Marvin "mkarlins" Karlins (AKA Duckman) Chasing the Poker Dream

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 80/160, 0 ante

When Florida's Marvin "mkarlins" Karlins, better known to the poker world as the "Duckman" given his affinity for pocket deuces, heard there was going to be a World Series of Poker (WSOP) online series, he was quick to leave his home in Florida and set up shop in Las Vegas.

The 78-year-old Karlins has a passion for poker, which is a welcomed escape from his highly-successful professional career, which includes serving as a Professor of Management at the University of South Florida. He has written two dozen books and over 200 articles in professional, academic and popular journals. while also serving an international consultant to major companies specializing in the aviation industry (he worked with Singapore Airlines for 20 years).

In the poker world, Karlins has amassed $316,690 in live earnings including a career-best $119,957 for finishing fourth in the 2015 World Poker Tour (WPT) bestbet Bounty Scramble in Jacksonville. As for online play, this summer’s WSOP.com events are Karlins’ first foray into the online poker landscape, and despite his lack of online experience, he has shied away from competition. In fact, he's participated in all the hold'em events up until this point.

While he's still looking for his first deep run, he's hoping a bracelet run might be in store, maybe even today!