with Black Belt Poker, Richard Ashby has confirmed his presence at the next Academy as Black Belt Poker, in association with Bluff Europe Magazine, take players back to school for a poker masterclass.

A former Options and Futures Market Maker from London, Richard is an Omaha specialist who recently rocked the live scene when he he won his first WSOP 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.

The subject for this month's Academy is 'Poker and Computers: Video Training, Poker Software and the Online Game', and Richard is perhaps more qualified than anyone to share his thoughts after becoming one of the few UK-based players to conquer the nosebleed stakes. Other topics include: trackers and HUDs, table selection, odds and equity software, and player stats and how to use them.

Joining Richard will be Bluff Europe columnist Alex Rousso, as well as Blue Belt and Enlightenment Sensei Kevin Williams who recently presented a lecture on 'G Bucks' at Leicester Square's Poker in the Park.

The Academy is scheduled for Saturday, October 30, 2010, and will see the Black Belt Poker team grace the Mint Casino in South Kensington for the first time. The day will commence at 1.30pm and conclude at 7.30pm, at which point players will participate in an exclusive freeroll in which the winner will earn himself a free seat in the next Academy.

The Academy is capped at 30 and costs £150 per ticket. If you would like to attend next week's Academy, then simply send a cheque to Black Belt Poker Limited, The Rotunda, 42/3 Gloucester Crescent, London, NW1 7DL or transfer the money via the Black Belt Poker cardroom. For more information on cardroom transfers, please contact info@blackbeltpoker.com.

Alternatively, you can purchase your ticket with Spending Points earned through playing on the site. An Academy ticket is now available in the Black Belt Poker Store for 4,500 Spending Points. Simply log in to the community and select 'Store' in the top right hand menu.

If you're Orange Belt or above, then you may wish to wait several days, as on Monday, October 25, Black Belt Poker will be holding its monthly Orange Belt Academy Freeroll. With two free seats available every month, this is a great way to take advantage of the benefits of scaling the Belts and ensure that you don't miss out on a great opportunity to develop your game.

The Academies are highly acclaimed and frequently receive positive reviews from attendees. If you would like to hear from some of the game's hottest talents, then be sure to secure your seat now and we look forward to seeing you at Mint Casino at the end of the month.

Pre-Grading Starts at Midnight!

Like the countdown to the Millennium, the clock is ticking as Black Belt Poker closes in on the launch of its latest Grading process, Grading III: Journey to Oz.

Y2G arrives tonight, at midnight (00.00, Friday, October 08), at which point players will begin the long, winding, but ultimately fruitful road to Oz. Along the way, they will hear from former Graders Kevin Williams and Jamie Burland, as well as award winning pros Neil Channing and Richard Ashby.

Discussing your game with others is perhaps the best method for improving your game, and the Grading offers just that as we bring together 40 highly motivated Graders willing to improve, develop, fine-tune their game, and fully reach their potential as a poker player.

What's more, three players will win an all-expenses paid trip to Melbourne to play in the Aussie Millions armed with a £10,000 package, including entry into the Main Event! Upon return, they'll receive $4,000 a month in live tournament backing as one of our newest Brown Belts!

If you think you have what it takes to flourish in the Grading, or simply want to work alongside like-minded people in a bid to furthering your game, then make sure you sign up for the Pre-Grading before the clock strikes midnight.

To register is easy: simply log in to you community account, go to 'settings' and tick the box in 'Grading - Participation in Selection Week'. But be quick, the clock is ticking!

When you've enrolled, then all you have to do is play and meet the Pre-Grading requirements before the end of Sunday, October 17, at which point we'll select the 40 Graders for Grading III.

Vote Robinson!

With Neil Channing and Richard Ashby picking up silverware in last month's British Poker Awards, Black Belt Poker are on the verge of adding yet more trophies to the cupboard at the Irish version of the event.

Scheduled for Sunday, October 17, 2010, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, the Irish Poker Awards sees some of the Emerald Isle's hottest poker talent congregate into one room, and celebrate a year of poker achievements.

Although Irish legends Donnacha O'Dea, Andy Black and Padraig Parkinson are up for awards, Black Belt Poker's Owen Robinson has been nominated in two categories: 'Break Out Year' and 'Player of the Year', both of which will be chosen by readers.

28-years of age from Wexford Town in the south east of Ireland, Owen is a part-time poker player who, until recently, worked an office job at the local council. Due to government wage bill cuts, he’s currently undertaking a voluntary subsided career break for three years in order to pursue other ventures. As well as trying to make his way in the poker world, Owen plans on getting an M.A. and travelling parts of the world.

Owen got into poker via a similar route to most, joining a friendly home game with his mates before developing a genuine passion for the game. A naturally competitive individual, Owen is a true student of the game who enjoys all of its nuances and complexities, and is constantly looking to improve his skills.

A product of Grading II, Owen emerged as the biggest winner of the process, earning himself an all-expenses paid package to the Irish Open. In addition, he was fast-tracked to Blue Belt status in our Belt-Up Rewards System, thereby giving him $1,500 in live tournament backing every month.

