Poker and Starcraft may seem like strange companions as space battles and card games rarely intersect outside of children’s trading card games, but when you look beyond the chips and banelings that take up center stage you find that the two are united by strategy. Poker is not just a game of luck as Starcraft is not about who has the fastest hands, any pro can vouch for that. It’s the mind games, the deception, preparation and execution that lead to victory and because of this great Poker and Starcraft players all share a similar attribute. No, it is not a pathological gambling addiction; it is a love for strategy and competition that drives them to want to win. That is why it should come to no one as a surprise to see a player like Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, a legend of Broodwars, make over six million dollars from Poker tournaments when he switched to the game of "chance".
Maybe it is no surprise that top players of one sport are similar to top players of another, but what may come as a shock is just how akin some of these players actually are. Take a look at these T★SL 3 players and their Poker Counterparts.
Boxer - Doyle Brunson -
He’s a legend in the game one of the best of all time; no other player has had a greater influence on the scene. Everyone’s read his book, they've studied his game. He was there when the scene got started and he’s still here today. So who is this? Doyle or Boxer? Take your pick, it’s true for both of them.
MC - Phil Ivy -
Phil Ivy is the winningest player in Poker, so good he is scary. Ivy makes good players look like amateurs when he sits down at the table. No other player gets the same level of respect and for good reason as he is regarded by many to be the best player in the world. The only difference between the two is that MC is slightly cockier.
ThorZain - Chris Ferguson -
Calculating and dangerous if you’re looking for a player who’s done his research look no further. Both are known for being good mannered players. ThorZain does not even hesitate to throw out a gg wp when he drops a game, and while he may not have the hair that Chris “Jesus” Ferguson has, he sure knows a thing or two about performing miracles.
Idra -Phil Hellmuth -
If you put a glass panel between the two you would swear it was a mirror. Hellmuth is arrogant, talks trash, and quickly gets on tilt, especially when he starts losing to player who he believes have less skill than himself. Does that sound like anyone you know yet? You either love or hate him there is no in between but either way he is one of the best of the best and when he wins looks like an absolute genius, you might even call him an Evil Genius.
TLO -Tom Dwan -
When TLO sits down to play you don’t know what to expect from the most creative player of the game and the same goes for Tom Dwan. He’ll play hands that no one else will, is always explosively unpredictable, reads you like a book, and is an absolute fan favorite in every tournament he enters thanks to the off the wall style that he brings.
Huk - Phil Laak -
Everyone who wears a hoody gets nicknamed the Unabomber, and these guys are no exception as both are known for hiding behind a hoody when they gets into steep competition. They're also both known for being wild even crazy individuals. This might lead you believe that they plays a loose game while in fact they're incredibly tight player who only on occasion brings out the proverbial mothership rush of a play.
QXC - Antonio Esfandiari -
Confident and aggressive, Antonio Esfandiari’s play is comparable to endless reaper harass, he just never slows down. Before making it big in Poker Esfandiari actually performed as a magician, and if there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about magic it’s QXC with his astounding ability to make medivacs magically appear in his enemy’s bases.
Heh these are pretty good, but oh god what an insult to Idra :D. And calling Phil Hellmuth "one of the best of the best" is probably pushing it a little bit
Hah, couldn't agree more with the Idra/Hellmuth comparison. Thorzain and Ferguson is a little less obvious, but now that I look at it, it does make sense.
The other poker players I am not too familiar with, but I'm sure with enough research I could too see the comparisons you are making.
On May 04 2011 21:48 Magulina wrote: Heh these are pretty good, but oh god what an insult to Idra :D. And calling Phil Hellmuth "one of the best of the best" is probably pushing it a little bit
Idra is a big boy I'm sure he can handle being compared to the poker brat and If you know of anyone with more WSOP bracelets let me know.
On May 04 2011 21:48 Magulina wrote: Heh these are pretty good, but oh god what an insult to Idra :D. And calling Phil Hellmuth "one of the best of the best" is probably pushing it a little bit
Idra is a big boy I'm sure he can handle being compared to the poker brat and If you know of anyone with more WSOP bracelets let me know.
Uuuh, WSOP bracelets isn't an indicator of skill, and he won most of them when the fields were smaller and many years ago. Sure he might've been good back then, but now a ton of people have passed him skillwise. I would claim that any regular at nl1k+ online is better than him right now.
On May 04 2011 21:48 Magulina wrote: Heh these are pretty good, but oh god what an insult to Idra :D. And calling Phil Hellmuth "one of the best of the best" is probably pushing it a little bit
Idra is a big boy I'm sure he can handle being compared to the poker brat and If you know of anyone with more WSOP bracelets let me know.
Uuuh, WSOP bracelets isn't an indicator of skill, and he won most of them when the fields were smaller and many years ago. Sure he might've been good back then, but now a ton of people have passed him skillwise. I would claim that any regular at nl1k+ online is better than him right now.
You could possibly say this about IdrA as well. Depends on what tournament results you look at i guess.
EPT![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/lk2wZ.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/sgkAA.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/TuCv3.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/oOWwK.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/qvLXH.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/qpupV.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/ZxDIf.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/dn4OV.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/rtO2r.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/RB7rC.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/2BWWR.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/CInXV.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/NF9Xs.jpg)
-![[image loading]](http://imgur.com/rccYj.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.flopturnriver.com/poker-photos/bertrand-grosspelier.jpg)
and If you know of anyone with more WSOP bracelets let me know.![[image loading]](http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/a586968f-7ad0-4015-a630-8ff94f4ddc6a.png)
![[image loading]](http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs052.snc4/34955_423110905853_514325853_4686386_7553885_n.jpg)
