Gambling is like a magnet for Neil "Bad Beat" Channing of Battersea, London. He has been drawn to it from a very young age. Born in Reading, Berkshire on December 9, 1967 - Channing played in both pool and card games when he was just eight years old. Since that time Channing has spent most of his life in hot pursuit of his favorite gambling activities.
During the early adult years of his gambling pursuits, Channing was a globetrotting racetrack addict. Betting on horse races awakened Channing to the realization that he not only wanted - but delighted in all forms of gambling. This new way of life took many forms for Channing - as a not-too successful bookie, betting at the dogtrack, and forging a love affair with poker that began with games played against close friends.
He started playing 5-Card Stud and Holdem. By age 22 - with his first poker tournament under his belt, he was hooked. Nightly poker games became the norm for Channing. Prior to the hugely popular tournament poker scene today, Channing wanted greater challenges so he headed to Las Vegas to start playing larger scale tournaments. Now his professional peers recognize him for alternating his playing style between crazy and cautious and his trademark wire framed glasses.
Channing has since played in every WSOP since 1997 except for the year 2001. Although he does not have massive wins to his credit - he did manage three WSOP cash finishes including finishing 205th during the 2004 WSOP and a solid performance in the 2002 main event. Channing had a good run between 2000 and 2002 with six finals played at the UK PLH finals which included a 2000 win at Southampton. As of March 2008, his earnings reached just above $384,000.
