Craig Marquis

'craigmarq' is already well known in online circles.

Craig Marquis represented the online generation at the Main Event final table.

Though players like David Rheem & Scott Montgomery may be more recognisable to the live sector, Marquis (known online as ‘craigmarq’) has been tearing up the online cash games for quite a while now.

The 23 year-old, from Arlington, Texas, has only been playing poker for about 18 months but has rocketed through the levels from $2/$4 to $200/$400 & beyond on Full Tilt.

Given his background on the internet it is hardly surprising that Marquis has just $35,759 in live winnings to his name, with all 3 of his cashes coming in the WSOP.

In 2007 he came 34th in the $5,000 PLH for $14,030 as well as 30th in the $1,000 NLH re-buys for $16,133 (his biggest cash before the ME). This year he made the money in the $1,500 NLH Shoot-Out (Event #17), ending up 18th for a relatively modest $5,596. In an interview with Poker Listings he said that he had played 18 events in this year’s series and cashed in just one of them, leaving a little pressure on the big one to get unstuck for the series. (Though considering the only tournaments he plays are at the WSOP, it’s not that big a deal).

Being a college student hailing from Texas it is hardly surprising that Marquis is good friends with online legends Tom Dwan & David Benefield, with Benefield writing in his blog that he has a quarter of Marquis’ Main Event action. Both durrr & raptor were railing Marquis as he eliminated Dean Hamrick in 10th place to secure his spot in the final nine (his QQ holding up against Hamrick’s AJ).