Razavi Makes Aussie Millions Final

As Day 4 loomed, hopes were high for Black Belt Poker's lone ranger, and the pressure was mounting, but, as expected, Sam Razavi was in confident mood, and certainly wasn't going to let the potential of a A$2 million payday interrupt his stride.

Prior to the starting whistle, Sam was one of just 18 remaining, his 841,000 stack placing him right in the middle of the pack. However, that statistic changed dramatically within the opening stages as Sam rocketed up into the chip lead in blink-and-you'll-miss-it fashion.

Despite a dogged starting table which included fellow Brits James Keys and start-of-day chip leader Chris Moorman, Sam more than held his own, before enjoying a succession of nice pots, the latter elevating him to the top of the charts with 2,395,000 when he found As-Ah versus the Ac-Ks of Cliff Lee. A king on the flop momentarily teased tragedy, but four raggy cards later and Lee's departure left us with 15.

Unfortunately, Sam was unable to build on this success, and later relinquished the chip lead when he lost half a million in chips to last year's finalist Sorel Mizzi with 3d-3h versus Th-9h on an 8s-7h-3c-6h-Qd board. He then lay down a three-bet to Jeff Rossiter to see his stack dwindle below the 1.5 million mark.

From thereon in, Sam kept a low profile, but it was perhaps this patience - and reluctance to tilt after his recent knocks - that saw him reach the final of the Aussie Millions Main Event, guaranteed A$130,000 in winnings and a mammoth bar bill after the event. Before the night was through, there was time for one last casualty, and that man was Mizzi who exited in ninth.

With just one day remaining, the chip counts are therefore as follows:

Randy Dorfman -- 3,895,000
James Keys -- 2,395,000
David Gorr -- 2,370,000
Samad Razavi -- 1,360,000
Patrik Antonius -- 1,300,000
Jeff Rossiter -- 1,235,000
Michael Ryan -- 960,000
Chris Moorman -- 955,000

With the final level of the day being 12,000/24,000(4,000), there is still plenty of play left in the event, and Sam can take solace in the fact that he has around 50 big blinds. But for Sam, nerves won't be an issue come tomorrow, and it was likely this 'swagger' that led to him offering odds of 4:1 when Randy Dorfman claimed to know the holding of David Gorr in one of the final hands of the day. Of course, he didn't, and Sam scooped up an additional $5,000 pot.

When it rains, it pours - let's hope Sam's good fortune continues tomorrow, and BBP have the honour of crowning the 2011 Aussie Millions Champion.

Aussie Millions: Super Sam in Last 18

At the tail end of September, Sam Razavi opened an account with Black Belt Poker, but little did he know that just four months later, he'd be heading into Day 4 of the Aussie Millions Main Event as one of just eighteen players battling it out for the two million first prize.

Having ploughed his way through a 721-thick field, Sam sits in ninth place and is in with a genuine chance of bringing home a second Aussie Millions ring after fellow Black Belt Poker pro Richard Ashby triumphed in the 8-Game Mixed Event several days earlier.

Sam's journey onto the final two tables, however, has been far from smooth, and, indeed, his initial starting stack of 20,000 was depleted to just 3,300 within the opening levels after he ran top-pair-top-kicker into a set, and pocket aces into trips. But despite his early stutter, Sam laced up his boots and made a comeback of Rocky proportions to finish the day with a somewhat healthier stack...

"Sam actually finished with 45,000," reported mentor Neil Channing. "He got it in with K-Q near the end and thought the guy said 'call', so he flipped his hand up. The guy claimed he said 'cool' and that he hadn't acted yet but then he looked at the K-Q and quickly called. Sam's neighbour piped up that he folded K-Q. The A-3 of diamonds flopped a flush draw, but a nice off-suit king came on the river. Pretty sweet."

Sam's progress through Day 2 was uneventful, but steady, and he ultimately ended the session with a respectable 107,000 and just four places away from the money. In contrast, Day 3 saw more fireworks than bonfire night as Sam enjoyed an immediate double-up with Kc-Ts versus Ac-9c (running tens hitting the flop and turn) to kickstart an incredible surge that would see his stack constantly increase.

Along the way, he eliminated multiple WPT winner Howard Lederer with 3s-3c versus As-Kd, and, at one point, found himself sitting in fourth place with a staggering 1,085,000 when he dispatched of homegrown talent Matthew Kirk in 20th with Qh-Qd versus Ac-Kc. At the final whistle, and with a guaranteed payday of A$70,000 in the bag, Sam went to bed with 841,000 in chips.

Sam may be the only Black Belt Poker pro remaining, but he's not alone in flying the British flag as former James Keys, Eli Heath and Chris Moorman are still alive and well, the latter boasting the chip lead with a commanding stack of 1,643,000. Other recognisable names include Mark Vos, Sorel Mizzi, Tobias Reinkemeier and Finish high stakes pro Patrik Antonius.

Black Belt Poker would like to wish Sam the very best of luck tomorrow; our wages depend on you. No pressure, though.

Werrrrd on the Streak; Leg 1 Dominance

Last night, Tom 'Werrrrd' Drew threatened to become the Phil Taylor of the poker world when he took down the opening Leg of League VIII. A Blue Belt on Black Belt Poker after earning promotion through the recent Grading, Tom was a VIP guest at the Black Belt Poker Christmas party after winning League VII in truly emphatic style. A few weeks later, and little has changed: Tom is still slicing and dicing his way through the field like a machete through butter, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

If he were to win just one Leg this season, then the opener would be the perfect choice as past showings prove that this is easily the most popular tournament on the schedule, thus awarding the winner the most amount of points. But despite this, little did we know that the evening would provide a platform for the biggest League field to date as an incredible 132 salivating poker enthusiasts limbered up their mouse hand and braced themselves for a night of poker fun and frolics. The rewards on offer: a mouth-watering $178.20 first prize, a pace-setting start in the standings, and more bragging rights than tea in China.

As always, the field was an eclectic affair with pros and amateurs alike ambushing the virtual felt. The Blue Belts, in particular, had plenty of ammo in their gun with recent Graders Vincent Diver, Joe Roberts, Oliver Schaffmann and David Docherty, as well as former Graders Jamie Burland, Owen Robinson, Kevin Williams, Simon Mairs and Gavin Hall, the latter of whom was pipped at the post into second. Even Yellow Brick Road trotter Sam Razavi made an appearance, the Brown Belt booting up his laptop from halfway across the globe to take a well-deserved breather from his Aussie Millions adventures.

In the end, and after Paul 'paul6543' Romain felt the full splash of the bubble, 20 players squeaked into the cash for a guaranteed return. Perhaps the most monumental factor of the Leg, however, was that every single previous Champion entered the event (a feat that went unfulfilled throughout the duration of League VII), and although Andy 'RedKiteBlackBelt' Brisland, Mark 'russellhansen' Brassington and Adam 'JHobbit' Saunders fell by the wayside early doors, the other four made it into the money: Trevor 'cleavertrevor' Myers (15th), Mark '99Ranson' Ranson (13th), David 'DididavidBEL09' Meunier (12th) and, of course, our illustrious winner.

