Neil Channing: From Badbeat To Champ

Sunday's Irish Open victory was the culmination of a meteroic rise to the top for the man known as 'Badbeat'.

Before he first donned the red shirt in October 2006, his live tournament winnings stood at around £92,500. A couple of decent cashes here and there but no monster takedowns.

Since that day, however, his results have gone through the roof, firstly going very deep (131st) in the 2007 WSOP Main Event for over $58,000. November and December of last year saw him embark on a sick run of 5 cashes in those 2 months alone, including a run in the Ladbrokes Poker Millions and taking down the £1,000 No Limit Hold'Em Event at his favourite haunt, The Vic.

2008 proved just as fruitful, as he first cashed in the GUKPT Walsall Main Event before coming 2nd in a GUKPT side event (again at The Vic), good for almost £16,000.

This, of course, was before he made the trip to Dublin and the rest, as they say, is history. One cheque for £625,000 later and his tournament winnings with Poker Verdict now exceed £800,000!

These results surely prove beyond all reasonable doubt that the lucky red shirt brings great fortunes and riches from the poker gods to all that bestow it.

We at PV are immensly proud of his achievements - surely a shoe-in for the WSOP Main Event, Neil?