Over the last several months, Owen has proven to be one of Ireland's best up-and-coming stars, flourishing in online heads-up cash and making the money in three UKIPT Main Event (including 4th in Nottingham for £21,400), the culmination of which led to him finishing fourth on the UKIPT leaderboard.

Now is your chance to reward Owen for his achievement by voting for him at the Irish Poker Awards. Click here to place your vote and help make it a Black Belt Poker trio of awards.

Miles Ahead; Andy Miles Hits Blue Belt

September was a bumper month for Black Belt Poker as we witnessed no fewer than 30 players become Orange Belts, as well a trio of up-and-comers frogleap their way right up to Purple. However, one man exceeded everyone.

At the start of the month, Andy Miles was a Green Belt, but on October 01, 2010, he was promoted to Blue Belt and became the the first player in Black Belt Poker history to work their way up to Blue Belt without being fast-tracking by a Grading.

Hailing from Southampton, Andy is a jack-of-all-trades, playing a variety of games both live and online. Online, six-handed Pot Limit Omaha cash is his speciality, but he also dabbles in High-Low and Hold'em too. When he's not at home, Andy can be found playing on the live tournament circuit and boasts a number of cashes from across the country, as well as two WSOP cashes over in Vegas.

His biggest in-the-money finish, however, came just last month, when Andy finished 10th in the £5,000 Pot Limit Omaha WSOPE event. Competing against some of the world's greatest Omaha players, Andy performed admirably to take home his biggest score to date, £12,174, and was desperately unlucky not to have made the final table, his aces cruelly outdrawn by the sevens of Brazilian Felipe Ramos.

Andy used some of the Spending Points he'd collated upon scaling the Belts to play this event, but now he'll have even more options as he officially becomes one of Black Belt Poker's sponsored pros. Joining the likes of ECOOP event winner Rob Jarrett-Smith and UKIPT Brighton Champion Jamie Burland, Andy will now have $1,500 in live tournament backing at his disposal every single month.

Black Belt Poker would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Andy on his achievement, as well as all our other players who jumped up a Belt. The full list is as follows:

Orange:

Alexander Weil
Andrew Maguire
Andriena Nutt
Carey Hollick
Chris Nicol
Christopher O'Mahony
Colin Bryon
Darren Harte
Darren Meredith
David Fahrenholz
David O'Connor
Elliott Murphy
Hugo Martin
Ian Fox
Ian Frazer
Jim Mugaseth
Lee Neary
Mark Norman
Michael Dwyer
Mick Doyle
Nicholas Kaxe
Nigel Clifford
Paul Farr
Pratik Ghatge
Raine Hilson
Robert Hudson
Simon Shaw
Stephen Solomon
Thomas Langley
Tomas Cibak

Purple:

Duncan White
Ian Grieve
Samad Razavi

Blue:

Andy Miles

To follow in the footsteps of Andy, check out our Belt-Up Rewards page. The first step it to register with out cardroom. To open an account is easy, simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

Paying the Ranson: 99Ranny Wins League VI

Last night, Mark '99Ranny' Ranson joined an illustrious list of winners to become the League VI Champion, topping a League of 147 competitors after eight gruelling legs. As a result, not only will Mark receive a free DeucesCracked token and bragging rights for the remainder of the year, but he'll also be heading to the Cardiff studios this October to watch the Late Night Poker final unfold as a special guest of Neil Channing.

The final leg was a hotly contested affair as several players still had a chance of snapping up that exclusive top prize. Meanwhile, Black Belt Poker were once again adding a free IPO (International Poker Open) seat to first place, the winner of which would be following Leg 7 winner Rob Jarrett-Smith to Dublin to compete in Europe's most popular tournament. That man was the flamboyant Paul Marrow, who also came second in the Galway UKIPT for €103,500.

1st paulmarrow -- $100.00 + IPO Seat
2nd RedKiteBlackBelt -- $62.50
3rd miggggy -- $40.00
4th MisterMick -- $27.50
5th bizmarkkk - $20.00

But when the dust had settled and the smoke cleared, all eyes were on those League standings. In the end, a commendable eighth place finish was enough to seal the deal for 99Ranny, who finished the eight weeks 21 points ahead of his nearest competitor, Nigel 'bizmarkkk' Clifford. After a disappointing 30th, Darren 'TheZartog' Meredith slipped to third, whilst hudddy2602 hung onto fourth.

Despite the danger of Kevin Williams, Simon Mairs and former Champion Andy Brisland lurking in the teens, there was little change in the top 10, the only exchange being between Andrew 'miggggy' Maguire and poor Simon 'The Simian' Morris, the latter dropping into that unwanted bubble spot right at the death. Blue Belts Owen 'Ruaction' Robinson and Gavin 'TFMonty007' Hall were also close, but no cigar.

