44: WGE MAG


WGE MAG: 45


“The first Grading involved top players like James Keys, James Mitchell, Jerome Bradpiece and Sunny Chattha. Subsequent Gradings have uncovered talents such as Owen Robinson, Jamie Burland and Sam Razavi. I think the talent is out there, we simply act as facilitators and our system does seem to attract some of the best young prospects around,” said Neil.


“Besides the possibility of a WSOP package, Black Belt players enjoy other benefits, such as, “Challenge Channing” which Neil likes to use as an opportunity to meet site members. “Challenge Channing is a chance for me to meet the customers. Myself and fellow Black Belts Sam Razavi and Richard Ashby are always on the site and we play at all stakes. That particular table is 25c/50c and I’m there most Tuesdays


Interview:


Neil Channing Professional Poker Player


N


eil Channing is an English professional poker player and author based in Maida Vale, London. In 2008 he won the Irish Open Poker Championships. In April of this year, he launched Blackbeltpoker.com, a community site for players. In the past few months, this new poker site has seen tremendous growth and popularity, one of the reasons being that Black Belt Poker will back their best players in live tournaments.


Neil has developed a reputation on the poker circuit for helping young players with stake money. That’s one of the benefits of joining his poker site: eight Black Belt players made it to this year’s World Series of Poker, who Neil had a financial interest in.


During the 2011 World Series of Poker, Neil took time out of his busy schedule to speak with World Gaming Executives.


“We sent four qualifiers whose progress I was following very closely. All eight and all four qualifiers made day two, five of the eight and all the qualifiers made day three and two of eight and one qualifier cashed.” Neil told us.


Neil takes a personal interest in his players and has a few little rituals. One of these included heading to downtown Las Vegas right before the WSOP


starts, “I take the Black Belt team downtown to Binnion’s Horseshoe” explained Neil, “so that they can soak up the atmosphere, get a sense of the history of the event and really feel the occasion.”


“Our players all join to our social network, which is pretty original. I also think the belts system is totally unique”


WGE asked Neil how Black Belt Poker started. “I first started backing poker players about four years ago with James Akenhead and Sunny Chattha, two excellent


players. The team grew to around six guys within a year and it was around then that the genesis of my idea that became Black Belt Poker developed. I grew the team to around fifteen players, who I was entering into every event they played, after that, with the intention of developing it into a business.” The current team does have nice wins under their belt and others who are developing into future stars. Ideally, Neil would like to have around 30 Black Belt players, and said “we are just in the process of recruiting some more.”


“The site has a staff of six lead by our CEO Warren Wooldridge, and a team of Blue Belt and above players who are involved in creating content, said Neil. The site contains articles, blogs and strategy guides that are written by the top players. Neil continued, “Nik Persaud has been involved from the start and last year Richard Ashby became a shareholder and a fellow Black Belt.”


WGE asked Neil how Black Belt Poker stands out from the rest. Neil responded, “In terms of forums, the UK has never had a Pocket Fives or a 2+2 where players can really hang-out and discuss strategy.” Neil likes to think of it as a Facebook for poker. “Our players all join to our social network, which is pretty original. I also think the belts system is totally unique.” Each time you rank up to a new belt, you earn new types of rewards.


Neil then discussed how the site started and the nature of the ‘gamified’ approach, “When we started the business I was very aware that the whole Belt Up process is meant to be aspirational. It was necessary to have some players at the top as Blue, Brown and Black Belts so that new players could see what they had to work up to. Getting to Blue Belt could take a few months and Brown and Black a little longer so we invented The Grading as a way of fast-tracking some of the country’s top young internet pros.” Players start off with a white belt by downloading the software and the more they play, the higher they rise in belt rank, and the more incentives they receive.


“Originally we took fifty players and put them through a series of trials. They had to play an intensive period online over a month and write strategy articles and blogs along the way. They were expected to communicate with the media, to discuss their experience via social networking and to try and learn and improve by discussing hands and ideas. We ran workshops and they were expected to speak at these.”


“The best 8 players were given a $25,000 WSOP package. We spent $250,000 on the first Grading in an attempt to build our first team of Blue and Brown Belts. We have run two more since and sent players to the Irish Open and the Aussie Millions.”


chatting away and taking on all-comers.” Neil and the other Black Belts are always on the site and will play at all different stakes.


Neil continued, “Black Belt Poker is part of the iPoker network. We started off as a very small part of that larger thing, but of course being on a network means there are always a lot of games to play. iPoker is third in size behind Stars and Party,” and WGE understands they are close to grabbing the number two spot. Neil was happy to say, “Although a small part of that network, we have doubled in size in the last few months.”


Before we finished talking, WGE wanted to ask Neil about the differences between playing poker live and playing online. “Playing online is obviously a totally different game to live. You can play many tables at once and you’re giving away a big edge if you aren’t tracking your opponents with software. I often get asked for backing in live tournaments from players who simply cannot beat online. Those people are usually not a good bet,” Neil answered. WGE also wanted to know if Neil plays other online games. “I don’t really get time for other online games. I used to be a massive Pacman addict but now I spend way too much time grinding Facebook and Twitter.”


If you’re looking for a social poker community in a setting that helps you learn the game and provides many opportunities, you should check out blackbeltpoker.com. Start playing a few hands and next thing you know, you could be sporting a Black Belt at the World Series of Poker.


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