David Lloyd: Hi Marcel, where are you?

Marcel Luske: As it is, l m on my way to go to Deauville, France to play in the EPT

David: I'm buying the drinks, what will you have?

Marcel: A Thee as a starter

David: You won the Pot Limit Omaha event in Melbourne recently ($57,000 US) and followed it up by finishing ninth in their main event ($39,000 US)…Not what you would call a bad start to the year ;-) I imagine you enjoyed your time in Australia, will you be going back?

Marcel: Oh yes, I've bought my 10,000 Aus dollar ticket already as they promised to make it even better again, they want to achieve a $5,000,000 prize pool in 2006,.. With the class they have and the Cooperation with the online sponsor promoting their event, I'm sure they will succeed. If they bring television in it again, even the rules will be shaped to International standards as they have told me they work on it.

Because it is government restricted and well guided it takes a little longer to get things done but they do know now where they can still improve and after 263 players this year they maybe getting close to 400  next.

David: Your tournament record of making finals is pretty remarkable; what's more remarkable is how many of them you've finished in the top 3 or 4. It says a lot about the way you play. Did that all come naturally or was there a learning curve?

Marcel: It is a learning curve,

David: You had another excellent World Series last year…Looking back on it now, your 10th place finish in the main event out of 2576 entrants was an incredible achievement but it must have been a nightmare at the time?

Marcel: That's not a question  that's a fact…lol

David: If there was betting on who was the most likely European to win the main event this year, I think a lot of the money would be on you…How much are you looking forward to this years WSOP?

Marcel: As l can expect a lot of pressure , by interviews, photos and filming it will be disturbing your game if you are not focussed and  concentrated highly, before you know it, it's all over and that's not what l have in mind…

David: And the Rio…Will you miss the Horseshoe or are you looking forward to a change of scenery?

Marcel: As l have heard the Rio and Harrah's are trying to give it their own touch and they bought the rights so we can only judge them after they've done the business. If we are happy with the change…Let us wait and see...

David: Where do you usually stay in Vegas?

Marcel: Belaggio

David: Ok…I'm running a book on this years WSOP…$10 to the winner (yes ten whole dollars! ;-). How many runners for this year's main event? So far I've got John Duthie on 2000, Daniel Negreanu on 5378 and Simon Trumper on 3600.

Marcel: Daniel is a nice guy and we become more in friendship through the years but he may be very, very close with the guess,  l think close to 6000 players…or even more if the on lines are getting a little exposure on television out of it,…

David: Your temperament at the table is one of the best I've seen, you're always one of the most friendly and talkative (We'll come to the singing later)…how do you stay so relaxed?

Marcel: I think when you come to the part of the game where a beat hurts…I'm more numb than others…from experience, l know...nothing helps and it's a part of the game, even when you cannot get used to this part. No…a runner/runner is a stomach turner…no  matter how long you play...

David: The tournament circuit is pretty hectic these days…are you playing many cash games between events or do you try to get as much rest as possible between the tournaments?

Marcel: Lately l try to get as much rest as possible...

David: How have you enjoyed playing in the EPT events…apart from the venues being closer to home, have you noticed any other differences?      

Marcel: As l know a lot of the guys in the scene, playing, filming, working, promoting,..I still want to give a straight opinion…EPT is fantastic as an idea. Even the production looks very good as far I've seen a little till now…

The more events are broadcasted the better the program gets... It is done so that any body looking to this poker program won't get lost in the % every hand...but will enjoy the poker spirit as if you would have being playing yourself…choosing the one you wanted to be... And if you think that we in Europe are so much smaller in numbers with regard to the poker playing field on the global scale, then this is a fantastic result already…

David: You're involved with Intertopspoker.com, How long have you been working with them?

Marcel: l have a contract for one year which ends in the 5th month this year as we try to see our interest in the future for both sides…as it is, they are more than fair and straight forwards if it comes to back up things they believe in…l hope they are satisfied with the outcome of our relationship and friendship...

David: Away from the tournament circuit, do you play much when you're at home in Amsterdam?

Marcel: I used to make a living on the side, playing nearly daily as the casino became my office before l played the tournament circuit. These days l don't play there much…The cash games are not what they  once were and the players are getting better, so it really starts to look like working…playing with the locals if you want to win...

David: Do you play online much and if so, where do you play and what name do you use?

Marcel: I don't play to much online and if l do then l play most likely 'exclusive fan' or 'el capitano' in my office…Noah Boeken who has just won the Copenhagen EPT event, helped me online a little as he was playing online a lot.  He is living above my office in Amsterdam so we do exchange some poker      information…like online info for life tournaments info.…

David: Back in the Casino…Cash game, dealer's choice, your button – What are we playing?

Marcel: Omaha pot limit, l like poker at lively action tables, like the young Swedish kids are very creative and fall in love with many playable Omaha hands!

David: You manage to find yourself on a slow boat to China, hosting the liveliest poker games known to mankind. Who from the poker world would you want with you for company and why?

Marcel: No doubt l would like the one and only Devilfish to be there, next to some girls from between 18 and 81...we just want to have a great time, winning or losing...winning we just happened to like better!

David: I know you love singing so this should be easy. Onboard, they've organised a charity karaoke night, you have to sing or pay $10,000 not to sing…what will your big number be?

Marcel: l sing the second one for 50%....the number l would sing would be 'Lady' by Kenny Rogers or 'Lately' from Stevie Wonder or even 'How Do l Stop Loving You' from Engelbert Humperdink, 'Hello' by Lionel Richy…something like that…

David: I think you'd do a whole set Marcel ;-) There'd be no holding you back…I promise to take a seat and cheer you on! Ok…more music…if you were stranded on a desert island and could only have 3 songs on your MP3 player, what would they be?

Marcel: 'How Am l Supposed To Live Without You',..Michael Bolton, some Caruso and 'Lean On Me' from Kirk Franklin! 
    
David: While we're at it, what would your top 5 movies be?

Marcel: Once Upon a Time in the West...Brave Heart...Jesus…the Bible Story…Gladiator.   
   
David: Do you have a favourite line of dialogue from a movie?

Marcel: 'I'll be back!'  Arnold Schwarzenegger or 'Make my day punk!'  Clint Eastwood

David: Marcel 'the Terminator' Luske…it's got a ring about it! ;-) Ok…a bit closer to home…do you play or follow any other games or sports outside of poker and do you bet on them?

Marcel: Yes but I hardly ever bet on them…l like skill…

David: Ok…the philosophy questions now! You're trapped in an elevator with Devilfish…who starts singing first?

Marcel: I do…he will probably tell me that they have done this on purpose to get us out of the comp…

David: LOL…Johann Cruyff, Ruud Gullit or Marco Van Basten?

Marcel: Cruyff

David: Pre-Army Elvis, the black leather 68 comeback or King of Las Vegas?

Marcel: King of Vegas!

David: Beatles or Stones?

Marcel: Beatles…As l see this was the last question l will ask you one…What's wrong with you? You make me work…LOL

David. Ha ha, thanks Marcel…I'm just trying to wear out all the best players before the World Series…Then I buy in!

Marcel: Good luck…and thanks for the compliment of asking me…it was a existing pleasure !!!

David: The pleasure was all mine Marcel…see you in the Rio if not before!