1st 99Ranny (443 points) -- LNP Package & DeucesCracked Token
2nd bizmarkkk (422 points) -- 1,000 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
3rd TheZartog (393 points) -- 850 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
4th huddy2602 (391 points) --750 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
5th PeterV1972 (376 points -- 600 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
6th ourkidsid (373 points) -- 500 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
7th miggggy (371 points) -- 400 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
8th SirNutFlopper (369 points) -- 300 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
9th paddyjim67 (367 points) -- 200 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
10th cleavertrevor (366 points) -- 100 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token

11th The Simian -- 358 points
12th RedKiteBlackBelt -- 358 points
13th Always Missing -- 338 points
14th Kevish47 -- 336 points
15th BoatDrink -- 329 points
16th Bambury -- 320 points
17th Ruaction -- 310 points
18th TFMonty007 -- 308 points

As per usual, the Mulligan and Donkament both followed the League. Congratulations to Richard 'generalshifty' Hurst and Peter 'PeterV1972' Vasiliou for their victories.

Mulligan:

1st generalshifty -- 187.50
2nd losbert40 -- $112.50
3rd paulmarrow -- $75.00

Donkament:

1st PeterV1972 -- $20.00
2nd bbpjimjam -- $12.00
3rd losbert40 -- $8.00

League VI was a roaring success, with each Leg seeing 50 or more players hit the felt. As always, there was a friendly atmosphere with plenty of upbeat banter, combined with a genuine competitiveness to succeed. Black Belt Poker would like to offer our thanks to everyone that participated, and we look forward to seeing you all in League VII.

To open an account is easy, simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

Previous news:

League VI Starts Today
Super Tuesday Hits the Mark
A Nak for Poker; Richard Dally Wins Leg 2
No Mair for Simon in Leg 3
SEAMless Victory in Leg 4
GayWaiter Serves Up a Win in Leg 5
IPO Giveaway
Brown Belt Wins IPO Seat in Leg 7

Richard Ashby Wins WCOOP Event

Having only joined Black Belt Poker several days ago, Richard 'Chufty' Ashby has marked his arrival in emphatic style by taking down Event #54 of this year's WCOOP on PokerStars.

As one of the world's greatest Pot Limit Omaha players, it was perhaps fitting that victory came in the six-handed PLO $800,000 guaranteed event, a credible 480 players each investing $2,100 to create a sumptuous $960,000 prize pool.

The tournament boasted an esteemed cast with the likes of Barry Greenstein, Johnny Lodden, Greg Raymer, Joe Cada, and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier all competing for WCOOP gold. However, they were little more than a passing memory as Richard ran rampant through the tournament, amassing a hefty stack early doors and remaining among the leaders throughout.

Later on in the event, Richard ran into some tough competition, but was able to work his way onto the final a respectable third in chips. Also going deep was fellow Brit Jon 'LUFCBas' Spinks who finished 15th for $9,120, whilst other familiar names included Brett 'get crank' Richey and Chris 'Money800' Moneymaker in 10th and 34th respectively.

As with the November Nine, there was somewhat of a hiatus prior to the final, players asked to return the next day at 10pm UK time to compete for the $185,760 first prize. Whilst others took 40 winks, this was an opportunity for Richard to join Neil Channing in Day 1b of the WSOPE Main Event. Despite bringing his laptop along, Richard's fate was sealed early doors, his flopped pair and a flush draw bettered by a bigger flush draw which ultimately hit.

After such an early exit in Leicester Square, only a WCOOP win would soften the blow, and that's exactly what happened as Richard refused a deal before toppling unknown entity 'Shatkhi' heads-up to take the lion's share of the prize pool. Not only had Richard sealed yet another victory, but he'd impressed players and railers alike with his unrelenting aggression and ability to apply pressure on his weaker opponents.

Richard is now a proud member of the Black Belt Poker team and will soon become a permanent blogger and much-anticipated Sensei on the site. If you would like to learn from a bracelet and WCOOP winner, then make sure you check out our Enlightenment Training Programme to see how you can scale the ranks and take advantage of all the benefits on offer.

1st CHUFTY -- $185,760
2nd Shatkhi -- $137,760
3rd LukeFromB13 -- $103,200
4th xlllll -- $50,880.00
5th shinbunshi -- $32,640

Brown Belt Wins IPO Seat in Leg 7

Last night's Super Tuesday was possibly one of the most exciting to date. Leg 7 of League VI showcased an intriguing mix of players: those who were fighting for their place in the top 10 of the League standings, and others who were simply vying for the added value of a free seat into the much-anticipated International Poker Open (IPO) in Dublin.

With so much up for grabs, all the usual suspects were present, but it was perhaps one of the most 'usual' who took down top honours and that hotly contested IPO seat: Rob '7Enygma7' Jarrett-Smith. One of three Brown Belts, Rob is an Enlightenment Sensei and one of the winners of Grading II: Destination Dublin, where he earned himself an all-expenses paid trip to play in the 2010 Irish Open.

Fresh off his recent effort in the WSOPE £1,000 event (Rob, sadly, lost a race on Day 1), Rob took home $104, and the IPO seat, after overcoming a tough final table that included UKIPT Galway runner-up Paul Marrow and Leg 5 winner Simon 'GayWaiter' Shaw. His final opponent was Jonathan 'jonnyboy1987' Cross who collected $71.50 for his second place finish.

