Neil Channing robbed in Dublin

Bloggers / Dave Allan / 12 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

Photo courtesy of Blackbeltpoker.com

Popular British poker pro Neil Channing recently lived up to his nickname, "Bad Beat", after being robbed in Dublin whilst playing in a poker tournament.

Channing, a high-stakes cash game player, who also has over $2,200,000 in live tournament winnings, was in Ireland's capital for the 2009 Irish Poker Open and this is where he had his first taste of bad luck, busting out with QQ against the AA of an aggressive player.

Next on the agenda was the Irish Winter Festival hosted at the Citywest Hotel, the scene of Channing's 2008 Irish Poker Open victory that saw him net €801,400 and put him on the map as a tournament player.

During the final break of the evening at around 2245, Channing returned to his room at Citywest to get some cash. As his room did not have a safe he decided to keep his money in a briefcase and not take it to the hotel reception's safe. This would be a decision he would now quickly regret.

Upon returning to his room, Channing discovered all of his cash had gone and with his floor not having CCTV, it would be very unlikely he would ever see his money again, or receive any justice by having the thief jailed. Despite this loss, which has so far being an undisclosed amount, Channing went on to finish in 10th place for €5,600, a farcry from the €72,300 on offer for first, a reality if he had not suffered such a nasty blow.

Maybe the Poker Gods were looking down on Channing when he returned to his usual hunting ground, The Vic Casino in London. He explained in his blog that, "I found myself calling a raise with Ad-Qh from the big blind. A flop of Kh-Js-Ts seemed to match well with my hand and so I made a small bet. By the time it got round to me four people had shown an interest and two were all in. I got one of the other two to shove his lot in as well. Two blanks later and I was out of it on robberies for the week."

Whilst anyone should be able to leave their property anywhere they please, the lesson he is always put your cash in the hotel's safe, no matter how much of a pain it may initially seem.