PT: Are you a family man or international poker playboy?

TW: I live with my gorgeous wife(Laura)and 2 kids, (Ellie aged 1 and Morgan aged 3) so definately a family man. To be honest if it wasn't for them I'd probably be off living in Las Vegas. They keep me sane I guess.

PT: How do you spend your poker winnings? Do you spend spend spend, save, or invest?

TW: Most of my poker winnings either go on paying bills or treating my family.

PT: Is there a certain online poker player that if they sit down at your table you fear them?

TW: 'Dumpa' can be pretty scary in cash games when he's in the mood and so I generally try to avoid him. I'm sure there are a few others but cant remember all their names. Normally there is more than enough fish on the tables for everyone to feed off anyways.

PT: How were your earliest experiences in learning to play?

TW: My first exposure to poker was back when I was about 14. I was watching TV late one night (well past my bedtime I'm sure) and a show called 'Late Night Poker' was on. A few years after this I saw some more poker programmes and decided to have a look online. I found a site where I could play for 'play money' and decided to give it a go. I was only 16 at the time and so couldn't deposit but my girlfriend at the time was 18 and so somehow I managed to convince her to deposit some money for me. I played lots and lots of small stakes STT's, cashing every so often and holding my own at lower levels. I played poker this way for a few years until I discovered MTTS's and how much fun they were. One week I managed to final table the same $15 rebuy 5 nights in a row and decided that maybe it was possible that I could make money from poker. I took most of my winnings out and lost the rest that I left in and decided maybe that it wasnt as easy as I thought! So I decided to concentrate on my studies.

PT: Has there ever been a time when things weren't going right for you? What did you do to get you through?

TW: Well I've been broke on more than a few occasions in poker. My best story about this was when I was working part time in a local restaurant just after my youngest daughter was born. I had about $4 left in one of my poker accounts at the time and decided to play a single table satellite to the big sunday tournament which ran on the site I played on. I managed to win the satellite and got into the 600+ runner $36 rebuy/add-on tournament. I couldnt afford a rebuy so I played pretty tight (well tight for me at that time). The last hand before the rebuys ended I somehow managed to get all in preflop for my whole stack (about 4-5 x starting stack) Vs the only person at the table who could bust me with my AQ vs their QQ. I miraculously river an A and get a big double up just before going into the freezeout stages. To cut a long story short, 6 hours later I'm heads up with about 10% of the chips in play and half asleep. I'm all-in on the 1st hand of heads up with a raggy A vs AK and hit my kicker, the next 4-5 hands in a row it seems like we're all-in every hand and I'm the favourite every time and manage to win them all and net myself 1st prize of just under $10k. Two weeks later I manage to get 4th in the same tournament again and this is when I hand in my notice at work and decide to try poker for a living whilst looking after my daughter.

PT: What levels of cash and MTT's do you play?

TW: Cash - 0.5/1 - 1/2 NL 6 handed only MTTs - anything up to $50 unless I've won a satellite or the tournament has a lot of added value.

PT: What's your biggest ever poker achievement so far?

TW: Probably winning that $10k in the $36 rebuy MTT.

PT: What do you think of players that are abusive in the chat box?

TW: I have been known to be abusive in the chatbox myself in the past, but I dont usually let anyone else being abusive annoy me that much. It usually means they are on tilt or are about to be and thats a good thing.

PT: How do you take a bad beat? nh, wp, fish, or *@?%$

TW: Depends on how much the pot means to me and what kinda mood I'm in. If I'm running good I usually just brush it off and say 'nh' or 'wp'. If I'm having a bad day some sort of bad comment is usually given!

PT: When playing LIVE poker do you like to sit there quietly and concentrate or do you like to be quite vocal and entertaining?

TW: Quiet and watchful. The less I talk there more I can concetrate on what everyone else at the table is doing.

PT: You were part of Team Trillion in Estonia this year – Other than you cashing and winning vast amounts playing black jack something else happened to you, tell us more...

TW: Well it all started just after I got knocked out 7th in the main even and cashed for about 1100 euros. I decided it would be a good idea to treat myself to a bottle of pink champagne. I'd already had a few glasses of complimentary wine during the final table so this probably wasnt the best idea I've ever had. Anyways, a few hours later once the final table was wrapped up all of the Trillion guys decided to head out to a local nightclub. Once we got there I decided it would be a good idea to buy everyone a shot of sambooka! I got the guy at the bar after a lengthy discussion (estonian + drunk scotsman doesn't always work) to light the drinks for us. So I start trying to carry 3-4 at a time over to the rest of the guys and just as I reach them Colin, from PT, decides to turn round a knocks them over me, burning my hand and setting my shoes on fire [ed: Not our Colin Surely? Doesn't sound like him at all!!] (he still owes me a new pair). Needless to say I spent the rest of the night in the bathroom running my hand under a cold tap with some strange looks from the locals.