1st 7Enygma7 -- $104.00 + IPO Seat
2nd jonnyboy1987 -- $71.50
3rd TheGayWaiter -- $43.87
4th 99Ranny -- $32.50
5th 1080Sniper -- $24.37
6th paulmarrow -- $19.50
7th bizmarkkk -- $16.25
8th MisterMick -- $13.00

With the IPO seat snapped up, all eyes were now on the League standings. Current leader Darren 'TheZartog' Meredith finished a disappointing 38th, Robert 'huddy2602' Hudson 27th, and even a normally consistent Peter 'PeterV1972' Vasiliou could only muster 45th - the combination of which meant that, once again, we had a new League leader in Mark 'Ranny99' Ranson, whose final table appearance saw him leapfrog to the top with an impressive 396 points.

1st 99Ranny -- 396 points
2nd TheZartog -- 372 points
3rd bizmarkkk -- 366 points
4th huddy2602 -- 366 points
5th SirNutFlopper -- 361 points
6th cleavertrevor -- 349 points
7th TheSimian -- 348 points
8th ourkidsid -- 345 points
9th PeterV1972 -- 341 points
10th paddyjim67 -- 333 points

An hour later, we witnessed a record-breaking field in the Mulligan, a welcome 43 players stumping up the $15 buy-in fee to battle it out for the bragging rights. In the end, it was Yellow Belt Jon 'Ourkid888' Laight who snapped up first prize, whilst Rob Jarrett-Smith finished in 11th.

1st Ourkid888 -- $258
2nd lionrampant27 -- $161.25
3rd BelterMan -- $103.20
4th FlaxseedGoji -- $70.95
5th Jduckworth -- $51.60

The Donkament was equally well contested, first place going to none other than Brown Belt and Enlightenment Sensei Jerome 'GONGONONGO' Bradpiece who bested 43 of BBP's finest.

1st GONGONONGO -- $28.20
2nd SitNutFlopper -- $17.62
3rd bbpjimjam -- $11.28
4th Werrrrd -- $7.75
5th AngelVickie48 -- $5.64

With just one Leg of League VI remaining, there's still plenty up for grabs. Although 99Ranny takes a lead of 24 into the final Leg, just one slip-up could see all his good work unravel at the death. Meanwhile, the top 10 is by no means signed and sealed, and with Blue Belts Gavin Hall, Kevin Williams, Simon Mairs, and Owen Robinson sitting in 12-15th respectively, Leg 8 could easily witness a changing of the guards.

Who will win a trip to the Late Night Poker studios? Who will reap the rewards of finishing in the top 10? Who will snap up that final IPO seat? To quote a giant animated finger, "It could be you," but only if you register for the final Super Tuesday of League VI.

To open an account is easy, simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

Previous news:

League VI Starts Today
Super Tuesday Hits the Mark
A Nak for Poker; Richard Dally Wins Leg 2
No Mair for Simon in Leg 3
SEAMless Victory in Leg 4
GayWaiter Serves Up a Win in Leg 5
IPO Giveaway

Gone to Pieces

After continual pressure from his peers, Neil Channing has finally lost the plot and agreed to sell pieces of himself in the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event: no premium, no registration fee, no catch - just a face value investment of one of the UK's most celebrated players.

For years, Neil has been regarded as one of the most renowned stakers in the industry, backing players such as Sam Trickett, Sunny Chattha, Steve Jelinek and, more recently, the Blue and Brown Belt players on Black Belt Poker. In 2009, he bought 25 percent of James Akenhead in the WSOP Main Event, who went on to make the November Nine, finishing in ninth place for $1,263,602.

Now, fresh off his victory at the Luton GUKPT, Neil is reversing the roles to give you a chance to become the staker and back the 2008 Irish Open winner in one of the biggest events on the poker calendar. With an estimated $1,000,000 plus first prize, this is an opportunity you simply can't ignore!

"I've totally gone to pieces," commented Neil with a shake of the head, "'I cracked and just couldn't take the pressure anymore, so I've decided to spread the wealth and give people the chance to stick their finger in the Channing pie. I'm virtually giving money away! There's no way I'm cutting up the bracelet into multiple pieces though!"

"I'm very concerned about him," added Neil's psychiatrist. "He's been very stressed of late, but this latest offer is just madness. I don't know why Neil would want to give away his winnings. It's as if he wants to reward his loyal players or something."

To purchase a piece of Neil in the WSOPE Main Event, investors are invited to make an online transfer via the Black Belt Poker client using the following details:

username: BBPADMINACC
email: ADMINACC@blackbeltpoker.com

The 'online transfer' option can be located in the left hand menu of the 'Account' tab in the cashier of the Black Belt Poker lobby. Investments will be a minimum of £50 (0.5%) and a maximum of £500 (5%) with no more than 25% being sold.

All payments must be received before 12pm, Friday, September 24. Any payments received after this time/date, will not qualify and will be returned immediately. All investors will receive a confirmation email upon transfer of funds, and will receive any winnings via the same online transfer method.

This offer is exclusive to Black Belt Poker players of Yellow Belt and above. If you're not yet a Yellow Belt, then it's not too late, simply download the poker client, and follow the step-by-step process to opening your account and linking to your community profile.

