Mad Marty Wilson is one of the most infamous (nay notorious) and well loved characters in British Poker. A familiar face in Europe and across the pond in Las Vegas, Marty is currently in high demand with the TV production companies eager to have the real deal on board! David Lloyd caught up with His Royal Madness the other day…this is how it went.

David Lloyd: Hi Marty, how are you and where are you?

Marty Wilson: Hi David, at the moment I'm back in my office betting on the horses.
 
David: I’ll get them in, what are you having?

Marty: Cheers mate, I'll have a bitter and a large gin and tonic.

David: Winning the Pot Limit Omaha event in Australia wasn’t a bad start to the year…One Englishman and nine Ozzies at the final table and you go and win it…have they made you an honorary Australian yet?

Marty: No, not yet, but hopefully they will. It was really strange at the final table. As the field got smaller all the Ozzies moved round till I was left sitting on one side on my own and four other players were sat round the other side.

David: I was chatting with Marcel (Luske) recently and he was saying how much he loved it out there. You’ve been two years running and just about everyone I know who’s been out there, comes back singing the Crown Casino’s praises…what is it about the place?

Marty: It's hard to explain why The Crown is so great. After I won the first event 2 years ago and the Omaha this year I thought maybe just because they had been winning trips. But its much more. The staff are so helpful and friendly. They seem to make a point of finding out who is there so they can thank them for their support. If I could recommend one event to go to it would be the Aussie millions. The other bonus is once you've done that flight Vegas doesn't seem so long.

David: You had pretty incredible experience when you first went out to Melbourne in 2004…what happened exactly?

Marty: The first year I went was on New Years Eve. I arrived on the 2nd and checked in only to find my room overlooked the back of the complex and as we were there for 3 weeks I preferred a room with a view of the river Yarra. Reception said one would be ready in a few hours so I went and changed some money and registered for the comps. After moving to a different room I was unpacking and found an address book. The numbers inside were all local to me, Wolverhampton, Walsall etc.

Prior to this I have to explain that 18 years earlier after a family feud I hadn't spoken a word to my brother in all that time. So when I looked on the cover of the book it said This book belongs to Michael Wilson, My brothers name. I rang the mobile and recognised his voice straight away. He was at Melbourne airport about to go home and had been stopping in that very room the 2 weeks over Christmas and New Year.
We met at the airport and are still in touch now.

David: That’s amazing…if you wrote it, no one would believe you…That’s right out of the Twilight Zone;-)

I hear you’ve been doing a fair bit of poker tuition to the stars including snooker player Matthew Stevens, darts legend Phil Taylor and promoter Barry Hearn. Between them, your students have won a fair few quid in TV tournaments…I hope you’re on a percentage Marty ;-) Who out of all of them shows the most promise in the poker department?

Marty: Barry Hearn, he's my boss!
 
David: What’s the story on the after dinner speaking and the trips to Oxford?

Marty: It all started in Australia 2 years ago. Before the award ceremony I was asked to do a bit of a speech, tell a few stories and keep the crowd entertained. Not as easy as it sounds when you are only asked 20 mins beforehand. After telling a few stories about gambling I got in the flow and really enjoyed myself. The last one I did was for a promotion Challenge TV were doing . Myself and Helen Chamberlain (Soccer A.M) were the guests and we really worked well together. Coincidentally, 25 years ago my Dad set up a business with a partner and were called Wilson and Chamberlain.

Repeat music from the twilight zone

David: I’m a big fan of Soccer A.M. they should get you on there! I see on your website www.madmartywilson.com  you’ve got a school of excellence going on there. How’s that going and do you have any plans for a bricks and mortar version?

Marty: The whole school of excellence started as a bit of a joke after it turned out a few people I had taught over the years, all played in the one event.  The landlord of my local also played and then set up a regular game which is increasing every week and still goes on when I'm not there.

David: Now that you’re doing so much work in Television, you’re playing fewer and fewer tournaments. I won’t ask you if you miss playing so often but I guess a thriving media career has brought a lot of fun as well as its own challenges and rewards…

Marty: In my few and far between modest moments I might question a "thriving media career" but it sounds good thank you.

David: You recently went out to the States for the $25,000 Bellagio event under the Noble Poker banner…any tales to tell?

Marty: After signing for Noble the first event they put me in was the WPT. What more could any poker player want. I'm very grateful for my sponsorship and even though I didn't get a draw in the main event, I managed to make it a winning trip. I love those single table satellites and cash games in Vegas.

David: You’ve been going to the World Series since 1985 and you can’t make it this year…What are they going to do without you and more to the point, how big an itch will you get on the day that the main event begins?

Marty: I found out a couple of months ago I would be working through the WSOP so had time to get used to it. Although now the hypes started I'm thinking that maybe I could fly out on a Saturday, play for a week and be home in time for Friday night ! I'm really excited about The Poker Den, a live game every Friday night, so at least my mind will be taken off it.

David: As the whole world now knows, I’m running a book on the number of entries for this years main event…The coveted prize is a crisp $10 bill to the winner…what’s your estimate? Here’s what you’re up against…

John Duthie - 2000
Simon Trumper - 3600
Lucy Rocach - 4010
Daniel Negreanu - 5378
Marcel Luske - 6000
Devilfish - 7000
Scott Gray - Too Many!

Marty: 6600

David: LOL they say they’re going to cap it at that…but never say never….

If there was a way of picking up any card room in the world and plonking it within a five minute stroll of your house, which one would it be?

Marty: Obviously The Crown. But then I would be breaking my own rules as I never play local or with friends in cash games.

David: Like all poker players, you’ll have dreamt of that slow boat to China sailing off with the liveliest side games known to mankind…You’re already onboard…who from the poker community do you want with you for company?

Marty: The richest players with the least ability.

David: During the onboard karaoke night…you have to sing or forfeit $10,000…what’s your big number?

Marty: Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond

David: Still on music, what was the last CD you bought and if you had to pick three all time favourite tracks…what would they be?

Marty: Mowtowns greatest hits
Be young, be foolish, be happy- The Tams
Love on a mountain top - Robert Knight
I hear a symphony - The Supremes

David: Motown baby…now you’re talkin’! We could go on all day with this one but I’d better move on mate….Three unforgettable movies?

Marty: Cool Hand Luke…Shawshank Redemption…Murder in the First

David: And a favourite bit of dialogue?

Marty: If my boy says he can eat 50 eggs, he can eat 50 eggs

David: LOL…You’re one of the undisputed Poker Kings of Comedy…Who makes you laugh?

Marty: My 2 grand daughters

David: Grand daughters! Geez Marty you started early! ;-) Ok…away from the card rooms and the TV Studios, how do you like to spend your spare time?

Marty: I do a lot of walking and bike riding…Always finish whatever you’re doing, in time for the first race of the day.

David: Finally, in one sentence, or three words of wisdom, what’s the best advice you could give to someone just starting out in poker?

Marty: Always finish whatever you’re doing, in time for the first race of the day.

David: ;-) Thanks Marty…good luck with your game and all the other things you’re doing mate!