1st Werrrrd -- $178.20
2nd TFMonty007 -- $105.60
3rd hiddenacesBBP -- $66.00
4th Mrdroodle -- $52.80
5th adygolf -- $46.20
6th luckyed147 -- $39.60
7th youshouldstakeme -- $33.00
8th JimmyTheBhoy -- $26.40
9th mbdnr235 -- $19.80
10th TeeDeeEye1 -- $13.20
11th sandy1611 -- $7.92
12th DididavidBEL09 -- $7.92
13th 99Ranny -- $7.92
14th ewen51 -- $7.92
15th cleavertrevor -- $7.92
16th HermantheHermit -- $7.92
17th Ruaction -- $7.92
18th ch1paccrual -- $7.92
19th Louise02 -- $7.92
20th habbad -- $7.92

Although the devilish part of my character wanted the wonderfully named 'WTFISMATH' to be leading the way, the man at the top is, inevitably, our current king, and seemingly invincible champion, Tom Drew with 157 points, closely followed by Enlightenment Sensei Gavin Hall with Paul 'hiddenacesBBP' Hollick in third. If the standings remained the same throughout the eight legs, these 10 players would all be going away with a combination of Belt Points and DeucesCracked tokens, with Tom earning himself a seat into the upcoming Black Belt London Live II.

1st Werrrrd -- 157 points
2nd TFMonty007 -- 149 points
3rd hiddenacesBBP -- 145 points
4th Mrdroodle -- 141 points
5th adygolf -- 138 points
6th luckyed147 -- 135 points
7th youshouldstakeme -- 132 points
8th JimmyTheBhoy -- 129 points
9th mbdnr235 -- 126 points
10th TeeDeeEye1 -- 124 points

Super Tuesdays are a little different this time around, with the usual Mulligan and Donkament fixtures being replaced by satellites into the London Live. In the inaugural $40+4 super satellite, the two guaranteed seats went to Purple Belt Richard 'generalshifty' Hurst and Brown Belt Jerome 'GONGONONGO' Bradpiece. They topped a field of 18.

1st GONGONONGO -- London Live seat
2nd generalshifty -- London Live seat
3rd StilettoMafiosa -- $85.00
4th allmichips -- $51.00
5th Thekernell1 -- $34.00

Soon after, players were offered the opportunity to qualify for just $1, the $1+0.10 Donkament Rebuy guaranteeing one seat into the following week's super satellite. This time, 42 players took a shot and with Mandy 'wondrwman' Card bubbling a seat in fourth, Tristan 'tristiano' Chaplin (armed with just one rebuy), Vickie 'AngelVickie' Lambert, and Jerome, again, and perhaps looking to multi-table the Main Event, brought themselves one step closer to a visit to the Grosvenor Victoria this April.

1st GONGONONGO -- super satellite seat
2nd AngelVickie48 -- super satellite seat
3rd tristiano -- seat
4th wondrwman - $6.80
5th betyama -- $4.25
6th generalshifty -- $2.72
7th bbpjimjam -- $1.36

And so, a thrilling night of poker concluded as two more entrants were added to the London Live, and Tom Drew continued where he left off in the League a few weeks ago. Naturally, the record-breaking figures were a joy to see, and confirmation of the ever-increasingly popularity of the League, and for that, we must thank all attendees for both their presence and loyalty.

But enough of the sentiments, this is poker, and next week, Leg 2 will be equally as fierce with some of Black Belt Poker's finest seeking to topple Tom from his throne. Think you've got the cahonies? Then why not download the poker client, open an account, and give it a crack. And who knows, perhaps you could be going to the London Live as the latest League winner…

League VIII: London Live II

League VIII: London Live II

Blow the dust off your royal crockery and brace yourself for the chimes of Big Ben as League VIII has arrived with the nation's capital firmly in its sights. For its eighth outing, the Black Belt Poker League will be offering the lucky winner a guaranteed seat in the most hotly anticipated tournament on the poker calendar: the Black Belt London Live II.

The League will be a weekly $5 No Limit Hold'em freezeout commencing on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 and running for eight weeks until Tuesday, March 15, 2011. The prizes for the top 10 places are as follows:

1st London Live Seat & 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

Announced earlier this week, the Black Belt London Live II will be returning to the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London on April 1-3 with a guranteed $100,000 prize pool and $20,000 first prize. The event will be a $250+25 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout with a 45-minute clock and 20,000 starting stack.

This year, the London Live is jam-packed with more value than ever with 20 bounties and up to 20% added to all prizes. We're also offering weekly satellites, in which players have the opportunity to qualify for the London Live for just $1! Satellites commence on the same day as League VIII in place of the Donkament and Mulligan.

The League is open to Yellow Belts and above and you can join at any point. To become Yellow Belt, all you have to do is open a community account at backbeltpoker.com, download the poker client and make a deposit on the site. Then simply locate the tournament in Scheduled > Black Belt Tournaments > Black Belt League VIII, click register, and, who knows, perhaps you could be the eighth member of the following prestigious list...

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
League VII: Tom Drew

Gold Rush; Aussie Triumph for Ashby

All that glitters is gold for Richard Ashby, as the high stakes pro added yet more gold to his collection last night by scooping an Aussie Millions ring in Melbourne.

Ambushing this year's event along with fellow Black Belt Poker sponsored pros Neil Channing, Adam Stoneham and Sam Razavi, Richard complimented his WSOP bracelet from last year by taking down Event #5 of this year's Aussie Millions at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.

Proving his undeniable talent across multiple games, the tournament was the 8-Game Mixed event and attracted 68 runners. Richard flew out of the blocks like Carl Lewis and was among the chip leaders for most of the tournament, but once down to the final table of seven, found himself last in chips with 59,300 with chip leader Daniel Ospina of Columbia a country mile ahead with 186,700.

The final day, however, saw Richard enjoy a fruitful start when he doubled through in the Limit Hold'em round with just ace high! With Ospina opening from under the gun, and Paul Ravesi raising the button, Richard capped from the small blind with As-Kc before leading out on a 9d-2c-8h flop. Ospina then took control, firing out bets of 5,000 on both the 7s turn and Qs river. Both streets were called down, only for Richard's Big Slick to scoop the pot against Ad-Ts.

After Casey Kastle - an American currently residing in Slovenia - fell in third, Richard found himself heads up against local hero Bruno Portaro with a 545,000 to 135,000 chip lead. Although the Aussie made a commendable fightback, Richard finished off a lengthy heads-up battle in the No Limit Hold'em round, calling his foe's all-in on a Kd-9c-Ac flop with Ah-7h. Portaro could only muster Kh-Ts, which failed to improve on a 5h turn and 4d river.

