PokerTableRatings

Interview with Jrockhaf

For the better part of two years, "Jrockhaf" has been crushing the 100nl full ring games on PokerStars. He boasts a win-rate of over 4 BB/100 during a career that spans millions of hands. As one of the top grinders that we track here at PTR, it was our pleasure to catch-up with this well known grinder and get insight into one of the best small stakes poker players in the world.

PTR: Could you give us a quick introduction of yourself?

Jrockhaf: My screen name is Jrockhaf on PokerStars, I am from Ontario, Canada and I am 31 years old

PTR: How did you get into online poker and how long have you been playing?

Jrockhaf: I got started in poker back in 2003 at a casino 2 hours from my hometown. The casino only had Limit Hold'em, so that's what I played when I started. Online, I played $2-$4 and $3-$6 limit, where I was a small winner at best.

PTR: You've been crushing 100nl full ring on PokerStars for years now. The big question a lot of people have about you is why you don't move up in stakes to ...

Interview with Zachvac

Zachvac is a grinder from the United States who has taken on one of the first big proposition bets of 2010. His goal is to profit $15,000 in one month playing strictly 100nl ($0.50-$1) tables at Full Tilt Poker (max 16 tables, non Rush Poker with a stipulation of max Rush tables). If he pulls off the bet he stands to win over $40,000 which includes his profits from playing. We got in touch with Zachvac to get exclusive inside information on this prop bet and see how it started and how it's going so far. The prop bet will conclude on the last day of this month with results being tracked at both the TwoPlusTwo forums and at FPPPro.com.

PTR: We saw some crazy prop bets succeed in 2009, specifically with JoeIngram1 (playing 50k hands and profit during a 24 hour period) and BallCup (who achieved SNE in less than 6 months). Was either or both of those inspirations to you for developing your own prop bet?

Zachvac: I didn't follow the BallCup bet too much and I actually had money on JoeIngram1 for his and was there in person to rail ...

BallCup Interview (Part 2)

If you missed the first half of the interview with "BallCup" , be sure to read it first here. was made famous for taking $45,000 in prop bet action on whether or not he could complete the requirements to achieve SuperNova Elite status in just five months. We continue on with our exclusive interview with …

PTR: You were able to take about a week break in late August to attend your High School reunion. Did the break assist your anti-tilt behavior and stamina? Was there anyone at the reunion you talked about your SNE Challenge with?

: Yes that stretch with the reunion and Costa Rica was planned before the challenge existed. When I got back from my vacation, I basically lost for over two weeks and my game was completely shot. In theory, that break should have helped my mental stability, but clearly I lost some sort of rhythm, as I hadn't taken that long of a break from poker in a very long time, if ever. The break also made me increase my pace when I got back, so that was another negative. Other than that, the trip was a lot of fun.

I talked about the challenge ...

BallCup Wins Prop Bet

In mid-2009, PokerStars small stakes player "Ballcup" decided to take prop bet action on his attempt to reach the top level of the VIP Program, SuperNova Elite. This VIP level is worth approximately $115,000 and takes one million VPPs to achieve. During this "challenge" Ballcup achieved in five months what many fail to set out to do during an entire year. Shortly after accomplishing his goal and winning $45,000 in prop bet money on top of the SNE rewards, Ballcup spent an extensive amount of time for an interview with Poker Table Ratings. This is part 1 of 2 for the interview, so stay tuned for the rest, coming later in the week.

PTR: Before getting yourself into the challenge, what was your poker life like and how did you grind yourself through the cash game ladder?

Ballcup: I started out as a fixed limit Hold’em player 5 years ago. I also played heads up SNGs during that time with moderate success. Back then I suffered from all the pitfalls of a new professional gambler. I didn't play enough; I locked up wins and at the same time was an emotional wreck. Finally a buddy of ...

Interview with Joe "JoeIngram1" Ingram

Joe "JoeIngram1" Ingram plays a massively multi-tabling style on PokerStars and recently won a huge prop bet by playing over 50,000 hands in a 24-hour period while showing a profit. For accomplishing his goal, Ingram won upwards of $30,000 and has gained a ton of attention here at Poker Table Ratings and even on the PokerStars official blog. During the video where he finishes off the prop bet, he even gave a shout out to PTR and all our visitors as he's stated that we're one of his favorite sites. We met with Ingram in person for this interview to discuss his feat, what it took to get done and what the future might hold for him.

Sean: What’s it feel like to win over $30,000 in 20 hours ($1,500/hr) and do you think you’ll be able to repeat that feeling again in poker?

Joe Ingram: It felt like the best feeling from doing anything in my life ever. Originally it felt like something that was so impossible ...