Marc Karam
Encyclopedia
Marc Karam is a Canadian professional poker
player. In addition to playing in major international poker tournaments he makes his living playing online poker at various stakes against a wide range of opponents.
parents. In 1982, when he was 2 years old, he and his family moved to Lebanon
for a year before finally settling in Ottawa
, Canada in 1983. Karam attended McMaster Catholic elementary school and earned his high school diploma from St. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa. He then went on to study Glazier & Metal Mechanics at the Ontario Industrial & Finishing Skills Centre while working as an apprentice for a window and framing company, Transit Glass & Aluminum. After his schooling was complete, he began working full time at Transit Glass & Aluminum. He also took on additional work as a self-taught, freelance, web designer.
Over the next 5 years, he slowly moved up in stakes and built a bankroll in excess of $100,000 (USD). In early 2006, Karam won an entry into the 2006 PokerStars
Caribbean Adventure (PSCA) poker tournament by qualifying online via a "satellite" tournament. Shortly after qualifying for this event, he asked for and received a six month sabbatical from his job at Transit Glass & Aluminum. During this same sabbatical, Karam managed to qualify for the 2006 European Poker Tour
(EPT) Grand Final in Monte Carlo
through another online "satellite" tournament. He placed fourth in that tournament and along the way he eliminated Dutch poker pro Marcel Lüske
holding the against Lüske's pair of eights when he caught running sevens on the turn and river, giving him a Full House with the pair of 4's on the flop (after that hand, Lüske stood up, placed his finger in his mouth and pretended to vomit). Thereafter, he quit his job and became a professional poker player.
Since becoming a professional poker player, Marc has earned over $2,000,000 (USD) in major poker tournaments all around the world.
He went on to place in the money at the 4th Annual Five Star World Poker Classic and the July 21, 2006 No Limit Holdem event at the 37th Annual World Series of Poker
. He then managed to place in the top 6 at the next three major tournaments he entered; The 2006 North American Poker Championship, The 2007 Aussie Millions, and The 2007 EPT
Grand Final. Karam is the only professional player to have accomplished this feat.
During the 38th Annual World Series of Poker
, Karam earned over $9,000 (USD) for his 33rd place finish in the World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em event, during which he defeated 2005 NBC National Heads-Up champion Ted Forrest
.
In 2007, Karam became a regular monthly contributor to both Canadian Poker Player magazine in Canada and Card Player
magazine in the United States of America.
In 2010, he entered into a Sponsorship deal with online poker site, Full Tilt Poker
.
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player. In addition to playing in major international poker tournaments he makes his living playing online poker at various stakes against a wide range of opponents.
Early life
Marc Karam was born in Montreal, Canada to LebaneseLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
parents. In 1982, when he was 2 years old, he and his family moved to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
for a year before finally settling in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada in 1983. Karam attended McMaster Catholic elementary school and earned his high school diploma from St. Patrick’s High School in Ottawa. He then went on to study Glazier & Metal Mechanics at the Ontario Industrial & Finishing Skills Centre while working as an apprentice for a window and framing company, Transit Glass & Aluminum. After his schooling was complete, he began working full time at Transit Glass & Aluminum. He also took on additional work as a self-taught, freelance, web designer.
Poker career
Late in the year 2001, Karam began playing micro-stakes home games and small local tournaments. Eventually, he deposited some money online and started to build a poker bankroll. He was an avid fan of professional wrestling and his friends had nicknamed him "Myst", short for "Mysterio" after his favourite professional wrestler, Rey Mysterio Jr. So, when he began playing online he chose to play under the name, "myst". He would deposit small amounts online and play $0.50/$1.00 no limit holdem.Over the next 5 years, he slowly moved up in stakes and built a bankroll in excess of $100,000 (USD). In early 2006, Karam won an entry into the 2006 PokerStars
PokerStars
PokerStars is the largest online poker cardroom in the world. PokerStars' satellite tournaments produced the 2003 World Series of Poker champion, Chris Moneymaker. 1983 champion Tom McEvoy, 2005 champion Joe Hachem, 2009 champion Joe Cada and 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel and others also represent...
Caribbean Adventure (PSCA) poker tournament by qualifying online via a "satellite" tournament. Shortly after qualifying for this event, he asked for and received a six month sabbatical from his job at Transit Glass & Aluminum. During this same sabbatical, Karam managed to qualify for the 2006 European Poker Tour
European Poker Tour
The Pokerstars European Poker Tour is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour , created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity...
(EPT) Grand Final in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
through another online "satellite" tournament. He placed fourth in that tournament and along the way he eliminated Dutch poker pro Marcel Lüske
Marcel Lüske
Marcel Lüske is a Dutch professional poker player. He finished 10th in the 2004 WSOP main event and as of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,700,000 USD...
holding the against Lüske's pair of eights when he caught running sevens on the turn and river, giving him a Full House with the pair of 4's on the flop (after that hand, Lüske stood up, placed his finger in his mouth and pretended to vomit). Thereafter, he quit his job and became a professional poker player.
Since becoming a professional poker player, Marc has earned over $2,000,000 (USD) in major poker tournaments all around the world.
He went on to place in the money at the 4th Annual Five Star World Poker Classic and the July 21, 2006 No Limit Holdem event at the 37th Annual World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
. He then managed to place in the top 6 at the next three major tournaments he entered; The 2006 North American Poker Championship, The 2007 Aussie Millions, and The 2007 EPT
European Poker Tour
The Pokerstars European Poker Tour is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour , created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity...
Grand Final. Karam is the only professional player to have accomplished this feat.
During the 38th Annual World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
, Karam earned over $9,000 (USD) for his 33rd place finish in the World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em event, during which he defeated 2005 NBC National Heads-Up champion Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest is an American professional poker player, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.- Tournament Wins:...
.
In 2007, Karam became a regular monthly contributor to both Canadian Poker Player magazine in Canada and Card Player
Card Player
Card Player magazine is an industry publication and web portal specializing in poker media, poker strategy and poker tournament coverage. The magazine was founded in 1988 by June Field. In 1998 it was bought by Barry Shulman, who is the current publisher and CEO...
magazine in the United States of America.
In 2010, he entered into a Sponsorship deal with online poker site, Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker
Full Tilt Poker is an online poker card room that opened in June 2004 with the involvement of poker professionals Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Jennifer Harman and Chris Ferguson...
.