IPO Giveaway

Despite the recent launch of our Enlightenment Training Programme, the value at Black Belt Poker continues to run rampant as we add additional value to the final legs of League VI.

With just two legs remaining, we've decided to reward our loyal player base by adding a free IPO seat to first place on each leg. To win the prize, you must have registered, and played, in all three Super Tuesday events for that evening: League VI (7.30pm), The Mulligan (8.30pm), and The Donkament (9.30pm).

With in excess of a thousand poker fanatics making the now annual pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle, the International Poker Open (IPO) has quickly become Europe's largest live tournament and is also one of the most cosmopolitan, attracting players from countries such as Scotland, Holland, Belgium and, most notably, France.

Scheduled for October 15-17 at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, the IPO is set to be another roaring success, with players looking to repeat the success of reigning Champion Markus Sippe of Germany who defeated a field of 1,440 to take home the title and $62,250 first prize. Now is your chance to follow in his footsteps.

If you've never played the Black Belt Poker League, then don't worry, you can still enter Legs 7 and/or 8 and battle it out for an IPO seat. Just find 'League VI' in 'Black Belt Tournaments' in the cardroom lobby and click 'register' to secure your seat. If you're yet to play on the site, then opening an account couldn't be easier: simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

Last Tuesday, League VI entered Leg 6 with 51 players eager to make their mark. The man who shone brightest, however, was the legendary Chris 'cyprusdonkey' Poutashi, the community favourite picking up first place for $81.60.

1st cyprusdonkey -- $81.60
2nd Ruaction -- $56.10
3rd russelhansen -- $34.42
4th insider66666 -- $25.50
5th delhartley -- $19.12
6th bizmarkkk -- $15.30
7th generalshifty -- $12.75
8th TheSimian -- $10.20

Also making the final was Nigel 'bizmarkkk' Clifford. He finished in sixth place for $15.30, which was just about enough to sneak him into ninth place in the League table with 301 points. The leader, however, remains Darren 'TheZartog' Meredith who pulls away slightly with 344 points, his closest rival being Robert 'huddy2602' Hudson who sits in second with 327 points.

But it's not over yet. Any of the top 10 could pull out consecutive final tables in the last two legs and be heading to Cardiff to watch the Late Night Poker final unfold as Neil Channing's special guest.

1st TheZartog -- 344 points
2nd huddy2602 -- 327 points
3rd 99Ranny -- 322 points
4th PeterV1972 -- 320 points
5th TheSimian -- 319 points
6th SirNutFlopper -- 304 points
7th paddyjim67 -- 303 points
8th cleavertrevor -- 302 points
9th bizmarkkk -- 301 points

Meanwhile, Richard 'generalshifty' Hurst won the Mulligan…

1st generalshifty -- $82.50
2nd bbpjimjam -- $49.50
3rd JHobbit1 -- $33.00

… whilst Kim 'insider66666' Vernon took down the Donkament.

1st insider66666 -- $12.25
2nd RedKiteBlackBelt -- $7.35
3rd generalshifty -- $4.90

It's been a great League so far, but it's just about to get better as we throw a couple of IPO seats into the mix. Register now for next Tuesday's leg and don't miss out on what is an incredible opportunity.

* to qualify for the extra chips promotion, players will still need to rake $15 for September and/or October.

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?"

Grading III: Journey to Oz

For over a decade, the Aussie Millions has been one of the first dates circled on the poker calendar with players travelling from all over the world to play the most celebrated tournament outside of the World Series. Now, thanks to Black Belt Poker, you can join them.

Grading III: Journey to Oz is set to take the poker world by storm by offering three players an all-expenses paid Aussie Millions package worth £10,000. Winners will also be promoted to Brown Belt status on Black Belt Poker and receive $4,000 in live tournament backing every month!

The Grading officially kicks off on Friday, October 08, 2010 with the Pre-Grading Selection, by which players are subjected to our unique screening process. By Sunday, October 17, 2010, you will be required to have completed one of the following three routes at minimum stakes of $0.25/0.50:

(i) 10,000 hands of full-ring
(ii) 8,000 hands of six-max
(iii) 6,250 hands of heads-up

Once you have completed the required number of hands, you will be eligible for selection for the Grading. If you are one of the lucky 40 chosen, you will become a member of the Aussie Four-O, and be just six weeks away from winning an Aussie Millions package!

Even if you aren't selected, then you will still be rewarded with Purple Belt status for successfully completing the Pre-Grading. Purple Belt offers a number of exciting benefits that tie in with our our brand new Enlightenment Training Programme including a DeucesCracked token, Hold'em Manager tracking software, a Database Keihatsu and a monthly invite to one of our acclaimed Dojo Sessions, all absolutely free!

The Grading is a unique concept created by Black Belt Poker co-founders Neil Channing and Nik Persaud to unearth some of the UK's unfound talent. Over the course of six weeks, players will battle it out on the Black Belt Poker skin with Neil and Nik personally selecting the top performing players across several different scoring criteria. If you finish in the top three, then you can look forward to playing at the Aussie Millions in February.

The Grading process is a great learning tool and involves Workshops with contributions from the likes of UKIPT Brighton winner Jamie Burland and Aussie Millions finalist Richard Ashby. Many former Graders have gone on to win major events, such as 2010 Irish Open Champion James Mitchell.