In addition to becoming the recipient of an Aussie Millions ring, Richard also earned A$23,800 for his troubles, as well as a well-timed confidence boost in preparation for the upcoming Main Event. Although Neil cashed in Event #4's No Limit Hold'em Shootout, Richard's triumph marked the first success for Black Belt Poker at this year's Aussie Millions which will surely spur on the rest of the team who were watching keenly from the rail.

Keep checking the site to see if Black Belt Poker's Aussie Millions contingent can build on that momentum and make an impact on the remaining events.

Click here for images.

Report from Down Under

Last week, the Black Belt Poker team of Neil Channing, Richard Ashby and Grading winners Sam Razavi and Adam Stoneham all endured a 22-hour flight to Sydney before relocating to Melbourne to play this year's Aussie Millions.

Although this will prove a new experience for our two travelling Brown Belts, Richard will be back on familiar soil having final tabled the Main Event two years prior. Emotions will be mixed, however, as he openly confessed to a major downswing at the following year's event in his debuting blog entry. This year, Richard seems to have arrived in high spirits with the high stakes cash games firmly in his sights.

"Despite the continued rain in Melbourne, things are hotting up nicely poker wise here. Last night they were playing $3,000/$6,000 Limit! A lot of the Full Tilt guys are in town as well as a couple of really wealthy Australian business men. They have a lively $100/100/200 PLO game which I may take a shot in later today. I managed to get stuck 14,000 'warming up' in a $5/10/20 game last night which shows you how lively the games are. I hope Channing et al have brought a lot of dosh with them."

Later in the week, Richard found himself tackling 'Crazy Mike', a name Neil had become familiar with following his experiences from last year. "Massive day of poker yesterday. I was up at 6am for the $200,000 GTD Winter Sales event and was still playing 21 hours later in a heads-up $300/600 Limit game with a guy they call 'Crazy Mike'. Anyone heard of him? Total crackpot but entertaining. Managed to win about $20,000 off him which almost covered my $30,000 PLO loss earlier in the day! He wants a rematch tonight. Just off to rail Channing in the shootout for a bit first as I think he is going well."

Despite the primary focus being tournaments and spending the $10,000 Grading package, Adam has also been dipping into the local ring-games:

"I put myself on the $2/5 list and got a seat straight away in the $1/2. The game was relatively soft; the players were generally just limping and then playing rather passive and, if it wasn't for the extortionate hourly $5 fee and then the 10 percent rake of pots and no free drinks ($4 for a coke), it would have been a very good game to play. I was feeling pretty tired at this point so I said I would go to bed if I win or lose a big pot. Some guy had decided to straddle $10 which, in a $1/2 game, I thought was a bit silly. I was dealt J-7 on the cut-off so I couldn't resist trying to take it. I put in a $25 raise and he called.

"The flop was 8-T-K. He checked and then called my $30 bet. The turn was an ace, which I thought was probably the best card for me to win this pot apart from the 9 or J, so I bet $65, hoping for a fold and wondering whether I could bluff him if I miss my double gutter on the river. Fortunately for me, the river was the perfect 9 and I was all in. I was expecting a fold but was delighted after a five minute dwell up when I got a call. I played a few more hands and left when they asked for the next hourly charge."

The first tournament on the Black Belt Poker hit list was Event #4's $1,000 No Limit Hold'em Shootout, which attracted 158 players spread over 18 tables. Although Neil won his opening table, Adam wasn't so fortunate, losing heads-up to former Grader and Brown Belt James Keys. Sam, meanwhile, could only manage a fourth, the winner of his table being EPT Vilamoura Champion Toby Lewis.

With just two Australian flags to his name, Neil was able to advance into the money and make it a hattrick, before falling just inches short of echoing his WSOP shootout final table appearance with a 15th place finish for $2,015. With James Keys opening preflop to 6,200 and the small blind flat-calling, Neil pushed all in for 19,600 with Ah-Tc from the big blind and James called. Despite having his nose slightly ahead, Neil was unable to fend off James' Qh-Jh, the board coming 8h-5s-Js-7c-8c to send the Black Belt Poker head honcho hurtling to the rail.

James wasn't the only Brit to advance to the final; John Eames, Andrew Teng and Jack Powell finished 10th, 7th, and 2nd respectively - with James dropping in 6th - thus allowing Denmark's Soren Blanner to snap up victory and the $37,920 first prize.

Whilst the aforementioned Black Belt Poker casualties enjoy a welcome rest in preparation for tomorrow's Six-Handed No Limit Hold'em event, Richard is busy in Event #5's 8-Game Mixed Event. A disappointing 68 players entered the event, but, nevertheless, Richard has guaranteed himself a payout by making it onto the final table of seven. Unfortunately, he is bottom in chips with 59,300, but if he can enjoy a good start, will be in with a realistic chance of adding an Aussie Millions side event victory to his bracelet win in Vegas.

Click here to view images of the team in Australia.

Satellite into the London Live for $1!

This April, we're putting a 'spring' back in your step with the return of the Black Belt London Live and the most hotly anticipated event on the poker calendar.

At just $250+25 and a guaranteed prize pool of $100,000, the Black Belt London Live II represents great value, and the perfect opportunity for you to turn a small investment into a sumptuous payday.

In order to cater for bankrolls of all sizes, we're offering you the chance to qualify for this year's event for just $1!

Starting Tuesday, January 25, there will be weekly satellites for the London Live, with the opening satellite being a $1+0.10 No Limit Hold'em rebuy with one seat guaranteed into the following week's super satellite. Survive that, and you'll be on your way to London to participate in the UK's most popular tournament.

The full satellite schedule is as follows:

BB London Live Donkament Sat ($1+$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Rebuy/Add-on)
Tuesdays, 9.30pm, 1 seat guaranteed into Super Sat.

BB London Live Satellite ($5+$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout)
Thursdays, 8.30pm, 1 seat guaranteed into Super Sat.

BB London Live Supersatellite ($40+$4 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout)
Tuesdays, 8pm, 2 seats guaranteed into London Live

To register for any of the above satellites, simply start the poker client and locate the relevant satellite in the 'Scheduled' tab. If you don't already have an account, then opening one is easy: simply download the poker software and follow the step-by-step process provided. To use Spending Points, then simply locate the appropriate satellite in the Black Belt Poker store.

With starting stacks of 20,000 and a 45-minute clock, the Black Belt London Live II is unique in that it offers players the chance to play a deep-stacked tournament at an affordable price. This year there is even more value with no fewer than 20 bounties with rewards of up to $250 on their heads, as well as Belt Bonuses in which up to 20% will be added to all prizes.

To register for the event, you can either buy in directly by locating the tournament in Scheduled > London Live > Black Belt London Live Day 1A/1B or, alternatively, purchase a token from the Black Belt Poker Store using Spending Points.

Or, better still, qualify for just $1 and make the London Live the best dollar you ever spent.

Satellite into the London Live for $1!

This April, we're putting a 'spring' back in your step with the return of the Black Belt London Live and the most hotly anticipated event on the poker calendar.