After an intense two months of play our September & October rake-race is now over with Danish online whizz 'dumpa' (pictured right in Estonia with one of our promo girls) claiming top spot and the $5,000 package to the next Asian Poker Tour tournament taking place in Manila at the end of January. Positions 2 to 31 now go into a play-off on Tuesday night to determine who picks up the other $5,000 package on offer.

In the play-off players are awarded more chips according to their finishing position in the rake-race so 'droppndeuces' need not feel too hard done by despite being pipped for first, by finishing runner-up 'droppndeuces' goes into the rake-race play-off with 3,500 starting chips where as 'iamrock' who finished in 31st position starts with just 600.

PT: Have you ever had a 'normal' job?

CRT: During my last two years of high school I sold furniture at a discount retail store in Kansas. The job was awfully boring and the pay was close to minimum wage so I guess that constitutes as 'normal.' Also, I worked as an intern for a film production company in Germany for one year.

PT: At what point did you realise you could rely solely on your poker playing?

CRT: Once the income became fairly regular and I was winning consistently playing SNGs I realized that poker could go from a hobby to a profession. That was around 3 years ago.

PT: How did you start off your online bankroll?

CRT: I started by donking off a good portion of my hard-earned furniture selling income back in the day with tons of $30, $50, $100 and eventually $150 online deposits. They would last a couple days, then they would be gone and I would redeposit and try again. I was incredibly naive, didn't realize what I was doing wrong and thought that I was just very unlucky. Then I finally bought a few books, started working on my game and the rest is history.

PT: Walk us through a normal day in the life of thcrtstr.

CRT: My days are pretty dull actually. A normal day has me waking up at around 2pm, eating breakfast and taking a shower. Then I turn on the computer and play poker for an hour or two. That is followed by some Fifa09 on PS3, which I play a ton of. At night I'll play some more poker if I'm motivated, otherwise I'll invite some friends over and relax to a DVD with my roommates. Friday/Saturday nights are reserved for partying and Sunday is reserved for soccer.

PT: What tips would you give to a casual online low stakes player wanting to seriously develop their game and make it more profitable?

CRT: I would definitely start with some books and once you have the basics down, the training sites are a great way to improve your game.

PT: What do you make of the older generation poker player? Do you fear or respect them, or the opposite?

CRT: I definitely don't fear them. It's hard to generalize them all into one category, but I definitely have a ton of respect for several of the older generation players. The discipline they have for grinding the live games day in and day out is very admirable, I don't think I could do it. That being said, I do enjoy having older people at my table, because often their games are somewhat "outdated," meaning they haven't quite caught up to the way NL hold'em is played today.

PT: How did you learn the game? Are you self taught or did you read books or visit tutorial sites etc?

CRT: Like I mentioned earlier, I tried self teaching but that was quite costly  Books and tutorial sites definitely evolved me as a player, but I also had the benefit of having very talented friends who play poker. Talking strategy with them, discussing hands and getting different opinions were also very important in shaping my game.

PT: How were your earliest experiences when learning to play?

CRT: This is embarrassing and I've never said this before, but I made my first ever $30 real-money deposit in order to get a 10,000 play money bonus. No kidding. Call me a marketing victim.

PT: When playing in a LIVE tournament do you like to sit there quietly and concentrate, or do you like to be quite vocal and entertaining?

CRT: I'm definitely more the quiet type at the table, mainly because I worry that I'll give off too many tells if I start becoming a chatterbox. I don't play enough live poker to master it, so I just keep the chitchat out of my game completely.

PT: Has there ever been a time when things weren't going right for you at the tables? What did you do to get through it?

CRT: Downswings happen all the time, they are just a part of the game. I just try to remind myself to look at the large picture and not focus on the unimportant short-term results. It's so easy to get caught up in the negativity and most people forget that a positive attitude can work wonders.

PT: What sort of things do you like doing to take your mind off of poker?

CRT: I love playing sports, mainly soccer and tennis. Also, watching movies, playing video games and partying every once in a while are also great ways to spend time.

PT: You have a blog at http://cortkm.com/blog - What made you start a diary and what sort of things do you mainly write about?

CRT: I started it for myself just to keep track of my results and vent every once in a while. In the beginning it was pretty much only results but it has evolved into a blog where I post almost no results and more of a place where I post trip reports and pictures from the various places I travel to.

PT: Finally, rumour has it that you're a bit of a party animal when playing on the poker circuit - Which nightclub would you recommend to other players?