2010 EPT Vilamoura Champion Toby Lewis:

"Just to talk to Neil, Nik and any of those people at the Grading was a good learning experience to do. I didn't know anybody really in the live scene until then. Now I know a lot more people, and that helps a lot to have friends in the game whose opinions you respect."

ECOOP VI Event #1 Winner Eoin Kennedy:

"The whole experience of the Grading was excellent and a very important part in the development of my poker game. It introduced me to some great contacts in the poker world and showed me how beneficial doing sessions online while someone is watching and discussing your plays can be for both people."

UKIPT Nottingham finalist Owen Robinson:

"It [The Grading] hit home the need and importance for working on your game outside of the hours that you are playing. I would recommend it to anyone that is in any way serious about poker because you get a lot out of it, and get to meet some great people."

Black Belt Poker will be releasing all those finer details in due course, but if you would like to contact us directly with any queries, then please feel free to do so by emailing grading@blackbeltpoker.com.

To open an account is easy, simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

(Black Belt) Poker in the Park

Following a successful showing at last year's event, Black Belt Poker once again ambushed London's Leicester Square as Poker in the Park returned for a third consecutive year.

Located two tents away from legendary boxer Evander 'Real Deal' Holyfield, Black Belt Poker were packing a punch of our own as we offered tuition from 2010 Luton GUKPT Champion Neil Channing, as well as sponsored pros Gavin Hall, Kevin Williams, Jerome Bradpiece, Rob Jarrett-Smith and Adam Latimer.

A number of familiar faces from the Black Belt Poker community were present, including former Graders Andy Brisland, Carey Hollick and Joe Roberts, as well as community members Tom Drew, Dean Watson and Chris Poutashi. However, we also introduced the site to plenty of new faces, many of whom will hopefully become a part of what is UK poker's fastest growing social network.

When he wasn't sharing his pearls of wisdom or kissing babies' heads, Channing was hosting a Q&A in the opposing tent, answering any' impromptu' question that the audience felt the urge to throw at him from his experiences with staking to his many, many TV appearances. Also pencilled in was Blue Belt and Enlightenment Sensei Kevin Williams who gave a lecture on G Bucks midway through the day.

Poker in the Park was a huge success for Black Belt Poker as we were able to open ourselves up to an even wider audience, and continue to showcase the numerous benefits to playing on the site. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended, and we hope that you enjoyed the tuition on offer. If you have a thirst for more, then be sure to check out our new Enlightenment Training Programme.

All images courtesy of Anne Laymond. Anne is a highly sought after photographer in the poker industry. If you would like to contact her regarding offers of work or to purchase a high-res image, you can do so by emailing her at laymond@gmail.com or visiting pokerpics.co.uk.

Kevin Williams, Gavin Hall & Sam Tye (cameo from Snoopy)


Random Norkage

Sensei Channing

Sensei Jarrett-Smith

Ibiza Angels

Sensei Channing & Co.

Sensei Bradpiece

Sensei Williams

Sensei Latimer

Sensei Channing, Dean Watson & Jake Cody

Tom Drew, Joe Roberts, Kevin Williams & Rob Jarrett-Smith

Ed Lao

Sensei Channing

The BBP Squad

Jerome Bradpiece's Other Half, Sarah, & Evander Holyfield

Sensei Channing

Sensei Hall

Star Photographer Anne Laymond

Neil Channing: A Broken Man

After year's of staking many of the UK's best known pros, Neil Channing has finally cracked and revealed all the downfalls of being a poker player's most flexible friend. In an exclusive interview at the World Poker Open, Channing was asked about the life of a staker, and in particular his relationship with James Akenhead who Channing has staked a number of times.

"There's 3,900 people in the tournament," starts Channing referring to Akenhead's 2008 near bracelet miss, "and I have 50 percent of him and he comes second. He gets it all in with A-K versus T-4. He didn't even have a pair. All he won was $520,000, and he could have won $850,000."

"As if he hasn't destroyed me enough," he continues with a tear in his eye, "the next year he sells me 25 percent of himself [in the Main Event]. He makes the November Nine and he finishes ninth. He doesn't realise what it's done to me."

"I'm a sad and bitter individual," he concludes, "and I wouldn't recommend staking to anybody out there. Don't do this at home."

To view the exchange in its entirety, select play on the following clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4IbMShxpvw

Akenhead's lack of respect for the 2008 Irish Open Champion grew even worse at the World Poker Open in Mayfair, London, as Channing sacrificed himself in the opening heat so that Akenhead would have less players to defeat, and could go onto to win the tournament.

Faced with a cut-off raise from Sam Trickett, Channing correctly identified that his opponent had Ac-Jh and would call an all-in, and so took the opportunity to make the game easier for Akenhead by coming over the top with a dominated Ad-8d. Trickett called, and after a Ts-Kd-Ks-9s-Qh board, Channing's job was done and he was eliminated in eighth.