At just $250+25 and a guaranteed prize pool of $100,000, the Black Belt London Live II represents great value, and the perfect opportunity for you to turn a small investment into a sumptuous payday.

In order to cater for bankrolls of all sizes, we're offering you the chance to qualify for this year's event for just $1!

Starting Tuesday, January 25, there will be weekly satellites for the London Live, with the opening satellite being a $1+0.10 No Limit Hold'em rebuy with one seat guaranteed into the following week's super satellite. Survive that, and you'll be on your way to London to participate in the UK's most popular tournament.

The full satellite schedule is as follows:

BB London Live Donkament Sat ($1+$0.10 No Limit Hold'em Rebuy/Add-on)
Tuesdays, 9.30pm, 1 seat guaranteed into Super Sat.

BB London Live Satellite ($5+$0.50 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout)
Thursdays, 8.30pm, 1 seat guaranteed into Super Sat.

BB London Live Supersatellite ($40+$4 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout)
Tuesdays, 8pm, 2 seats guaranteed into London Live

To register for any of the above satellites, simply start the poker client and locate the relevant satellite in the 'Scheduled' tab. If you don't already have an account, then opening one is easy: simply download the poker software and follow the step-by-step process provided. To use Spending Points, then simply locate the appropriate satellite in the Black Belt Poker store.

With starting stacks of 20,000 and a 45-minute clock, the Black Belt London Live II is unique in that it offers players the chance to play a deep-stacked tournament at an affordable price. This year there is even more value with no fewer than 20 bounties with rewards of up to $250 on their heads, as well as Belt Bonuses in which up to 20% will be added to all prizes.

To register for the event, you can either buy in directly by locating the tournament in Scheduled > London Live > Black Belt London Live Day 1A/1B or, alternatively, purchase a token from the Black Belt Poker Store using Spending Points.

Or, better still, qualify for just $1 and make the London Live the best dollar you ever spent.

London Live Returns!

The Christmas festivities may have come and gone, but Black Belt Poker have held back one last stocking filler with the return of the hotly anticipated Black Belt London Live.

Scheduled for April 1-3, the Black Belt London Live II will once again ambush the Grosvenor Victoria Casino in London with up to 400 players battling it out for a staggering $100,000 guaranteed prize pool with the winner taking home a guaranteed $20,000 first prize as well as the illustrious trophy.

Black Belt Poker is twinned with Valuetown, and this year we're making a return trip with our Belt Bonuses. At the Black Belt London Live II, there will be no fewer than 20 bounties with up to $250 on each of their heads. If that wasn't enough of a giveaway, we're also adding up to 20% onto all cash prizes, meaning first place could potentially walk away with an astonishing $24,000!

All players have the option of entering the tournament armed with one of three mouth-watering packages:

Standard Package
Yellow Belts
$20 for eliminating a bounty

VIP Package
Orange Belts
$100 for eliminating a bounty
10% added to all prizes

VIP Plus Package
Purple Belts (and above)
$250 for eliminating a bounty
20% added to all prizes

The London Live II will be a $250+25 No Limit Hold'em Freezeout with a 45-minute clock and a 15,000 starting stack, meaning that players can enjoy a deep-stacked tournament at an affordable price.

To register for the event, you can either buy in directly by locating the tournament in Scheduled > London Live > Black Belt London Live Day 1A/1B or, alternatively, purchase a token from the Black Belt Poker Store using Spending Points. If you'd don't already have an account, then opening one is easy: simply download the poker client and follow the step-by-step process provided.

With so much added incentive to both current and new players, this is an unmissable opportunity for players of all poker backgrounds. To avoid disappointment, secure your seat now and we’ll look forward to seeing you at the most eagerly anticipated tournament on the calendar.

For more details, check out our promotions page in ‘Events’.

Bust a Black Belt - Tonight!

Black Belt Poker's head honchos are quietly awaiting tomorrow's release from the mental asylum after going buy-in bonkers in the Winter Sales, but before the straitjackets come off, they have one more night of poker madness for you to contend with.

Tonight's closing $200,000 GTD event already has 66 percent sliced off the buy-in, but as an exclusive bonus to all Black Belt Poker players, Neil Channing and Richard Ashby are placing an incredible bounty on their head in our exciting Bust a Black Belt promotion.

This means that for just $100, not only do you have the opportunity to battle it out for the same fantastic guaranteed prize pool, but if you eliminate Neil or Richard from the tournament, then we'll stump up $10,000 and buy you into this year's World Series of Poker Main Event.

This is an incredible once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but to take advantage, you must play the tournament via Black Belt Poker. If you don't currently have an account, then don't fret, as opening one is easy: simply download the software, and follow the step-by-step process provided. The tournament can then be located in 'Scheduled'.

Already this week, players have been flocking to Black Belt Poker to take advantage of the Winter Sales and vie for the lion's share of a host of juicy prize pools. In only the opening event of the Sales - the $60,000 GTD $50 rebuy - Brown Belt and recent Grading winner Sam 'KODDZILLA' Razavi finished 10th of 909 for a highly respectable $1,038.40.

Similarly, Blue Belt and UKIPT Brighton victor Jamie 'StilettoMafiosa' Burland won $2,207.00 for fifth in the $30,000 GTD rebuy, while unknown entity 'PEC1973' snapped up $1,260 for second in the $5,000 GTD $20 freezeout. Meanwhile, Purple Belt Sean 'bolden1212' Bolden picked up $920.70 for 35th in the $200,000 GTD $150 freezeout having bought into the event using a Black Belt Poker token purchased with Spending Points.

Perhaps the most commendable performance, however, came in the $35,000 GTD High Rollers event. With the price hacked down by an astonishing $80 percent, community legend Carey 'Careybear' Hollick decided that the offer was to good to ignore, and duly turned $100 into a mouth-watering $8,464.50 with a runner-up spot from a field 627.

Tonight's final event kicks off at 7pm sharp. If you would like to echo the achievements of Carey and co., then make sure you register now to secure your seat. If you don't, then you could find yourself in the neighbouring room to Black Belt Poker's batch of nuttters.

Bust a Black Belt

This January, Black Belt Poker are going discount doo-lally with the Winter Sales - the same fantastic guarantees, but with prices slashed by up to 80 percent! However, if you thought we were crazy for slicing and dicing our buy-ins, then you're going to want to force on the straitjackets and throw away the key with our latest offer!

Exclusive to Black Belt Poker players, we're serving up a seat in the WSOP Main Event for anyone who can bust one of our Black Belts from the second $200,000 GTD event on Sunday, January 16. The buy-in has already been hacked down by 66 percent to just $100, but now there's even more incentive to take a trip to Valuetown!

Forget the 'sale of the century', this is the sale of the millennium! All you have to do is eliminate Neil Channing or Richard Ashby from the event and we'll give you $10,000 for the chance to become the 2011 World Series of Poker Champion. It really is as simple as that. As for the catch, there isn't one! It's just another great reason to play on Black Belt Poker.

