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Archive for the ‘vipclub’ Category


Supernova Elite no accident for Ioli

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

ps_news_thn.jpgYou've seen them all over--the people who luckboxed their way into a major score and used that score to work their way into the big time poker scene. It's a tale told too many times to be told again. Fortunately, there are stories out there that don't follow that formula. Just ask Mark Ioli.

Don't suggest Ioli simply stumbled into his success. Not only is it not true, but for a guy who quit school to work full time, it might be a little offensive. Moreover, you'd be insulting one of the elite...the VIP Supernova Elite.

"Before the year started I made up my mind I would get Elite," Ioli told us. "It's certainly not something that happens on accident."

Ioli, a 21-year-old from Long Island, New York was a University of Maryland finance major who found poker during his time in college. After two years of study, he made a calculated decision. He left school and focused on poker full time. He moved to Queens, set up his office, and now works a regular job...on PokerStars.

"I knew that if I multitabled solely on PokerStars full time, I could guarantee myself an extremely profitable year," Ioli said. "PokerStars definately rewards you for putting in hours."

We first met Ioli in Mar del Plata, Argentina where he played the LAPT final. There, after we figured out how to spell his name correctly, we were happy to report his 11th place finish for nearly $25,000.

mark-ioli.jpgIoli in Argentina

Since then, Ioli spent his time 24-tabling 1/2 and 2/4 no-limit hold'em, multitabling 3/6 and 5/10, and picking and choosing his spots at 10/20 and 25/50. Within eight months he had racked up enough VIP Player Points to make it to Supernova Elite. He is the fourth person to achieve Elite this year.

By now, you know that making it to Supernova Elite is something few people do, but those who make it tend to reap serious rewards--big freerolls, free entry in to huge live events, and tons of other stuff. That means people like Ioli don't stop playing when they reach that goal.

"I plan to play a lot in the remainder of the year to accrue more bonsues and massive amounts of FPPs," Ioli said. "I also plan on playing the WCOOP Main Event, PCA, and EPT Monte Carlo."

In the mean time, Ioli will be chilling out, working out, partying, and traveling like any 21-year-old should. All the while, he'll be putting in his hours and focusing on new goals on the live tournament scene and in the business world.

"Being financially stable will ultimately give me the freedom to later pursue various environmental and moral pursuits," Ioli said.

Whatever happens, it's clear that for Ioli it will be no accident.


Mystery man 1Bunn snags third Supernova Elite spot in 2009

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

VIP-Club.jpgMany people revel in the celebrity poker can bring. Whether it is an appearance on television or a huge online win, it is pretty common for a person's real name to become inextricably tied to his screen name.

Not so for the man known as 1Bunn on PokerStars.

"I like the anonymity of online poker," he told us this week.

His answer came in response to our discovery that he has become PokerStars third Supernova Elite of 2009.

Despite wanting to keep his identity a secret, 1Bunn was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about what it is like

1bunn.jpg

What you do outside of poker?

1Bunn:I live in the Midwestern United States and I am 24 years old. I have enjoyed playing video games my entire life. To advance to the top of any video game it requires a lot of hard work and dedication. In late 2006 I decided to try playing poker online for real money after years of watching it on TV. It seemed to me that playing poker required the same hard work and dedication and it was possible to turn a profit.

Being a very risk adverse person I knew the only way I would ever be able to move up in the world of poker is to start at the very bottom with .01/.02 no limit cash games. I have always preferred cash games over tournaments because of the increased freedom they provide. Ever since I learned of the PokerStars VIP program in 2007 I wanted to try making Supernova Elite, but I knew I wasn't able to play at a high enough level to achieve the 1 million VPPs.


Were you trying to get to Elite or did it just happen that way?

1Bunn: I take pride in playing as much as possible. It would be foolish not to take advantage of this opportunity. Since I began playing online nearly three years ago, I think I have only taken one day off and I could not be happier. I know I don't have the natural ability to be the best poker player in the world, but maybe if I play more hands than anyone else I can be successful, too. People go into job interviews and exclaim the
cliche "What a great opportunity this is" when they don't really mean it.

The Pokerstars Supernova Elite program truly is a great opportunity.


What games did you play to make Elite?

1Bunn: At the beginning of 2009 I knew I was ready to try for Supernova Elite. I started playing 20+ tables of $1/$2 no limit hold'em. I really enjoy the non stop action of doing this. The constant decision making reminds me of a fast paced video game. I know the VPPs don't come in as fast for us no-limit cash game players compared to limit hold'em cash games or Sit and Gos, but no-limit cash games are my favorite, so that is
what I play.


How do you plan to take advantage of your status?

1Bunn:Now that I have achieved Supernova Elite, I plan on taking advantage of the live tournament buy-ins that go along with it. That means traveling and representing PokerStars the best I can, but I'm still putting in the hard work and dedication that got me to Supernova Elite.


Do you do anything besides play poker?

1Bunn: Aside from playing poker I am a vegan who is interested in environmental and political issues. Health is very important to me also. I love to work out in between my poker sessions.


