Podcast

Online Poker player Mark Kroon (P0ker H0, PocketFives.com Online Tournament Player Ranking #16) has come a long way from the $2/$4 Limit Hold 'em games at the Players Sports Bar in Madison, Wisconsin. By admission, Mark was a mediocre poker player until late 2003, when Online Poker provided him with the chance to improve his game through seeing many more hands than live poker would allow. A longtime friend of poker legend Phil Hellmuth Jr., Mark found a home at UltimateBet.com in 2002, and quickly became one of the most popular Online poker players in the world after winning numerous Seats to the WPT Aruba event in 2003.

Nowadays, “P0ker H0” is a full-time Online poker player who is also an ambassador at UltimateBet.com. Whether he’s intimidating his opponents with his no-holds-barred style at the online tables, or lounging around the hospitality suite at major live events, Mark is a person who has the ability to influence almost everyone around him in a positive way.

Our interview with Mark Kroon took place just before he entered live action at this year’s World Series of Poker as he walked in and out of the Hospitality Suite of UltimateBet.com right next to the main poker room inside the Rio. The topics you’ll hear include his relationship with Phil Hellmuth Jr., his thoughts about all the young players who have had loads of success in Online Poker, and his table image while playing online.*

Our second guest on this week’s show is none other than Pocket Fiver Shawn Gundrum, known to all site members as ‘BigGunX’. Although Shawn is an excellent poker player in his own right, he’s probably better known (and liked) for his contributions to the PocketFives.com Off-Topic Forum.

Many fellow members look up to this Armed Forces veteran, who converses in a humble (yet very opinionated) manner about everything from Huggies diapers to the Dallas Cowboys football team. Shawn is also responsible for organizing private tournaments for getting other members of the PocketFives community to this year’s WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas, often-times contributing money from his own pocket to make this happen.

We’re all waiting in anticipation for the PocketFives.com WSOP party on July 27th from 6-8pm, but ‘BigGunX’ seems to be looking forward to the after-party festivities with even more zeal. Will there be dancing on the tables? A live after-party DJ? Perhaps a private show for the fortunate Pocket Fivers who stick around? It would be a shame if Shawn missed out on everything due to his height, so I’ve already promised to carry him on my shoulders. What more could anyone ask for than a VIP view?!

* To read past PocketFives.com articles on 'P0ker H0' Mark Kroon written by Lenny Sharlet and Adam Small, please click on the following links:

http://www.pocketfives.com/2F98880D-B1A0-472E-B130-FF9B142ECBBA.aspx

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