By
dhubermex
This week’s Podcast features interviews with Matt Graham (mattg1983, PocketFives.com Online Tournament Player Ranking #8) and Jason Laso (mkind16, PocketFives.com Online Tournament Player Ranking #43).
Matt Graham’s online poker career began in an unlikely fashion. Back in 2004, this Top 10 ranked online tournament player was delivering pizzas part-time and hung out at his manager’s house after hours. It wasn’t long until Matt’s boss introduced him to a game that was catching fire on the Internet. The $.25/$.50 cash games (maximum buy-in $50) were available on several sites, as Matt cut his teeth on the micro levels before becoming a successful tournament player.
But MattG1983’s story goes beyond that. He’s had quite a bit of short-term success in major live tournaments, placing 2nd in a WSOP Circuit event and making it deep in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. Matt’s biggest problem nowadays appears to be making Negative EV decisions when he gets upset at the online tables. While many poker players hurl themselves into a downward spiral commonly known as “tilt”, Matt simply hurls his laptop against the wall and is forced to buy another one.
Our second guest is up-and-coming online tournament player Jason Laso, who goes by the online name of “mkind16”. Jason is young, emotional, and oftentimes uncertain about which choice to make… placing him into a group that many of us can relate to (except the youth part).
Here at PocketFives.com, we wholeheartedly acknowledge that the game of poker can be one of the most frustrating endeavors any given person undertakes. Early in 2006, Jason became overwhelmed by The Game and made a desperate cry for help on a forum at www.cardrunners.com. Our interview with Jason will reveal how, with the help of Card Runners’ owner Taylor Caby, he was able to make a comeback and become one of the top-ranked online tournament players in the world.