Get the lot, Ryan! GL GL!

I was one of the initial wave of Black Belt Poker players to go through the 'grading process' (/thin brag). I felt at the time that it was one of the most pioneering approaches to the poker industry worldwide, yet alone in the UK, and it is indeed sad news that this didn't work out. I know Neil put in a lot of work into this and he's had some fantastic people work alongside him.

Best of luck in your future endeavours Mr C.

Great effort, Ian. You played a blinder

Best of luck to Ian Senior today. Sounds like he's off to a rocky start, but he'll be alright.

Good job on the updates, Tighty. Can you let me know if Chompy is still in please? Thanks.

I'm currently on the toilet at home. Feeling very nervous. Can't wait to play in this big competition later. I hope I win.

keep that kinda stuff to yourself mate.

small ball poo?

Doesn't sound very small ball from where I am sitting

Flush.

Enough of the backdoor puns!!

We didn't even get the 'floating' one in there... Sigh.

Great work on the updates Tighty. Any chance of Tower getting some more Kendall-time on the TV. You know, we don't get enough of him in front of a camera, etc.

Cheers!

Dobby. I like it. The girls seem to like Dobby.

The only person who ever folds in this spot is Tikay.

Seriously, snap call. If you're folding here you're way too exploitable. If he's cold decked you, he's cold decked you. Folding the second nuts is mental though.

BBC Test Match Special's Geoff Boycott in Delhi today

"The security people tried to take my sandwiches away from me today - I can't eat curries because of the spices in them from when I had [throat] cancer. I had to speak to their superior, who was a brigadier or a general or something. They took my plastic fork and knife from me too."

For a second I was pretty excited. I thought Boycott might have 'done a FullFlush' and nicked some sarnies of his own. I was a bit disappointed with the outcome, tbh.

"played like a mummified cock"? That was a bit loose for you!

I got frogmarched, very much against my will, to go to a pub - a public house, ffs - to have Lunch with some friends today to celebrate Blandy's Birthday.
I love Blandy, but going into a pub is a step too far for me, I'd not do that for almost anyone. I sulked & pouted like a spoilt brat.

I'm not sure if I've ever told you this Kendall, but I bloody love you.

/hero worship.

He did look like a smacked arse for the duration of it mind.

Good luck to Dan 'dantb10' Brown today from the Sky Poker folks on the rail, virtual or otherwise. TID Dan!

I just want to say that Tikay runs too good for my liking. NH sir, wp.

Yeah, imo Sida, Jerome and James Keys were the most impressive that I got to speak to, while I am sure David Tighe kills poker for fun. All solid pros and going to give BBP a chance of landing some big cashes at the WSOP.

Just a little comment on the grading from the view of one of the 'hacks'.

While it was obvious that by having two journos in there for the grading means they could get more coverage, it was also entirely obvious that our jobs meant Nick and I were *very* unlikely to get a brown belt. I never expected one as there are some quality players in that field, and so the battle for me was trying to secure the blue belt doing the grinding on top of my regular job (which got altered somewhat along the way, but that's another story). Just sitting in front of iPoker for 120 hours in four weeks means we should made saints, imo.

I personally think Neil and Nik have done alright on this grading; they went with an idea which is untried and they should get some credit for having a go. Of course people will be disappointed, and for the likes of James (who impressed me) and Neil not to get blue I am genuinely gutted. They're both good players and will kick on. Nick thoroughly deserved his place as he's a solid player who works incredibly hard at his game. I'd like to think I am in the same boat - I am never going to be a world class player, I am just trying to push myself as hard as I can in a game I love as much as the other 49. All fifty of us knew what the sacrifices were when we joined up - the lack of social life, loss of rakeback and scrutiny that the whole process goes through. It was a tough four weeks and I can't imagine there's a single one of the graders who went through it without learning something.

Now, back to being one of those writer blokes.
Dan Bland