Last month, Denmark’s marktb(pictured) took down the PokerStars Sunday 500 outright for $72,000. There were over 800 entrants that day and marktb bested a final table that included a half-dozen members of the PocketFives community. That score came a few years after a pretty memorable hit in the Sunday Million on a very special weekend. More on that to come.

“It’s a relief to take down a big win,” marktb told PocketFives in an exclusive interview. “I have been through a long downswing and the Sunday 500 is a big tournament.” He was among the short stacks from 30 players remaining to seven, but doubled up to keep in the hunt. “From there, things went my way and I felt good,” he said. “I felt I could control the remaining players.” No deal was discussed.

marktb has been renovating his house, so some of his newfound riches could defray those expenses. The rest will go to his bankroll. He added, “I hope it will be the start of a good run, as the last two years haven’t been good. I have had a lot of bad luck and no consistency. I used to be a farmer, but sold most of the farm due to restrictions and bad conditions for farming in Denmark.”

He had played poker on the side while farming, but has focused on the game full-time in the last six months. He now plans to concentrate on tournament poker. The Dane put his farm up for sale in 2012 and sold two-thirds of it a year later. The remaining one-third is still up for sale, so if you’re looking for a farm in Denmark, here’s your big chance.

In 2010, marktb finished second in the Sunday Million and raked in over $200,000. “It was actually the day after my bachelor party,” he said of the largest score of his poker career. “There was a deal giving me $203,000. It allowed me able to be able to go to my first WSOP and EPT Grand Final, but I haven’t had luck in big live events yet. It also it gave me confidence that I could make big results.”

Yes, he banked $203,000 in the Sunday Million the day after his bachelor party. Hangover be damned. He told us, “That was quite a weekend and the wedding was the following Saturday. That is a week that will never happen again.” His party consisted of bowling, sailing, and drinking, and he described the Sunday as “hell.” Maybe drinking the day before is the key?

He took down the PartyPoker $100K in 2010 and is looking at his Sunday 500 victory as the start of his new career after going full-time. He has come a long way since trying out Hold’em at his local casino, which launched his poker career. “I tried it, as I always liked to play cards,” he said. “I started out on PokerStars and quickly got a second place finish for a little more than $4,000. It’s really a game to love and hate, but most of the time I love it.”

Congrats to marktb on his $72,000 score!

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