"If you're serious about poker, and getting as much value as you can from the game, then you'd be mad to miss out on the Winter Sales," commented bracelet winner Richard Ashby. "Now with a seat into the WSOP Main Event up for grabs, you'd be certifiably insane."

"I'm used to having a target on my head," added Neil Channing, "but this is completely different. They're going to be coming after me like Dog the Bounty Hunter. I'm going to need a suit of armour just to survive!"

The Winter Sales is already three events in, but it's not too late for you to join the party and take advantage of all the great value currently on offer. Even tonight, you could be playing the $35,000 GTD High-Rollers event for not $300, not $200, but just $100! That's a price-cut of 80 percent.

If you don't have an account, then don't fret, as opening one is easy, and you could be playing within minutes! Simply download the software and open an account using the step-by-step process. Then locate the appropriate tournament in 'Scheduled', click register, and get ready to be a part of the biggest sale in poker.

New Year Diaries

Oscar Wilde once said that: "Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account," so we decided to put that assumption to the test and ask some of the UK poker's biggest names what their hopes and goals are for the new year.

2010 was a hugely successful year for UK poker, with five bracelets in Vegas and a host of other major titles being captured overseas. It was also a year of camaraderie, patriotism and youth, as some of the country's hottest young talents set the poker world alight with their unrelenting aggression and fearless play. Meanwhile, some of the veterans of the felt proved that they still had what it takes to compete on the highest of levels and keep up with the pace being set by the third-generation assault.

In a new feature - titled 'New Year Diaries' - several of 2010's biggest success stories put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to reflect on the year gone by, whilst detailing their New Year resolutions for the next 12 months. In a series of brutally honest accounts, they reveal how their year really went (both in, and away from, the limelight), and where they want to be this time next year.

First into the hot seat is EPT and WPT winner Jake Cody, who tomorrow will discuss a host of topics ranging from his views on sponsorship to why he believes 2010 was his breakout year. In the meantime, however, and for those who missed it the first time round, be sure to check out Richard Ashby's thoughts on the last 12 months, and why, despite a bracelet and WCOOP win, it was one of his least successful years to date.

Our New Year Diaries will feature daily on the site over the next several days and into the new year, so be sure to keep visiting us at blackbeltpoker.com to see who's put themselves in the firing line for each particular day.

Winter Sales - Prices Slashed!

Get your straitjackets ready, because Black Belt Poker are once again going discount doo-lally by slashing the prices of a number of tournaments throughout January. We'll still be keeping the same fantastic guarantees, but we've gone crazy with our prices with discounts up to 80 percent.

From Friday, January 7 to Sunday, January 16, we'll be overdosing on overlay with nine discounted events, as well as four new tournaments! The opening event will be the $60,000 GTD. The guarantee will stay the same, but the buy-in is now $50. That's half price!

Ever wanted to play the High-Rollers event? Well, now's your chance, as we're slicing an incredible 80 percent off the buy-in meaning you can compete for the same $35K guarantee for just $100. Even the $200K GTD is a bargain at not $300, not $200, but just $100. That's 66 percent off!

Not even Santa Claus can compete with this incredible offer, so come join the Winter Sales on Black Belt Poker and take advantage of these amazing price-cuts. January is all about New Year's resolutions, but ours is easy: keep handing out one-way tickets to Value Town. $755,000 in prizes at bargain bucket prices - it's a deal, it's a steal, it's the sale of the century. You'd be insane in the mebrane to miss out!

The schedule for the Winter Sales is as follows:

Sales...

Fri Jan 7 (8pm) -- $50+5 NLH 6-H R/B, $60,000 GTD, 50% discount (2K chips, 12 min clock)
Sat Jan 8 (7.30pm) -- $50+5 NLH F/O, $35,000 GTD, 50% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)
Sun Jan 9 (7pm) -- $150+12 NLH F/O, $200,000 GTD, 50% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)
Mon Jan 10 (8.45pm) -- $100+9 NLH F/O, $35,000 GTD, 80% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)
Mon Jan 10 (9pm) -- $20+2 PLO F/O, $5,000 GTD, 80% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)
Tue Jan 11 (8.45pm) -- $20+2 NLH R/B, $30,000 GTD, 80% discount (3K chips, 12 min clock)
Fri Jan 14 (8pm) -- $25+2.50 NLH R/B, $60,000 GTD, 75% discount (3K chips, 12 min clock)
Sat Jan 15 (7.30pm) -- $35+3.50 NLH F/O, $35,000 GTD, 65% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)
Sun Jan 16 (7pm) -- $100+9 NLH F/O, $200,000 GTD, 66% discount (5K chips, 15 min clock)

New Tournaments...

Sat Jan 8 (2pm) -- $5+0.50 NLH R/B, $5,000 GTD (1.5K chips, 10 min clock)
Tue Jan 11 (5pm) -- $5+0.50 R/B, $5,000 GTD (1.5K chips, 10 min clock)
Wed Jan 12 (7pm) -- $40+4 NLH 1xR/B, $50,000 GTD (5k chips, 15 min clock)
Thu Jan 13 (7pm) -- $20+2 NLH F/O, $30,000 GTD (3K chips, 12 min clock)
Sat Jan 15 (2pm) -- $5+0.50 NLH F/O, $5,000 GTD (1.5K chips, 10 min clock)

If you've yet to play a hand on Black Belt Poker, then there's never been a better time to make your debut. Simply download the software, follow the step-by-step process provided to opening an account, and start reaping what is just one of the many benefits of playing on Black Belt Poker.

If you're already a member, then simply boot up the poker client, locate the events in Scheduled > Winter Sales and look up at the sky as the money starts to fall.

Your calendars may be changing this new year, but Black Belt Poker will be continuing its tour through Value Town throughout 2011. The Winter Sales is only the first port-of-call, so make sure you jump on board and join in all the fun as we celebrate the new year like only we know how.

Click here for all the detals.

Black Belt Christmas Present

Santa Claus isn't the only one bearing gifts this Christmas as Neil Channing has donned white beard and pot-belly (already included) to serve up some festive treats of his own.

On Christmas Eve, Neil will be hopping down your chimney prematurely to add a little bonus to your stocking filler with some good ol' fashioned added value. At 3pm, and before you've stuffed your face with mother's home cooking, Black Belt Poker are hosting a $10 No Limit Hold'em six-handed freezeout with extra prizes for the top 10 placed finishers.

In keeping with our lack of sanity, we're sledging down Value Hill once more with Black Belt Poker merchandise for all finalists. What's more, the winner will earn himself a month's subscription to acclaimed tutorial site DeucesCracked, thus giving them the perfect opportunity to brush up on their game over the festive period.

It's been a cracking year for Black Belt Poker, and this prezzie is merely a token of our gratitude to everyone who has played on the site, contributed to the community, and supported our efforts to make Black Belt Poker the UK's most up-and-coming poker cardroom. As 2011 approaches, we fully intend to keep the gifts coming in the form of League VIII, London Live, and much, much more.

