On Day 1C of the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, seven teams each representing a different country will participate in 888poker’s second annual “8-Team” competition. The team – each consists of a captain, wingman, and a qualifier –with the most combined points based upon their runs in the tournament will win three seats into the 2019 WSOP Main Event.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on them as the Main Event progresses. But before that happens, we wanted to take some time to introduce you to some of the qualifiers including the UK’s Billy Chattaway, who’ll be joining captain Chris Moorman and wingman Niall Farrell in representing Team UK.
A 28-year-old poker pro from Bromley in South East London, Chattaway left school at the age of 17 to pursue a potential career in football. Four years later, he made the decision to quit football and chase his dream of becoming a professional poker player.
From the Schoolyard to the Big Stage!
“I probably started poker around the age of 16 when I would occasionally play a freeroll on my dad’s account,” Chattaway said of his poker origins. “There were 1,500 players and the winner would receive $10. After I had learned the basics, I soon started to play a live game in the local pool hall – which was a £5 unlimited re-entry game – using my wages from my Saturday job in a supermarket. Before finishing school, I was running a cash game between classes where each bit of paper would be worth 10p and I would try and earn my lunch money each day.”
Earn his lunch he did, and then some. To date, Chattaway has amassed $339,252 in live tournament earnings including a career-high $52,490 for finishing seventh in a 2015 WPT Nottingham tournament. He also won $52,040 for finishing sixth in a 2015 Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III $1,600 NLH tournament and has a trio of small cashes at the WSOP.
“This will be my fourth time at the World Series,” said Chattaway, whose last visit was two years ago in 2016. “In previous years I've had a mix of schedules, sometimes here for six weeks grinding every day, other times here for three weeks, and playing a bit less frequently, and seeing more that Vegas has to offer. Each time I've played the Main Event but have never got past the second day.”
UK 8-Team Planning to Crush It
Chattaway, who says his favourite poker player is Daniel Negreanu, has also killed it online. Fitting as his he believes Moorman, online poker’s most accomplished tournament player, is the best player from the UK.
“My vote for the best player in the country would have to go to Chris Moorman,” said Chattaway. “As an online player, I can appreciate the sheer scale of what he has achieved in online poker, and it’s good to see that he has made a smooth transition to live poker also with some huge scores and titles to his name.”
Speaking of online achievements, Chattaway is no slouch himself; in fact, he has more than $4.3 million playing online where he’s known as “b8chatz.” He’s currently ranked 178th in the worldwide rankings but reached an all-time high of 14th place in 2015. His most significant online score to date was for $263,500. It’s no surprise he was able to find his way onto Team UK.
“The 8-Team promotion seems like good fun especially as its running alongside the FIFA World Cup,” Chattaway concluded. “It adds another layer of competition, and I like the idea of playing poker as part of a team. Of course, it’s a huge responsibility representing Team UK alongside two of the best poker players not just in the UK but in the world.”
Be sure to search #888wsop18 and #the8team on social media throughout the Main Event for all your 888poker and 8-Team updates.