"I tried my best to help James," commented a frustrated Channing afterwards, "and make one last effort to rebuild the bridge between us, but he just wasn't interested. With me in the field, he had no chance, so I intentionally put myself on the sidelines. It was the perfect opportunity for him to at least win a spot in the runners-up heat. Seeing as I didn't have a percentage, I was sure he was going to win, but he dropped the ball once again."

Despite this act of heroism, Akenhead was unable to defeat the depleted field, and could only manage a third when he pushed 15 big blinds from the button with Qs-Jd before being looked up by Trickett's 9c-9h. The board rolled out 7h-As-6c-4c-Ah, and Akenhead's lack of gratitude officially knew no bounds. He'd been beaten by a man who likely wouldn't stand a chance in the final, and some Irish dude who once came to a tournament handcuffed to leprechaun.

"James was in the gutter when I found him," added Channing, desperately fighting back the tears, "and not once did he try to give me a walk in this heat. I play every tournament at a disadvantage now; I'm the only player battling with a broken heart. My painful experiences with James make it very difficult to ever stake anyone again."

If you would like to be staked by Neil Channing, then please check out our Belt-Up Rewards system to find out how you can scale the ranks to Brown Belt and receive $4,000 in sponsorship every month.

GayWaiter Serves Up a Win in Leg 5

Nerves were a jangling last Tuesday evening as Leg 5 of the Black Belt Poker League got underway. With the halfway mark behind us, everyone realised that each of the four final legs were vitally important, and that just one slip-up could allow a latecomer to steal their top 10 slot.

With the League standings neck and neck, it was of no surprise to see 62 poker fanatics hit the felt. Blue Belts and Enlightenment Sensei Owen Robinson, Kevin Williams, Gavin Hall and Simon Mairs were present and correct, as was GUKPT Luton Champion Neil Channing. There was also an array of familiar names, likely lured in from a fruitful Poker in the Park experience.

But, only one man could win, and although last week's winner SEAMROG was back to defend, it was ultimately Simon 'TheGayWaiter' Shaw who served up victory. He was closely followed in second by Brown Belt Adam Latimer - making, incidentally, his second consecutive final - whilst Darren 'TheZartog' Meredith finished in third.

1st TheGayWaiter -- $99.20
2nd trojandonkey -- $68.20
3rd TheZartog -- $41.85
4th JackReacher77 -- $31
5th KidDonut -- $23.25
6th generalshifty -- $18.60
7th Broski1 -- $15.50
8th mbdnr235 -- $12.40

If ever there were proof of how close League VI is, then this is it, as a disappointing 46th place finish saw last week's League leader Simon 'AlwaysMissing' Mairs plummet from first to sixth, thus allowing TheZartog to take his turn at the top with 312 points. Peter 'PeterV1972' Vasiliou, meanwhile, trails by just 7 points after a number of consistent performances, whilst Patrick 'paddyjim67' Winterbottom is 10 points behind him.

Turn over a page and you'll see a motley, but dangerous crew lurking in the chasing pack: Quad Aces winner SirNutFlopper, Blue Belt Kevish47 and previous league winners cleavertrevor and DiddavidBEL09 are all still in with a shout.

1st TheZartog -- 312 points
2nd PeterV1972 -- 305 points
3rd paddyjim67 -- 295 points
4th huddy260 -- 291 points
5th 99Ranny -- 279 points
6th AlwaysMissing-- 278 points
7th TFMonty007 -- 275 points
8th TheSimian -- 271 points
9th miggy -- 270 points

In the Mulligan an hour later, 19 players battled it out for the $142.50 first prize, but the man who rose highest was Blue Belt Gavin Hall.

1st TFMonty007 -- $142.50
2nd huddy2602 -- $85.50
3rd ourkidsid -- $85.50

From first to last, Gavin's success didn't carry over to the Donkament as he was first to his the deck and pick up an unwanted wooden spoon. At the other end of the spectrum lay Chris 'cyprusdonkey' Poutashi, the community favourite defeating 17 others to lap up $35.00 for his late-night reign of terror.

1st cyprusdonkey -- $35.00
2nd bbpjimjam -- $21.00
3rd WarrenW -- $14.00

League VI will return next Tuesday to sort the men out from the boys. If you're near the top, then you simply can't miss out. If you've just arrived, then you can still join in with the fun and frolics. Simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided before locating the Black Belt Tournaments in the iPoker lobby.

Previous news:

League VI Starts Today
Super Tuesday Hits the Mark
A Nak for Poker; Richard Dally Wins Leg 2
No Mair for Simon in Leg 3
SEAMless Victory in Leg 4

SEAMless Victory in Leg 4

Although Poker in the Park encapsulated the poker audience this week, last Tuesday evening was still hustle and bustle on Black Belt Poker as players battled it out in Leg 4 of League VI.

As usual, an array of familiar names mixed in with some new faces combined to form a field of 59, all mustard keen to turn their $5 investment into a pot of gold. After a dogged fight, it was unkown entity SEAMROG who rose highest, morphing his bowl of rice into a tasty $94.40 first prize within a few hours.

Also finaling were League I Champion Adam 'JHobbit1' Saunders, Blue Belt Gavin 'TFMonty007' Hall and Chief Enlightenment Sensei Adam 'trojandonkey' Latimer, whilst Leg 2 winner Richard 'nakgeela4' Dally bubbled in ninth.