If you've never played with us before, and want to escape from the in-laws for a few hours, then why not join in the fun and take advantage of what is just one of the many benefits to playing on Black Belt Poker? To play is easy, simply download the software and follow the step-by-step process provided. The tournament can then be located in Schedule > Black Belt Tournaments > Black Belt Christmas Present.

Happy holidays, and be sure to make Black Belt Poker the stuffing in your Christmas turkey.

Grading III Results

After six weeks of intense poker, Grading III: Journey to Oz finally came to a close at Midnight, Sunday, December 12. In total, 24 players (the Aussie Two-4) commenced the Grading, but when the smoke had cleared, only 12 had survived. Of those, 9 would be eligible for the Aussie Millions package after 3 had decided to venture along the Blue Brick Road, an added option that enabled players to vie for Blue Belt whilst playing stakes lower than the rest of the field.

A few days later, Neil Channing and his band of merry men gathered at Black Belt Poker HQ to analyse the stats, hand histories, and overall capabilities of the remaining participants. It took several hours to confirm the names of the first two winners, and they were Adam Stoneham and Sam Razavi, both of whom had emerged from the other side as big winners with profits of $10,382 and $6,952 respectively. Financially, Adam and Sam had won by a landslide, and all judges agreed that they would be great representatives of the brand and a formidable force on the live tournament scene.

The third spot was a little more difficult. After whittling the contenders down to four, the judges arrived at a stalemate and whilst each individual offered a valid reason as to why they warranted a trip to Australia, they were utlimately unable to set them apart. In the end, an alternative suggestion was proposed that would reward all four players for their efforts, without singling out anyone in particular.

At the expense of Black Belt Poker, it was decided that Joe Roberts, David Docherty, Oliver Schaffmann and Tom Drew would all be promoted to Blue Belt and receive a £5,000 UKIPT package, in which they would get to play every UKIPT Main Event of the current season, as well as receiving travel and accommodation expenses. In the process, they would be able to travel the Tour as a team, feeding off each other and offering encouragement when required. After four swift phone calls, the decision was made: Grading III had six winners with two Brown Belts going to Australia to play the Aussie Millions Main Event armed with a £10,000 package and four Blue Belts ambushing the UK circuit with £5,000 in buy-ins at their disposal.

A key element of the judging process is acknowledging and rewarding the efforts made by all participants, not just the winners. The Grading is undoubtedly a gruelling process in which players are asked to play ring-games of $0.50/1, and later $1/2, over a month and a half, and we pride ourselves on ensuring that all Graders, including those who didn't reach the finish line, are justly rewarded. In this instance, we felt it necessary to offer Belts that suited the individual, and their ability to maintain, and, in many cases, supplemented their promotion with a combination of Belt points, tournament buy-ins, extra training, or free Belt maintenance depending on the requirements of that person.

So, without further ado, here are the official results of Grading III: Journey to Oz. Congratulations to all players, especially Adam and Sam who will be representing Black Belt Poker in February in the Aussie Millions Main Event in Melbourne.

Brown Belts

Adam Stoneham
Sam Razavi

Blue Belts

Joe Roberts
Tom Drew
Oliver Schaffmann
Mike Carroll
David Docherty
Adam Unwin
Michael Morley
Vincent Diver

Green Belts

Shaz Roberts
Richard Dally
John Hayes
Paul Garnham

Purple Belts

Adam Saunders
Richard Hurst
Adam Carey
Brian Gallagher
Ollie Noonan
Stuart Longster
Richard Eatock
Gareth Alder
Liam Crawford
Graham Murray
Darius Demetriou

Grading III was a fun-filled, roller coaster affair, and hopefully a rewarding one for everyone involved. There were casualties along the way - including Adam Carey, whose partner gave birth to their firstborn - but it is testament to the process that all participants left with a feeling that their game had improved, and that they had learned valuable skills from attending Workshops, conversing with the Black Belt Poker sponsored pros, and engaging in sweat sessions with their fellow Graders. We'd like to thank everyone who embraced the process, and we very much look forward to you becoming a prominent member of the site.

Werrrrd Up; Drew Wins League VII

People cried salt tears when X-Factor drew to a close; they twiddled their thumbs when the final whistle was blown on the World Cup; and they sighed begrudgingly when the November Nine was no more. All good things must come to an end, and so it was with great chagrin that we entered into our final Leg of League VII, an epic eight-week encounter which saw a total of 192 poker fanatics do battle across the virtual felt in a bid to capture the game's most illustrious prize: a Black Belt Poker League title.

In the end, only one man could enter the Christmas period with that prestigious honour, and that man was Tom 'Werrrrd' Drew. A Grader and long-time community member, Tom dominated proceedings from as early as Leg 2, only conceding the top spot temporarily to Blue Belt Kevin Williams on Week 5. Heading into the final Leg, however, Tom boasted a commanding lead, and only a slip-up, along with a strong showing from the rest of the pack, would potentially see the sands of victory seep through the palms of his hands. Of course, Tom remained vigilant, and pulled out a 20th place finish to vanquish any doubt.

Despite Tom's destined triumph, there was still plenty to play for in Leg 8 as Black Belt Poker completed a hattrick of Academy bonuses thanks to Steve Rigby, who had kindly vacated his ticket in order to deliver one lucky punter an early Christmas present. After fending off 62 other fierce competitors (a credible turnout to say the least), it was Mark 'SebastianKat' Cooper who snapped up the added value, as well as the $100.81 first prize.

1st SebastianKat -- $100.81
2nd S0lution -- $69.30
3rd SurrealKiller -- $42.52
4th Brewski1 -- $31.50
5th ZoeRiZZ0 -- $23.62
6th insider66666 -- $18.90
7th cikarang5 -- $15.75
8th russellhansen -- $12.60

As a result of his fourth place finish, Dean 'Brewski1' Brewer snuck into second in front of Simon 'ourkidsid' Hollick who finished 27th, whilst Kevish47 slipped down to fourth having only managed 44th. As 'Mr. Consistent' Lee '4kingdonktard' Neary held onto sixth place with considerable ease, we had a last-ditch entry into the 'prize zone', former Champion Mark 'russelhansen' Brassington creeping into 10th with yet another final table finish.

1st Werrrrd (640 points) -- Party Package & DeucesCracked Token
2nd Brewski1 (591 points) -- 1,000 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
3rd ourkidsid (571 points) -- 850 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
4th Kevish47 (552 points) -- 750 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
5th losbert40 (549 points) -- 600 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
6th 4kingdonktard (525 points) -- 500 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
7th RedKiteBlackBelt (516 points) -- 400 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
8th UsainZeus88 (512 points) -- 300 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
9th JHobbit1 (489 points) -- 200 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token
10th russellhansen (483 points) -- 100 Belt Points & DeucesCracked Token

Of course, the 'one in, one out' rule applied, and the man to be stopped at the door and sent home for wearing trainers was Ian 'mbdnr235' Grieve, his disappointing 58th place finish on the final Leg meaning he, sadly, and as Anne Robinson would say, "goes home with nothing." But poker's a cruel game, and perhaps the lowest blow was in fact dealt to Alan 'tealcSVU' Steer who, despite a solid set of results, and a 17th place finish at the death, bubbled the top 10 just 13 points shy.

