Marc Goodwin is a professional poker player from Birmingham. Formerly a door-to-door salesman, he turned pro and went on to become one of the most successful British players of all time. GUKPT Player of the Year for 2008, Marc has bagged over $1 million in tournament winnings. He is an ambassador for Mansion Poker.
Do you ever wake up in the morning in a cold sweat thinking you have to get up and sell something?
Haha. I often wake up in a cold sweat wondering what my loss online was the night before as I couldn’t bear to look before throwing my laptop into the bin. But yeah, I do sometimes wake up thinking it’s about time I got a day job.
Five things that rock about Birmingham?
Wow, you want five. That’s a tough one. Best football team in the country - Birmingham City (I know I may be a little biased); England’s best curry houses; great beaches; top- drawer ski slopes; fantastic national parks…OK, some of those may be not factual, but do you know which?
And five things that suck?
Too much concrete; too much pollution; too far from nice places; not enough international flights from our airport; Aston Villa
When was the last time you cried?
So often I couldn’t say. I cry at films, the children’s plays at school, great sporting achievements - almost everything.
Tell us a joke.
Gamblers’ Anonymous – What’s the point in that? How will they know where to send the winnings?
Hollywood is making ‘Marc Goodwin – A Life in Poker’. Who’s playing the lead?
George Clooney.
A-A or 7-2off?
7-2, for the laughs.
Who’s the best poker player from the Midlands (apart from yourself)?
In no particular order: Dave Colclough, Mickey Wernick, John Shipley, Paul Jackson, F. Mansour. But there are loads more.
What’s the best rubdown you’ve ever seen at the table?
It came in a cash game at The Vic years ago involving Tony Bolton who, on skinning a well-known solicitor for his last few hundred, was asked for £20 by said player for his taxi fare. Tony put his hand in his pocket and gave him a quid, saying “Winners get taxis, losers get the bus!”
Who would be at your dream poker table? 5 people, alive or dead.
Stu Unger, Phil Ivey, Gus Hansen, Phil Hellmuth, Mike the Mouth.
If you could go back in time, when and where would you go?
Back to see if all this religious stuff is real.
Will you ever stop being cool?
Please - is that even possible?
What would you be doing if you weren’t playing poker?
Stuck in a 9-to-5 job struggling, like most people, to provide for my family.
The world’s about to end in 24 hours. How do you spend your last day on Earth?
With my family and friends and taking bets from everyone that it won’t end!
Where’s the best place to eat curry in Birmingham?
Pangaea in King’s Heath.
Who would you rather be stuck in a lift with? Phil Ivey or Phil Hellmuth?
Phil Ivey for all the prop bets.
Where’s Marc Goodwin in 5 years’ time?
Involved in business around the gambling scene, but still playing poker. |
