Mark Banin
Encyclopedia
Mark "Prince Charles" Banin is a semi-professional poker player and television presenter on Poker Night Live
and Sky Poker. Mark is known for his refreshing style, distinctive voice and excellent Poker mind.
in September 2002. He started playing in live games in February 2003 at the Grosvenor Casino in Luton and made an immediate impact. Between April
and October
he was the biggest money finisher there. Mark joined the poker tournament
circuit in November 2004. Once again, he made a quick impact on the International Poker scene, blasting his way to the final table and finishing 5th in the Southern Hemispheres biggest Poker Tournament; The Aussie Millions.
After his success in the Aussie Millions, he then took a short sabbatical from poker spending a few months travelling around Australia
.
Back from his travels in April 2004, he didn't take long to resume where he left off. In May 2004, playing three events in the World Series of Poker
and cashing in one of them.
World Heads-Up Poker Championship
In June 2004, Mark Banin defeated Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliot
in a six and a half hour marathon heads-up match. The semi-final match was one of the longest matches recorded in World Heads Up history and proved draining for Mark where later that night he lost in the finals to Spaniard
Angel Blanco Puras, but still received €50,000 ($75,505) for his runner-up finish.
Poker Night Live
With his distinctive voice and great commentary style, Mark Banin appeared as a popular commentator and presenter on PokerZone's
, Poker Night Live
. On a nightly basis, Mark appeared on the program between May 2005 and April 2007.
Poker Night Live
Poker Night Live was the United Kingdom's first live Internet poker show, broadcast between 2005 and 2007 on Pokerzone, usually between 9pm and 1am...
and Sky Poker. Mark is known for his refreshing style, distinctive voice and excellent Poker mind.
Early years
Mark Banin started playing online pokerOnline poker
Online poker is the game of poker played over the Internet. It has been partly responsible for a dramatic increase in the number of poker players worldwide...
in September 2002. He started playing in live games in February 2003 at the Grosvenor Casino in Luton and made an immediate impact. Between April
April 2003
April 2003: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-April 1, 2003:...
and October
October 2003
October 2003: January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December-Events:-October 1, 2003:...
he was the biggest money finisher there. Mark joined the poker tournament
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
circuit in November 2004. Once again, he made a quick impact on the International Poker scene, blasting his way to the final table and finishing 5th in the Southern Hemispheres biggest Poker Tournament; The Aussie Millions.
After his success in the Aussie Millions, he then took a short sabbatical from poker spending a few months travelling around Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Back from his travels in April 2004, he didn't take long to resume where he left off. In May 2004, playing three events in the 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...
and cashing in one of them.
World Heads-Up Poker ChampionshipWorld Heads-Up Poker ChampionshipThe World Heads-Up Poker Championship is an annual elimination-format poker tournament of one-on-one no limit Texas hold'em matches. The tournament was co-created by Late Night Poker's Nic Szeremeta, PokerInEurope's Jon Shoreman, and gaming journalist Rich Geller.The event has run since 2001 and...
In June 2004, Mark Banin defeated Dave "The Devilfish" UlliotDave Ulliott
David A. Ulliott , known by the nickname Devilfish, is an English professional gambler and poker player. Formerly, Ulliott was a minor figure in the Hull underworld, but went on to become a World Series of Poker bracelet-winner, and a mainstay of televised poker...
in a six and a half hour marathon heads-up match. The semi-final match was one of the longest matches recorded in World Heads Up history and proved draining for Mark where later that night he lost in the finals to Spaniard
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Angel Blanco Puras, but still received €50,000 ($75,505) for his runner-up finish.
2004 Brighton Harbour Lights Poker Festival
October 2004, Mark ploughed through a tough field in the two day main event, capturing 1st prize and $30,000.2004 Master Classics Amsterdam
November 2004, one week after his tournament victory in Brighton, Mark just fails to make it a double. He finished in 11th place, picking up $15,000, one short for a place on the final table. The Masterclassics is run over three days and is regarded as the pinnacle of European Poker.Poker Night LivePoker Night LivePoker Night Live was the United Kingdom's first live Internet poker show, broadcast between 2005 and 2007 on Pokerzone, usually between 9pm and 1am...
With his distinctive voice and great commentary style, Mark Banin appeared as a popular commentator and presenter on PokerZone'sPokerzone
Pokerzone was a channel dedicated to poker, broadcasting on Sky Digital channel 843 since 19 May 2005. Previously known as Game In TV it rebranded on 26 April 2005 and launched the following month....
, Poker Night Live
Poker Night Live
Poker Night Live was the United Kingdom's first live Internet poker show, broadcast between 2005 and 2007 on Pokerzone, usually between 9pm and 1am...
. On a nightly basis, Mark appeared on the program between May 2005 and April 2007.