The poker media from the UK, Europe and the United States of America were all in agreement that 2010 was the year of the British poker player. British players won European Poker Tour titles in Deauville, London, Prague, Vilamoura and San Remo and they were completely on fire at the World Series of Poker.
Last year Praz Bansi won his second bracelet whilst Steven Jelinek, Mike Ellis, James Dempsey and Richard Ashby all struck gold in what was an amazing series for British players. By the time the 57 bracelet events had been completed British players had won five bracelets, made 20 final tables and cash a total of 275 times for prize money of $8,679,918, a remarkable achievement and the best-ever performance by the United Kingdom at the WSOP.
At time of writing there have been 11 open WSOP events completed at the 2011 World Series of Poker and if things carry on as they are currently then 2011 will also be the year of the Brit once again! Jake Cody got the UK off to a fantastic start by winning Event #2, the $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em event and then Matt Perrins followed this up with his won victory in the No Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball event.
Through the 11 completed events British players have won the two aforementioned bracelets but have also had a presence on nine final tables and made it to the money on 35 separate occasions, getting their hands on a total of $2,460,251 in winnings. These figures are outstanding especially when you take into consideration there are still 44 open events that British players will be competing in.
Four tournaments are currently in progress, the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout (#13), The $3,000 Limit Hold’em (#14), $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em (#15) and the $10,000 No-Limit Deuces-to-Seven Draw Lowball Championship (#16). The $1,500 H.O.R.S.E event starts later today with another $1,500 No Limit Hold’em tournament and the $2,500 Six handed Limit Hold’em starting on Saturday. By the time the weekend is over I would fully expect players from the United Kingdom to have made several more deep runs at the 2011 WSOP.