CRT: Well, that's definitely just a rumour :-) I do like to go out and party every once in a while, though. I would definitely recommend the Pure at the Caesars or Body English at the Hard Rock, both located in Las Vegas. Great clubs with great music and great girls!

Not content with the $600,000 he's already picked up in 2008, James Akenhead has his sights firmly on $250,000 first prize in the 888.com UK Open V which is currently being filmed at the Maidstone Studios, located just outside of London.

'Hitsquad' member James (right – Image provided by www.cardplayer.com all rights reserved) went into his heat 3/1 favourite and didn't let the punters down. Despite taking the early chip lead after wiping out most of WSOP bracelet holder Ciaran O'Leary's stack, James went into the heads up stage the short stack against Paul Grummit. It didn't take long for James to regain control and then with 10h-5s James put Grummit all-in pre flop with 7d-6h...James flopped his 10 and then rivered a 5 taking him through to the semi-finals which are due to be filmed next week.

Trillions very own Robert Cooper makes his way to Maidstone Studios situated just outside of London today for the return of the 888.com Poker Open V. Rob who has a number of impressive tournament performances under his belt, namely a third in the first season of the EPT and a first and second place finish in the PartyPoker.com Poker Den series, finds himself second in the betting for his heat and up against the bookies favourite and 'Hitsquad' member Karl Mahrenholz. Cooper goes into the $6,000 tournament, which attracts a whole host of top European players and is broadcasted worldwide, in fine form after a number of good results locally in London recently – When asked about his chances Cooper responded confidently with "I'm gonna crush 'em!"

Later on in the day sees 'Hitsquad' member James Akenhead (right – Image provided by www.cardplayer.com all rights reserved) adorning the Trillion colours for his heat of the 888.com Poker Open V. James who famously finished runner-up in this years WSOP $1,500 NLH event picking up over $500,000 in the process goes into his heat 3/1 favourite despite going up against Irish bracelet winner Ciaran O'Leary.

Both players have more than a great chance in progressing to the semi-finals - For LIVE updates visit http://www.matchroompoker.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=5

The next leg of the European Poker Tour begins today in Budapest at the 'Las Vegas Casino' with our very own 'Arturo_Ul' looking to capture a large slice of the €2million that is expected to be on offer. If you're a regular at the $2-$4 NLH cash tables you'll no doubt have come across the young Hungarian who saved up his poker points and took full advantage of our 'Discounted LIVE Tournaments' promotion. By saving up points that he had accrued from his play at the tables, 'Arturo_Ul' was able to enter the tournament for just 50% of the usual entry fee...with us paying the remaining 50%!

All of us at POKERTRILLION.com would like to wish 'Arturo_Ul' the very best of luck and hope to see him AND the winner's trophy on the front cover of every poker magazine next month!

Dates: 25th - 31st August 2008
Entry: €750
Approx. Total Prize Fund: €45,000

Another good turnout by Team Trillion, 10 players plus Colin making the trip to the impressive Hilton Warsaw Hotel in Poland all hoping to better MonkeyMgk's second place in Estonia. In attendance was "Cashpoint" who qualified via a satellite, "Fuzzy01" and "Krucky" were victorious in Julys rake-race, and then "MonkeyMgk", "Dumpa", "Magicz", "AKIR", "Chelsea8", "silverslick", and "selected" all entered using our discounted live entry promotion.

Confidence was high in the camp going into the main event as "MonkeyMgk" was victorious in the €165 side event netting a healthy 3300 and Team Trillion didn't disappoint. With "Silverslick" and "Fuzzy01" cashing in 7th and 8th place it was left to Trillions very own Colin Hawker to try and take down the final table. Unfortunately for Colin with 3 left, his pocket 6's ran into KK and he was eliminated picking up a useful €6930.

PT: How did you start playing poker?

TP:I pal of mine called Andy was playing and losing and I thought I could show him up (ed: I was winning!). After a few days I started teaching him how to win and we formed a partnership where we take 25 % of each other in live touneys. So far it has been a one way thing, but I'm sure he will do what he can the next time we play.

PT: Do you have a job or rely solely on your poker playing?

TP: If I didn't have a misses who worried about the stability of it all I'd give it a go. But for now I am a Sports Reporter for a UK National newspaper.

PT: How many days per week do you play online?

TP: Depends how many nights the girlfriend wants to go out. If I'm in it's on.

PT: What's your best online and LIVE poker achievement?

TP: Online I had a +$10,000 weekend in tournaments alone at PokerStars, but cash is more like $2,000 in one day. Live I finished 9th on the Ladbrokes Poker Cruise a few years back netting $30,000.

