Neil Channing Installed as Favourite for the PartyPoker World Open

April 02 2008, Barry Carter

Winning the Irish Open always seems to bring further luck to those few with the prestigious title. Right now the 2008 champion Neil 'Bad Beat' Channing is enjoying the life of riley after winning one of the biggest tournaments in Europe. It does of course help that he won £50,000 betting on himself to win alongside his €800,000 pay day.

Winning an event like that also puts your name right to the top of all the high profile poker lists, starting this week as he finds himself the outright favourite in the Party Poker World Open IV. The event kicks off later this month with Channing standing at the top of the betting markets at 16/1. Joining Neil is a rare appearance from the 'Ambassador of Poker' Mike Sexton, who is currently available at 28/1.

A PartyBets.com spokesman said: "There was no choice but to make Neil Channing favourite to win considering his form but he does have a strong heat featuring his pal Mick McCool. 16/1 may be far too short a price to back for the man they used to call 'Bad Beat' but now "One Out" but we've been getting stung on these markets and are taking aversive action! Others who have attracted early interest include Ben Roberts and Andrew Feldman. Mike Sexton is a fantastic addition to the World Open line-up but he features in a heat that also includes Barny Boatman, Marc Goodwin, Jan Peter Jachtmann and Juha Helppi so he will have his work cut out."

Lots of other big names will feature in the $8000 buy-in event that was last year won by Anthony 'The Bookie' Hardy. This year will also feature European Open IV winner Nick Slade, Theo Jorgensen, Ian Frazer, Ross Boatman, Marty Smyth, Roberto Romanello, Jon Kalmar, Jon Magill, Thomas Bihl, Roy Brindley, Surinder Sunar, John Tabatabai, Pippa Flanders and Liam Flood.

Just like the European Open, this year will also see a 'last chance turbo heat' for anyone who makes the runner up spot in their heat. The event starts on April 25th and a full list if runners and odds is available at PartyBets, the sportsbook for the Party Poker. If you are looking for tips then ask Neil Channing, he seems to know a thing or two about picking a winner.

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