Prior to the start of this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) Europe, the industry gathered at the Kensington Close Hotel in London for the first annual British Poker Awards.
On Monday evening, the best players in the British poker community received accolades for their achievements over the past year. The winners of the individual British Poker Awards were determined by a vote of fans from around the poker world. Hosted by Bluff Europe’s Michael Caselli and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari, the ceremony capped a year in which British poker players were in the poker public’s eye at tournaments at home and abroad.
Winning the award for Best All-Around Player was Richard Ashby. Over the past year, Ashby has traveled the world for poker tournaments with excellent results. In January, Ashby finished in third place at the Aussie Millions $10,000 HORSE event, kicking off 2010 in style. He went on to earn three cashes at the WSOP, including his first bracelet in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud tournament, and has enjoyed his best year ever on the tournament circuit in earning $564,836.
Picking up honors for the best cash game player was British poker veteran Neil Channing. Over the past ten years, Channing has been at the forefront of the British poker scene, battling the world’s best players. During his speech, Channing accepted his award with a nod to the players he routinely faces. “I’ve been grinding in the Vic for years, along with my fellow nominees like Bambos Xanthos, and Ben Roberts – they’re real cash grinders. To be voted above those guys – it’s a real honor,” said Channing, who is sponsored by Black Belt Poker.
Taking home the award for best tournament player was 2009 November Niner James Akenhead. One of two players to make the final table of both the WSOP in Las Vegas and WSOP Europe in the same year, Akenhead has continued to display his skills in events spanning the globe. Prior to picking up his award, Akenhead stated that the time was right for the British poker community to recognize itself. “I think the awards are a great thing,” said Akenhead. “It’s a great night and a really good thing for poker.”
Also on hand to accept their awards were Sam Trickett and PokerStars pro Vicky Coren. Trickett, honored as the Best Newcomer, stunned the poker world with his six cashes at this year’s WSOP, where he did everything but win a bracelet. Coren, honored for the “Best Contribution to Poker,” is a fixture on the British and worldwide poker circuits and has also achieved notoriety for her writing exploits for the Guardian (a British newspaper) and her own book “For Richer, For Poorer: A Love Affair With Poker.”
Five other awards were handed out, although their winners were not in attendance to accept them. They were:
Praz Bansi: Editor’s Choice; Player of the Year
The Nuts Poker League: Best Poker League
Phil Ivey: Best International Player
Chris “moorman1” Moorman: Best Online Player
The Hendon Mob: Best Poker Forum
“The event has been fantastic and I hope it’s the first of many to come,” Caselli commented following the awards ceremony. “More than 3,000 people voted online for their favorite players, which is a fantastic response.”
