ESPN Poker Blog

Posted by Andrew Feldman

So … yeah. There are nine players left in a tournament where the first-place prize is the small sum of $9 million dollars and amazingly, you're one of those nine. Although you aren't the chip leader, you still have a great shot to win, but let's not get your hopes up. Nah. It's just another tournament to play in the life of 23-year-old Craig Marquis, who learned to play the game less than two years ago and now is part of poker history.

In a story that's familiar to many young players these days, playing poker began as a hobby for Marquis. He needed something to do while he wasn't working and poker fit the bill. Fortunately, he became friends with and learned from two of the game's most talented youngsters, David Benefield and Tom Dwan. The three of them met at a 2007 New Year's party which Marquis apparently "crashed." A mutual friend had brought him to the party and while noticing all the "nice stuff" around him, Marquis discovered the source was online poker and wondered how he could join the fun.

"We started out hanging out and playing a few games," Marquis said. "I hate asking people for help and am really an independent person. So I put $100 onto Full Tilt and started learning how to play. I played a ton and sent Dave and Tom hands that I had questions about how to play in certain situations. They helped me understand the thought processes behind the hand and I had the benefit of knowing how they thought through something, better than getting generic advice."

Hoping to improve through this combination of poker education, Marquis continued to play, read forums and think about the game as he felt that was the best way to get better. Although Marquis never thought he was on the same playing field as the aforementioned duo, he did believe that he could have some success.

"I'm not really as good as they are," Marquis said. "I just learned a lot from them from playing and hanging out. I wouldn't put myself in the same category as them, but I'm obviously OK at poker. I don't think I'm one of the best in the world, but I don't think I'm the worst either."

Marquis took a break from the University of Texas-Arlington to play poker professionally a little over a year ago with no intention of becoming a full-time professional. He simply viewed poker as a temporary vacation from work. Before the main event, he considered himself an online grinder and estimated he played nearly a million and a half hands last year on Full Tilt Poker, the site he now represents and writes for. Playing short-handed cash games and high-stakes heads-up, Marquis gained the expertise that should kick in if he manages to overcome his eighth-place chip stack and survive a few eliminations.

While the WSOP may have ended on a high note, the preliminary events were another story. Marquis had minimal success, cashing only once in Event 17 for $5,596. After failing to cash in the majority of the tournaments he entered, it took him until the main event to make his mark. Heading into the final table, he's outlasted 6,834 players in Event 54 and has the opportunity to become the next world champion, but don't ask him to boast about his accomplishment. He simply understands his situation.

"I'm really competitive, but realistic about things," said Marquis. "I definitely don't give myself any credit where I shouldn't. I keep realism a part of the thought process. You could enter the lottery tomorrow and could win, but you just have to keep realistic on stuff. There's no reason to go in thinking I'm going to win $9 million because there's a pretty good chance that I don't. It would be pretty sweet if I did though."

Even if Marquis doesn't win, he's enjoyed the experience of being in the fleeting poker spotlight since the nine left Vegas. Numerous interviews have filled his downtime, but he admits that preparation really hasn't been a priority. While chip leader Dennis Phillips and others have reached out to coaches, Marquis understands that it's not about studying the strategies of others, but instead just playing his own game.

"The problem of learning how to play from other people is that they build themselves a certain style," Marquis said. "I can't play the way that Durr or [Benefield] plays. I can try to emulate it, but since I don't think of hands the same way they do, it wouldn't work. Of course we've been talking strategy and people's tendencies, but as far as raw coaching I haven't really thought about it."

Even without a coach, Marquis still managed to get a sneak preview and some additional insight on one of his opponents. While playing at the WSOP Europe, Marquis and Scott Montgomery sat directly next to each other and although they didn't get involved too much, every little bit of information helps. Marquis didn't cash at WSOP Europe, but that hasn't shaken the confidence of his family.

"They think I'm a 100 percent lock to win," Marquis said of his family. "It's pretty funny -- they don't really know anything about poker. They just like to see me on TV. For me it means a lot less than for my family. It gives them something to look at. It shows them I've done something rather than just playing poker. They've been really supportive."

Being on TV (and not looking terrible) tends to legitimize players and Marquis made his TV debut last week on ESPN, making a good read on a big bet by Brandon Cantu. Holding A-Q, Marquis saw his top pair put to the test by an all-in bet by Cantu. Marquis instantly made the call, risking his tournament life. In July he felt that Cantu had 7-7 and that read was confirmed as the episode aired last week. Marquis admitted that he wanted to entice a bet from Cantu on the river and said that no matter how many chips Cantu would put in on the river bet, he'd make the call in a second.

It was these types of reads that have led him this far, but as you'll note during ESPN's coverage of the main event on Oct. 28, sometimes you just need to be a little lucky. As player after player was eliminated through bad beats, Marquis stayed the course, but had a feeling he'd need to cash in before the final table.

"It's funny because I didn't think I had a suckout the entire tournament," Marquis said. "I never got it all-in behind the entire tournament whereas most people will have to luck out to make the final table. It was unbelievable and every time it happened I told everyone I was saving mine. I saved it, needed it and used it up."

As you witnessed on TV, he needed it at the most crucial time at the final table bubble.

Lucky or not, Marquis will have a tough road ahead if he wants to break Phil Hellmuth's record as the youngest player to win the WSOP main event (not including Annette Obrestad's victory at WSOPE). The record has become added motivation for Marquis, who isn't the biggest Hellmuth fan after numerous interactions.

"His antics at the table are unacceptable," Marquis said of Hellmuth. "The things that he did against Christian Dragomir were uncalled for. You're supposed to be professional and you shouldn't do that. [His actions] aren't good for poker at all.

"Breaking his record would be really satisfying. He always gives anyone who is under the age of 35 a hard time -- well he gives everyone a hard time …"

Besides Hellmuth's record, the bracelet and the money, Marquis wants to win to become a better poker ambassador than his predecessors, but with everything at stake, surely the nerves are getting to him.

Not so fast.

"I don't get nervous about poker at all," Marquis said. "[The wait] is almost done. It's been so long since we finished playing that it seems like the final table would never come."

So how will it play out for a 23-year-old who seems unshaken by the potential of the next two weeks? Follow all the coverage on ESPN and ESPN.com to find out.