Every summer the cream of Britain's poker players make the annual pilgirmage across the Atlantic to play in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. The series is now at its half-way point and already there has been considerable success for British players and in particular for those who also have notable achievements on the GUKPT.

The 2010 British conquest of Vegas started off early in the series when Praz Bansi claimed his second ever WSOP bracelet when winning event five, a $1,500 NL Hold'em freezeout. He won his first bracelet in 2006 and picked up a very handsome first prize of $515,501 to go with his new wristwear. Praz won the inaugural GUKPT main event in Bolton in 2007 and when he is not taking on the world's best in major international events, he still finds time to play on the GUKPT.

Shortly after Praz celebrated his victory, another two GUKPT regulars went close to securing another bracelet for Britain in event 6, a $5,000 NL Hold'em Shootout tournament. Recent GUKPT Coventy winner and gcasino.com sponsored pro Stuart Rutter finished in third place for a payday of $179,617, while GUKPT London runner up Neil Channing finished second for $273,153.

Just a few days later James Dempsey, who final tabled in the 2007 Brighton GUKPT main event went on to scoop bracelet number two for Britain. He won event 9, a $1,500 PL Hold'em freezeout for a $197,470 first prize. He later went on to narrrowly miss out on a second bracelet when finshing second to Sammy Farha in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split - 8 or Better Championship event number 25. He collected $301,790 for this finish.

There was another near miss for Britain in event 17, a $5,000 NL Hold'em event, when 2007 GUKPT Luton champion Sam Trickett finished second, collecting £505,725 as his consolation for missing out on the jewellry.

Richard Ashby, an online cash game specialist, who has made two GUKPT main event final tables bagged the third bracelet for Britian when wining the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event number 21 for a first prize of $140,467.

Former GUKPT winner Michael Greco, or Beppe, as he prefers not to be called has also just missed out on a bracelet, finishing third in event 28, a $2,500 pot limit Omaha event. He cashed for $129,691.

There have also been final tables for Paul Foltyn, the 2008 GUKPT Grand Final Champion and Nick Heather from Dublin, who regularly plays GUKPT events. Manchester GUKPT runner up Chris Brammer has also had a decent cash finish, as has Dan Carter. Recent EPT winner Liv Boeree had two cash finishes and there have been paydays for several other Brits as well.

With half the WSOP still left, further British successes are a distinct possibility. The GUKPT would like to wish all British players the very best of luck in bringing home the bacon (and the bracelets).