When it comes to style, Marcel Luske is in a class of his own. Always seen dressed in a suit, upside-down sunglasses and a smile, it’s no wonder Luske has become one of the most popular poker players in the world.
Add a proclivity for singing at the table and one might peg Luske as a one-man act. But behind the goofy facade is a brilliant poker mind that has earned the title of European Poker Player of the Year twice (2001 and 2004).
Nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman,” Marcel Luske got his start playing poker in market cafes in Amsterdam while working jobs in customs and various nightclubs. He eventually opened his own card club and began touring the tournament scene in Europe, where he had immediate success. Luske won three tournaments in a two-week span for a total of $85,000 in January of 2001 and suddenly found himself being mentioned among the best players in all of Europe. Shortly after he made the decision to quit his jobs and play poker full time.
Marcel went on to claim victories at the British Open and Masters Classic of Poker in Amsterdam to close out the year and was named the 2001 Player of the Year at the European Poker Awards. But it was the 2003 World Series of Poker that put Luske on the atlas. In the tournament that brought us hole card cameras and a Tennessee accountant became poker world champ, Luske finished 14th at the Main Event. He took home $65,000 for his efforts, but more importantly, a bevy of business opportunities due to his flamboyance at the table.
A year later Luske made another miraculous run at the WSOP Main Event, finishing in 10th place for $373,000. He was eliminated by Dan Harrington, who actually misread his hole cards during the hand. Some of Luske’s other big scores in his career include wins at the Five-Star World Poker Classic for $212,000 in April 2005, the Hall of Fame Poker Classic in Paris for $143,000 in July 2005, and then another win at the Five-Star World Poker Classic in April 2006 for $316,000.
Marcel Luske is also recognized as a mentor to some of the world’s most accomplished players. During the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event, Luske helped guide David Williams to a 2nd place finish for $3.5 million. He has also taken Noah Boeken and Kirill Gerasimov under his wing, both of whom have major cashes on the tournament circuit.
Luske founded and currently sits as director of the International Poker Federation, a group which aims to institute standardized rules on the tournament trail. He is also a member of the World Poker Federation Advisory Board. Yet despite all of his endeavors, Marcel Luske still finds quality time for his wife and two children in Holland.