11th tealcSVU (17) -- 470 points
12th mbdnr235 (58) -- 469 points
=13th blackbeltninja -- 460 points
=13th rattersbrfc -- 460 points
15th 300300299 -- 446 points
16th 99Ranny -- 444 points
17th ACarey -- 438 points
18th UKPB -- 432 points
19th 5upern0vae -- 425 points
20th sceaga2 -- 424 points

As always, the Mulligan reared its head 60 minutes later, this deep-stacked bonanza offering League casualties the perfect opportunity to claw some of their losses back, whilst providing a competitive, well-structured tournament for them to get their teeth into. Sharpening his gnashers this week was reigning League Champion 'Mark 99Ranny' Ranson, a perhaps fitting victor for the final outing of the season.

1st 99Ranny -- $142.50
2nd bh0yw0nder -- $85.50
3rd mbdnr235 -- $57.00

Meanwhile, in the Donkament, it was a fairtytale performance from Patrick 'course00' Scott; he sought entry via a token, and spent zero on rebuys, meaning that victory came absolutely free.

1st course00 -- $31.75
2nd Werrrrd -- $19.05
3rd JHobbit1 -- $12.70

And so, on that Donkamenting note, we check out for another League venture, and bid you a fond farewell. But out parting is only short-term, as League VIII will soon be on the horizon, and the war of the felt will commence once more. Before then, we'd like to take the opportunity to thank all who took part, and in particular offer our congratulations to League VII Champion Tom 'Werrrrd' Drew. He'll be joining Neil Channing, Richard Ashby, and the rest of the Black Belt Poker sponsored team at the Black Belt Poker Christmas Party, as well as participating in a £1,500 SNG freeroll. Oh, and of course, he becomes the proud member of a very exclusive list…

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

Merry Christmas all. Feel free to give us a spin during the festive period.

Grading III - The Finishing Line

At the beginning of the month, snow fell heavily over parts of the UK, including London. The downfall disabled parts of the transport network and many people were forced to stay indoors - probably drinking lots of tea and hot chocolate as reportedly there was a shortage of milk in some areas! For some “hardened souls” - as Neil Channing described them - however, the snow was nothing more than a mere blip as they brushed aside Mother Nature to attend the final Grading III Workshop on Thursday, December 2.

24 graders (the Aussie Two-4) were originally hand-selected to partake in the six-week course, which started on November 1. With 10 days to go until the end, there were less than 15 warriors left standing. Enlightenment Sensei Rob Jarrett-Smith said all of the remaining Graders were still in with a shout of proving they deserve one of the three £10,000 packages up for grabs. The three winners will each get an all-expenses paid trip to fly Down Under and play in the 2011 Aussie Millions in Melbourne next month.

During the Workshop, Neil ran through the hands from a Grader-exclusive MTT. Following that were presentations from Richard Dally, Vincent Diver and Adam Stoneham respectively. Although gruelling, many of the Graders admit that the entire process has helped to improve their game and encouraged them to consider things on a much deeper level.

Neil and CEO Warren Wooldridge also took the opportunity to thank the Graders for their efforts and told them not to be disheartened even if they aren't selected for the package. Two players who have benefited from the Grading process are Blue Belts Jamie Burland (2010 UKIPT Brighton Champion) and Kevin Williams (Academy and Poker in the Park speaker/mentor), both of whom fell just short of the Irish Open Package in Grading II. Despite that, they are both currently enjoying success at the felt and are among some our most active community members.

With the finishing line in sight, many of the Graders were in a frantic race to complete the required number of hands before the deadline at 11:59pm on Sunday, December 12. To be in contention for one of the three Brown Belt packages, players will need to have completed 50,000 / 40,000 / 31,250 hands of full-ring / six-max / heads-up. The decision on who will be picked to represent Black Belt Poker in Australia will be made tomorrow, Wednesday, December 15. If you haven't already chewed them all off, keep some of your nails in tact, because the results will be announced the following day.

Here is a short video of the final Grading III workshop. Thank you to everyone that spared some time over the six-week period to chat to me.

Click for video.

MTT Leaderboard - Video Commentary

After launching in November, the MTT Leaderboard promotion has returned for December as players across the iPoker network do battle over the tournament felt for another four weeks.

Although we're teetering on the edge of mid-month, and quickly heading towards that festive period, it's not too late for you to mount a challenge on December's Leaderboard, and even snap up that top spot. With only the top 20 results taken into account, there is still plenty of time for you to rack up some deep finishes.

One man who enjoyed a 'deep finish' last month was Blue Belt and Enlightenment Sensei Gavin 'TFMonty007' Hall. In the $6,500 Guaranteed $100 Deepstack, Gavin made the final table, thus securing himself some vital points for the Leaderboard.

Having made the final, Gavin decided to make a two-part video, showcasing his thoughts and emotions as the final progressed, including a little 'loose' language during the occasional gut-wrenching moment.

View videos here

The MTT Leaderboard is a high value opportunity for all MTT players to get their hands on some free money. A total of 500 players will receive a prize by the end of the year, so just playing the occasional tournament could see you win a freeroll entry, or more.

There's only one way to take advantage of this offer, and that's to register for some tournaments and see how it goes. If you're new to Black Belt Poker, then opening an account couldn't be easier. Simply download the software and follow the step-by-step process provided.

If you have any comments regarding the hands or situations featured in Gavin's video, then please feel free to leave your feedback in the comments' box below.

Shaw Shot; sceaga2 Makes It a Double

The penultimate Leg of League VII hit Black Belt Poker shores last night as 76 poker fanatics went to war on the battlefield of the baize, all mustard keen to make a last dash for League glory. As with last week, Black Belt Poker were adding a little flavour to the event, throwing in a free Academy seat with first place joining Leg 6 winner Lee 'themackem1968' Harrison at the Fox Poker Club this Saturday for another day of intense poker mentoring.

That lucky man was none other than former Grader Mike 'sceaga2' Shaw, who became the first player this season to win two Legs after victory in Leg 2 a few weeks ago. This time, he won $114.00, and defeated a tough field that included Neil Channing (47th), themackem1968 (40th) and reigning League Champion 99Ranny (37th) to complete an incredible double. Also breaking into the top 10 was League I Champion Adam 'JHobbit1' Saunders, who was playing in his second consecutive final after a 10th place finish last week.

1st sceaga2 -- $114.00
2nd blackbeltninja -- $76.00
3rd CroadYuk -- $47.50
4th stevegw -- $36.10
5th losbert40 -- $28.50
6th JHobbit1 -- $22.80
7th IHateKevinD -- $19.00
8th Heppo321 -- $15.20
9th tealcSVU -- $11.40
10th ourkidsid -- $9.50

Despite setting a season record, sceaga2 was only able to climb up to 21st place on the leader board, the bigget smile being worn by 20th placed Tom 'Werrrrd' Drew as he extended his lead at the top to 62 points after his closest competitor, Kevin 'Kevish47' Williams, could only muster a 39th place finish.

