Marcel Luske in trademark suit(credit:
aboutmattlaw)
Team PokerStars has added two savvy pros to its professional roster, opting for a blend of youth and experience.
Although his tournament success has dwindled of late, Marcel ‘The Flying Dutchman’ Luske’s career achievements and infectious personality make him a worthy addition. He was voted European Player of the Year in 2001 for a string of tournament cashes in Austria and France. 2005 was also a glorious year for Luske, as he triumphed in the € 10,000 Hall Of Fame Poker Classic in Paris for €119,000, and the $2,000 Third Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic in Vegas for $212,070. He’s well known for being animated at the table, chatting and sometimes resorting to singing. Luske also has an extravagant dress sense, regularly donning colourful pinstripe suits. When he’s not playing, Luske is mentoring – he helped David Williams to a runner-up spot in the 2004 Main Event, and took young Dutch pro Noah Boeken under his wings.
Jason Mercier meanwhile, is a real hot property. At just 22, he’s accumulated over $3.2 million in tournament winnings, including victory at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, PokerStars EPT London £1 Million Showdown for £516,000, and EPT San Remo. A high volume player, he’s already achieved SuperNova Elite status on the website. Mercier has also made his mark at this year’s WSOP, securing his first bracelet in the $1,500 PLO event for $237,415.
These two, steady additions follow the signing of Scandinavian pro Johnny Lodden a few months ago. Despite a great tournament pedigree, Lodden went through a painful period in his career, losing his entire bankroll to wild sports betting.