PT: You fared quite well in the Estonia leg of the Olympic Casino Anniversary Tour last February which POKERTRILLION.com supported - You made the final table despite not sleeping and drinking pink champagne constantly. Was this part of your game plan? If not, what is your game plan when playing in a live event?

TP: Drinking until the early hours is never a good plan, but with the hard work of the final table done and being on the short stack I knew that even hungover I could decide when to push and try and double up. Also I can never say no to a good drink.

PT: What levels of cash games and Multi Table Tournaments do you play?

TP: from 0.50/1 to max 2/4

PT: How many tables do you like to play at once?

TP: Up to four - which I think helps focus your mind so you don't get bored and play a pot for no reason. You have to stay focused though because you need to try and learn everything about your player.

PT: What rules do you apply when playing in a Multi Table Tournament?

TP: I change with the table. If the table is tight I'm loose and so on. But if it was a mix I'd play tight at first and then let rip when the blinds are worth stealing.

PT: What do you think of players that are abusive in the chat box?

TP: I love them because you can use it to your advantage. You can send someone on tilt and there is no better way to get them back by taking their chips. It's all banter at the end of the day. What makes me laugh are people who talk about what hands you can raise with. STOP READING BOOKS AND FIND YOUR OWN GAME!

PT: How do you take a bad beat? nh, wp, fish, or £$%&*!

TP: If it is AA v QQ or even 88 and they hit trips then fine. If it is the worst all in call with a gutshot then I might explode. But that won't send me on tilt. Sometimes it's fun to needle someone after it though. The worst thing you see all the time is bad players just leaving straight after they've taken your money with a bad beat because they know they are so bad they'll give it you back. You have to give it at least 10 hands - even if you fold them all!

PT: If you won the WSOP and then blew all your winnings on roulette, would you try and change up your winners bracelet with the croupier?

TP: You mean to say when?! Yeah I'd put it on red 21! If that didn't work I'd take all the 25% back I've given Andy and put $500,000 on red.

If you thought that the big talking point at this years WSOP was the fact that the main event final table was to be delayed and played out in November, you'd be wrong...The big talking point was of course how Irish poker pro Padraig Parkinson would fare in the main event. For every player that Padraig outlasted we agreed to donate $1 to not only an exclusive freeroll for all Trillion players but also we would donate the same amount to the next 'Simon Poker Day' charity event which Padraig has a close association with. Anyway, Padraig outlasted a total of 5524 other players...a nice touch for not only 'Hornetpl' who took down the freeroll but also for the homeless kids in Ireland.

Nobody from Team Trillion was fortunate enough to make the final table in November but both 'silverslick' and 'Molkx' did go up against 2691 others in event 52 and come out in profit finishing an impressive 55th and 164th!

In true Colin Hawker style all those that played under the Team Trillion umbrella were treated to a VIP night out (with their very own security team!), at Vegas's No1 night spot 'Voodoo Lounge' which is located at the top of the RIO hotel - taking advantage of the gallons of free Vodka, Champagne, Beer and whisky was not only 'MonkeyMgk', 'silverslick', 'fuzzy01', 'dragonGPL', 'nicoj183', 'Molkx' and 'ernst' but also Padraig Parkinson and the Voice of Poker Jesse May...

[images courtesy of Mickey K. May]

PT: Do you have a job or rely solely on your poker playing?

MM: I work full-time but do play poker as an additional income.

PT: How many days per week do you play online?

MM: 4-7 days.

PT: What levels of cash or MTT's do you play?

MM: 2/4 Cash / $50 STT / $25 MTT

PT: What's your favourite MTT on POKERTRILLION.com?

MM: The daily 5k gtd, and the Sunday 10k gtd - always got huge overlays!

PT: Is there a certain poker player online that when they get seated at your table you try and stay away from?

MM: Absolutely NOT!

PT: Do you have a poker nemesis? A player that no matter what you do, you just cant get the better of them?

MM: No not really, on certain days some opponents are playing well and hitting the cards and nothing you can do seems to beat them. But then I know that I also have had those days.

PT: You've won quite a lot of prize money when you%u219ve played abroad with POKERTRILLION.com, what attributes, skills or factors got you to the current level you play at?

MM: I have been playing cards for many years and I can honestly say that experience really helps when you are playing live. These tournements take many many hours and keeping your concentration, patience and knowing when to change gear comes with experience.

PT: What sort of things do you like to do away from playing poker?

MM: I play on the 8-ball pool professional tour and I love to travel.

PT: In the WSOP this year there were over 50 bracelets won, do you think in its current form, the bracelet has been devalued?

MM: I don't think so. I know I would love to win a bracelet. They probably are devalued with so many events now in the WSOP, but the money comes and goes, the trophies and bracelets stay forever.