1st Werrrrd -- 596 points
2nd ourkidsid -- 534 points
3rd Kevish47 -- 532 points
4th losbert40 -- 523 points
5th Brewski1 -- 519 points
6th 4kingdonktard -- 485 points
7th JHobbit1 -- 480 points
8th RedKiteBlackBelt -- 477 points
9th mbdnr235 -- 463 points
10th UsainZeus88 -- 455 points

With just one leg remaining, only four players can catch Werrrrd, Simon 'ourkidsid' Herrick the most likely after slipping into second. However, there are still plenty of prizes still up for grabs with DeucesCracked tokens for the top 10, as well as Belt Points. Here are the players who will most likely be competing for one of those spots come Leg 8.

11th ACarey -- 434 points
12th UKPB -- 432 points
13th rattersbrfc -- 429 points
14th 300300299 -- 424 points
15th russellhansen -- 423 points
16th tealcSVU -- 423 points
17th blackbeltninja -- 419 points
18th StilettoMafiosa -- 411 points
19th Elysiumjay -- 398 points
20th 99Ranny -- 395 points

The Mulligan was once again hostly contested, mark 'thekernell1' Robson picking up the $186.00 first prize. Blue Belts Simon 'AlwaysMissing' Mairs, Jamie 'StilettoMafiosa' Burland, and Kevin 'Kevish47' Williams all participated, but only the latter cashed.

31, Mairs, Burland, Kevish
1st Thekernell1 -- $186.00
2nd galfano76 -- $116.25
3rd UsainZeus88
4th UliKoko -- $51.15
5th Kevish47 -- $37.20

Martin 'KGB386' Taylor won the Donkament, completing the feat with just two rebuys.

1st KGB386 -- $23.75
2nd bbpjimjam -- $14.25
3rd galfano76 -- $9.50

Only a select few can reap the rewards of the League prizes in next Tuesday's concluding Leg, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't stop by for a visit. Your presence alone will help make the League race more exciting, simply because the points allocated to each Leg winner is dependent on the number of runners. Also, sceaga2 bought into this week's Leg with a Black Belt Poker token, meaning that he turned his points into a whopping $114.00. You could do the same. Just sign into your community account, hit 'store', and we'll see you on the final table next week.

Wanna play? It's easy - simply open an account, make a deposit and register for the tournament in Scheduled > Black Belt Tournaments > Black Belt League VII.

League VII: Party With the Pros
Donut Mess With the Kid; Leg 1 in the Bag
Pure Shaws; Leg 2 Goes to Sceaga2
Alder Locks in Leg 3
Hole in One; adygolf Sinks Leg 4
Blue Tuesday; Kevish47 Wins Leg 5
Mackem Whacks 'Em in Leg 6

Mackem Whacks 'Em in Leg 6

With Kevin 'Kevish47' Williams and Tom 'Werrrrd' Drew running rampant at the top of the table, it would appear as though League VII is becoming a two-horse race. Yet, despite their dominance, a more-than-respectable 84 dipped into their 'rolls for Leg 6, with even head honcho Neil Channing stopping by for a visit. The dangling-carrot for the majority of the field? A free ticket to the next Black Belt Poker Academy added to first prize.

After a back-and-forth battle, and a display of the usual high, competitive standard that has become synonymous with League matches, it was Lee 'themackem1968' Mackem who joined this season's illustrious list, his triumph netting him $126 in spondoolies, as well as the aforementioned orange vegetable.

The final table was rife with talent, and in particular Nigel 'bizmarrrk' Clifford and Richard 'nakgeela' Dally, both of whom were making their second consecutive final table with the latter finishing in exactly the same position before. The runner-up spot went to Blue Jamie 'StilettoMafioso' Burland, fresh off his near final table miss in the GUKPT Grand Final.

1st themackem1968 -- $126.00
2nd StilettoMafioso -- $84.00
3rd UsainZeus88 -- $52.50
4th makiwara -- $39.90
5th runningape -- $31.50
6th nakgeela4 -- $25.20
7th Werrrrd -- $21.00
8th russellhansen -- $16.80
9th bizmarkkk -- $12.60
10th JHobbit1 -- $10.50

With Werrrrd adding yet another final table notch to his poker post, and Kevish47 dropping in a disappointing 71st, it's the former who regains the top spot, his 539 points now 45 points ahead of the Blue Belt pro. In other news, the top 10 remain relatively unchanged, with the only movements including the consistent-as-ever Lee '4kingdonktard' Neary's one-rung climb to fifth, and inaugural League winner Adam 'JHobbit1' Saunders' appearance in tenth.

1st Werrrrd -- 539 points
2nd Kevish47 -- 494 points
3rd ourkidsid -- 466 points
4th Brewski1 -- 457 points
5th 4kingdonktard -- 449 points
6th losbert40 -- 441 points
7th mbdnr235 -- 430 points
8th UKPB -- 420 points
9th RedKiteBlackBelt -- 417 points
10th JHobbit1 -- 401 points

The Mulligan an hour later was hotly contested. Neil Channing returning for another crack, along with reigning League Champion Mark '99Ranny' Ranson and Jason 'jas0nherbert', Herbert, the latter having recently finishing second in the WPT Chilipoker Marrakech Festival after qualifying via Black Belt Poker. The winner? Grader Paul 'xxM3boyxx' Garnham.

1st xxM3boyxx -- $187.50
2nd StilettoMafiosa -- $112.50
3rd kylemilne89 -- $75.00

16 participated in the Donkament, including Graders Adam 'andalav' Unwin and Sam 'KODDZILLA' Razavi, but it was Jamal 'bbpjimjam' El-Shetob who struck gold.

1st bbpjimjam -- $24.75
2nd Werrrrd -- $14.85
3rd Kevish47 -- $9.90

Black Belt Poker are constantly looking at ways to offer extra value to our players - if only to thank them for their loyalty - and Super Tuesday was no different. The good news is that we'll be honouring that very same offer next week, meaning that the Leg 7 winner will be joining Lee Mackem and the Orange Belt Freeroll qualifiers at the next Academy at the Fox Poker Club in London. So, even if you haven't played a single League Leg before, it's not too late to get your hands dirty and take advantage of the benefits on offer.

Wanna play? It's easy - simply open an account, make a deposit and register for the tournament in Scheduled > Black Belt Tournaments > Black Belt League VII.

League VII: Party With the Pros
Donut Mess With the Kid; Leg 1 in the Bag
Pure Shaws; Leg 2 Goes to Sceaga2
Alder Locks in Leg 3
Hole in One; adygolf Sinks Leg 4
Blue Tuesday; Kevish47 Wins Leg 5