Now that you've made Elite, what's your next big challenge?

1Bunn: WCOOP main event in September.


Options trader opts for PokerStars Porsche

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

ps_news_thn.jpgMost people in life don't have too many options. They're born into a life of cattle ranching, widget production, or animal husbandry. Brad Sweezey is all about options, however. In fact, he trades in them. Now, he's opted to drive a Porsche when he feels like it.

After working for three years as an investment banker, Sweezey (a card carrying member of the PokerStars VIP Club) moved on to a new career.

"I currently work in FX Options trading which requires a similar skill set to poker, so I'm hoping my winning at the tables translates into a successful career in trading," he said.

At 26 years old, the active Canadian lives in Toronto and has an interesting way of relaxing after a long day at the office.

"One of my favorite hobbies is to play 16 tables of 2/4 6-max NL while watching a game on TV," he told us. "Not that i need an escape, but sometimes its a nice feeling to get in a zone and forget about everything else. Winning a car and some cash isn't a bad kicker."

Not at all. In fact, Sweezey, known as tops10 on PokerStars, managed to rack up enough PokerStars Frequent Player Points to get the Porsche Cayman for free.

"It's a satisfying feeling to play a little cards on PokerStars and then take my new car for a spin," he said.

sweezey-porsche.jpg

Life in Toronto leaves Sweezey with no real need for a car. In fact, the Porsche is his first ride.

"My dad and brother are already fighting over who gets to own it next," he said.

What's next for the young man with the Porsche?

"I'll definitely be a poker player for life," he said. "Growing up I loved playing any card game for fun as I wanted the challenge of outplaying my opponents, and after playing in my first poker game at age 17 I was hooked. It's cool how such a simple game on the surface is really so complex. I'm not an artsy guy but this is one art form I love."

Though he already has the Porsche, Sweezey is keeping his driving options open for the future.

"I absolutely love my Porsche, but I definitely want to drive a Ferrari some day," he said. "Buying one with FPPs would be pretty cool. I've always set my goals high, life's more interesting that way."

Sounds like a good option to us.


First, second, and third time’s a charm for marchinvest2

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

VIP-Club.jpg"Not too much has changed."

That's what PokerStars Supernova Elite marchinvest2 said when we asked him what's been going on since we profiled him back in 2007.

Not too much has changed?

He's both right and wrong, and he's happy to admit it.

Marchinvest2 is still playing 10/20 and 15/30 limit hold'em on PokerStars and he's still a pretty successful guy. Beyond that, he's managed to do something no one else has ever done before. The restaurant owner from Minneapolis is the first PokerStars player to become a Supernova Elite for three consecutive years.

"I've actually been having a lot more fun playing poker now than ever before," he said. "The games always have a lot of new faces and with my help there are generally plenty of 10/20 and 15/30 games going -- which is great!"

marchinvest2.jpg

When the Supernova Elite program launched in 2007, marchinvest2 was one of the first few people to achieve the highest VIP level. He's done it every year since. How does he have time to do it? We're not quite sure.

"I'm in the process of expanding my business with a fifth location opening in mid July. I'm also getting married in October in Maui. We now have three little puppies in our house," he said. "I've also started to play golf 3-5 times per week which has been great."

Congratulations to marchinvest2 for his achievement. Someday we're going to ask him for some life coaching.


Supernova Elite status sends 2009’s first to Monte Carlo

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

VIP-Club.jpg"I tend to live a fairly typical college kid's life."

That's what we heard from a guy named Adam who goes by the handle skilled_sox on PokerStars.

With a name like that, it's not hard to figure out that the 23-year-old goes to school in Boston. How does he have time to do what he's already accomplished and go to school? We're still trying to figure that out, but for the time being, we're going to take issue with how he defines living a "fairly typical college kid's life" because making Supernova Elite is something even hardcore poker obsessives have a hard time doing.

Adam admits, "I obviously spend a lot of time playing poker."

Consider this. The college kid from the American northeast was the first person in the world to reach the ever-elusive VIP Club Supernova Elite status in 2009. He did it just a few weeks back. What's odd, he wasn't trying to win any races.

"Getting Elite first was never a priority," he said. "I play mostly Heads Up Sit and Gos. Starting in February, there had been a ton of high stakes action. I play a lot of hours and multi-table a lot so the VPPs just add up."

elite.jpg

The one-time competitive runner is an adrenaline junkie who has been skydiving twice in just the past couple of months. That said, he isn't too keen on the adrenaline of live poker. In fact, he gets into the trips more than the tournaments.

"I don't consider myself a very good tournament player," Adam said, "but it would be great to run really well in a live event."

Right now, Adam is in Monte Carlo for the EPT Grand Final where he will meet up with many more Supernova Elites from last year. Only one can be first, though, and 2009's is the man named skilled_sox.

Although he would obviously enjoy a big score in a tournament sometime soon, he's not really planning for it.

"Basically the plan is just to keep grinding online," he said. "I'm also looking forward to traveling this summer."

All in the life of a typical college student...or something like that.