Good start for the UK in World Heads-Up Championships, Channing down to 2nd in Euro Rankings and more

Mercier leapfrogs Channing in player of year race
American Jason Mercier has shot to the top of the PokerinEurope European Player of the Year rankings ahead of the UK's Neil Channing. Mercier won the EPT High Rollers event in London this month as well as taking down the EPT San Remo title and making the final table at both EPT Barcelona and the WSOPE PLO event. Channing is now currently in second place, but feels confident as he remarked on his blog that Mercier told him he wouldn't be playing another event in Europe this year, giving the man they call 'Badbeat' two months to snatch the title.

World Heads-Up Championships Underway
The World Heads-Up Championships in Barcelona got underway yesterday despite not being able to secure a TV deal this year. A total of 59 players bought into the event (Just shy of the maximum 64), the uneven number of entrants meant some lucky players automatically progressed to the next stage including Dave Penly who is still running very hot and by all accounts took down a side event to celebrate.
All but one of the UK players in attendance progressed to the next stage include defending champion Jeff Kimber from Newcastle, last year's runner up Dan Carter, Jon Wong and James Atkin. They are joined by big names like Erik Friberg and Jonas 'Nebuchad' Danielsson.

High Rolling Moneybookers Bonus from VC Poker
If you are a midstakes grinder you can look away now, but if not there is a very generous offer for high stakes players at VC Poker

. If you make your next deposit with a new Moneybookers eWallet account (First time or reload) of €20,000 or more, you will be in line for a free €500 bonus after you accumulate 20,000 action points. If that isn't high stakes enough for you, anyone who does the same with a deposit of €50,000 or more will get a free cash bonus of €20,000 after accumulating 50,000 action points.
It's alright for some I guess….

Pokerheaven Cash game on TV in December
Cash games are the new stars of poker television programming and top online poker room Poker Heaven have got in on the act. The European poker room has always been heavily involved with poker television shows and their first cash game show, the Poker Heaven European Cash Game 2008 will debut on Sky channel 166 on December 16th.
The show features a star studded line up including November 9 finalist Peter Eastgate, Sammy 'Any Two' George and Neil Channing. More names will be revealed in the build up to this show.

The Michael Phelps bandwagon rolls on
What is it about Michael Phelps that makes the poker community so desperate to embrace him? Well it looks like the hype was justified, because the Olympic legend turned many a head last weekend when he made the final table of a $1,500 side event at the 2008 Caesars Palace Classic in Vegas. Phelps came 9th for $5,213 and is by all accounts cleaning up in the $5/$10 no limit cash games out there right now.
And he has found himself an unusual admirer (with a thin line between admirer and stalker) in the form of Poker Brat Phil Hellmuth. The 11 time bracelet winner noted in his blog this week that he admits he has been chasing Phelps around Vegas, wanting to show him round the town and introduce him to the players. Hellmuth commented in his blog "Phelps is a poker fan, which is cool because everyone in the world is a Phelps fan!"
We will bring you any news of the Devilfish trying to get some quiet time with Rebecca Adlington if and when it comes in.

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