1st SEAMROG -- $94.40
2nd JHobbit1 -- $64.90
3rd 99Ranny -- $39.82
4th AlwaysMissing -- $29.50
5th TFMonty007 -- $22.12
6th TheSimian -- $17.70
7th bbpjimjam -- $14.75
8th trojandonkey -- $11.80

Glancing at the updated league standings, it's tighter than a french waiter's trousers at the top as Blue Belt and Enlightenment Sensei Simon 'AlwaysMissing' Mairs leads by just one point. Just a remarkable 24 points separate the top 10, meaning that as the halfway mark passes, it's still anyone's game.

1st AlwaysMissing -- 261 points
2nd 99Ranny -- 260 points
3rd PeterV1972 -- 259 points
4th paddyjim67 -- 256 points
5th sandy1611 -- 253 points
6th TFMonty007 -- 250 points
7th TheSimian -- 245 points
8th huddy2602 -- 240 points
9th miggggy -- 239 points

Over in the Donkament, it was an Irish victory as Blue Belt Owen 'Ruaction' Robinson bested a field of 22 to triumph for $23.00, pipping Grant 'betyama' Darnley into second. A few fresh faces stumped up the $0.50 buy-in fee, including scrappykid, harukilopez and Andy 'Boatdrink' Butcher.

1st Ruaction -- $23.00
2nd betyama -- $13.80
3rd KGB386 -- $9.20

The Blue Belts were ever present in the Mulligan with Simon Mairs, Jamie Burland and Gavin Hall all looking to prove their worth. On this occasion, however, it was Robyn 'Madchatter' Oneail who reigned supreme, toppling Simon 'TheSimian' Morris heads-up to snap up first place.

1st Madchatter -- $127.50
2nd TheSimian -- $76.50
3rd generalshifty -- $51.00

Super Tuesday is really hotting up with the League causing much excitement. Unlike previous Leagues in which the eventual winners seemed glued to the top spot throughout, the League VI standings seem to change dramatically on a weekly basis with no one player able to hold onto that top rung. To see if you can take the mantle away from Simon, make sure you join us next Tuesday for a much-anticipated Leg 5.

To open an account is easy, simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

Previous news:

League VI Starts Today
Super Tuesday Hits the Mark
A Nak for Poker; Richard Dally Wins Leg 2
No Mair for Simon in Leg 3

A New Age of Enlightenment

If you're sick of waxing cars and catching flies with chopsticks, then Black Belt Poker may have the remedy you've been waiting for. After much anticipation, today finally witnesses the official launch of Enlightenment, a brand new training programme that seeks to turn prospective students into poker masters through a variety of training methods.

Enlightenment commences at Orange Belt, with players being assigned a personal Sensei and receiving 'Cards of Fury', our monthly Enlightenment newsletter, with hints and tips including advice from recent GUKPT Luton Champion Neil Channing.

As players scale the Belts, their relationship with their personal Sensei intensifies. If they manage to reach Purple Belt, then not only will they receive a DeucesCracked token and free copy of Hold'em Manager, but they will also be eligible for a free Database Keihatsu every six months in which their personal Sensei searches for leaks by running a fine-tooth comb through their hands and data.

At Purple Belt, players also receive the opportunity to attend one free Dojo Session a month. A Dojo Session is an online seminar in which a Blue or Brown Belt presents a lecture on a pre-specified topic. There are four Dojo Sessions scheduled every month with players receiving more free seats the higher their Belt.

If you are seeking Ultimate Enlightenment, however, then you may wish to aim for Green where you will experience a personal training session with your Sensei every single month. In 1-to-1 Enlightenment, students can be trained on a topic of their choosing, with their Sensei offering feedback on how best to improve their game.

Although the free benefits of Enlightenment start at Orange Belt, this doesn't mean that everyone else can't reap the rewards of the Enlightenment process. For just 300 Spending Points, you can attend a Dojo Session and secure your place in one of the seminars. 1-to-1 Enlightenment Sessions are also available for purchase.

Enlightenment is an exciting new programme exclusive to Black Belt Poker, and is being delivered at no extra cost to our loyal players. All these benefits are being thrown onto what they already receive including freerolls, Academy seats, community points, live backing and much, much more.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing Enlightenment in action," commented Black Belt Poker co-founder Neil Channing. "We have a talented group of sponsored pros who are keen to help players work their way through the Belts and become better players. Having a pro analyse your game to this extent makes a huge difference and I wouldn't be surprised to see some really good players emerge from the process."

Enlightenment is already up and running with the first Dojo Session scheduled for kick-off tomorrow at 8pm. If you would like to book your seat, then simply log in to the community and go to 'Live Events' in the 'Store' to purchase your token. But be quick, as there are only eight spots available for each Session!

A fictional martial arts master once said, "In Okinawa, all Miyagi know two things: fish and karate," but now with Black Belt Poker's Enlightenment, they can master poker too! At Black Belt Poker, Ultimate Enlightenment is in the palm of your hands.

Click here for all the details.