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Published
Jun 28 2006, 09:35 PM
This week’s Podcast features two guests who have made their mark on different facets on Online Poker. Josh Klehr (Foshio, PocketFives.com Online Tournament Player Ranking #7), and Sean Grendus (known to all as “Gidders”).
Josh Klehr, who has lived in Atlanta his entire life, got into online poker during his freshman year in college. After losing more than $3,000 over a period of several months, he got back to even after placing high in a $10 Rebuy tournament on PokerStars. From there, he started having success at online tournaments on a consistent basis.
But one fateful afternoon, Josh found that he had accidentally registered for a $50 Satellite into the Paradise Masters II tournament on ParadisePoker (Josh initially thought it was a normal $50 cash tourney). After winning a Seat into the Masters II, Foshio went on to make the Top 10 in that event -- earning a trip to Costa Rica to play at the live Final Table. When the smoke finally cleared, Josh was the outright winner of the Paradise Masters II tournament, collecting over $311,000 from an original investment of around $50. From there, he quickly rose into the elite class of online tournament players.
Sean “Gidders” Grendus was once the King of the Spotlight on PocketFives.com. In August of 2005, he began the well-publicized “Monster Sit & Go Challenge” where he increased his bankroll 20-fold over a period of one month by solely playing low buy-in Sit & Go’s. Having captivated a large portion of low-limit online poker players from around the world, Sean decided to open up the now defunct Gidders.com website, which offered articles, advice, and videos to players wishing to improve their Sit & Go Tournament game.
Although the site picked up a lot of steam at first, it quickly faded in popularity as Gidders came to the realization that he had over-committed his time (many speculate he also severely undercharged for the service he provided). When a six-figure insurance settlement hit his bank account in January of this year (restitution for a hockey accident that happened in 2004), Sean decided he’d had enough of the spotlight and promptly ceased many of his poker-related activities.
Our interview shows a different side of Gidders; filled with melancholy. But few can be harsh on this 19 year old who, despite a number of imperfections, became one of the very few online poker players in the history of the game to spark the imagination of such a large audience. Through multi-tabling low buy-in Sit & Go tournaments, Gidders posted one of the highest long-term ROI percentages (over 20%) ever calculated in a 1,000+ sample.
Currently plagued by headaches, nausea, and permanent double vision, Sean has been forced to reduce the number of hours spent each day at the online tables (which has actually contributed in a positive manner to his overall health). After listening to his interview, you’ll probably get the same impression we did… Gidders has had enough of the spotlight.