Yorky Pud

The 2010 World Series of Poker was dubbed by the European and some American media outlets as “The Year of the Brit” after British poker players won five bracelets, made 20 final tables and cashed 275 times for combined prize money of $8,679,918. Although last year's accomplishments were absolutely superb I honestly believe that 2011 will be an even better year for British poker players at the WSOP.

Last year we cheered and applauded as Steve Jelinek, Richard Ashby, James Dempsey, Mike Ellis and Praz Bansi all won coveted WSOP bracelets, with Bansi winning his second piece of poker jewellery. We railed both online and via live reporting feeds the likes of Sam Trickett and Paul Foltyn as they made final tables but ultimate fell just short. This year we will be doing even more of that.

A number of British players are absolutely bang on form right now and are going to cause a major stir on American soil. One of the players already mentioned, Paul Foltyn, had the perfect preparation for the WSOP by winning the $2,100 SCOOP event for $188,100 and somehow followed that up with a third place in the $1,050 rebuy for another $73,320 score! He has not cashed in a live tournament this year but he will more than make up for that in Las Vegas.

Another on-form player is Toby Lewis, known online as “810ofclubs.” Lewis burst onto the live poker scene back in 2010 when he won EPT Vilamoura, finished third in the PartyPoker World Open VI and then won a £1,000 tournament at EPT London. This will be Lewis' first World Series of Poker and I am sure it is going to be one to remember. Lewis is also heading out to Sin City after a big online score, his was for $167,200 for his sixth place finish in the $10,300 SCOOP Main Event.

My personal pock for glory in Vegas is John Eames, known in online poker circles as “johne147” or to his friends as “Steady Eddie.” Eames made a name for himself online and has won more than $1,500,000 from online poker tournaments but he has managed to make the transition to the live arena almost seamlessly. In the past year he has managed to cash three times at the Aussie Millions, finish third in the EPT Copenhagen Main Event, reach the final table of the Irish Open and cash twice in other major tournaments. His consistency is baffling and I would be surprised if he does not come away with some major honours once the 42nd Annual World Series of Poker is over and done with.

Of course this is just a very select few players who are heading to Las Vegas to seek fame and fortune. When you add names such as Roberto Romanello (who is looking for a Triple Crown), Jack Ellwood, Chris Moorman, James Keys, Trickett, James Akenhead, I could go on for another page and a half, it is easy to see why Brits are going to crush even harder this time around.

All together now, “God save our gracious Queen.......”