DUBLIN BELLYBUSTERS

Last Sunday, I was approached by a man who I both know by reputation and as a friend of a friend. Joe Attila Tosaky (better known as draqq in the online poker world) is a successful poker player in both the live and online arena. He has also made a killing over the past few years staking players through the parttimepoker.com website. A little over a year ago, he extended his interests beyond merely staking players. He prudently determined that there was an untapped niche in the market. What was it? The synergy of staking and coaching. Many sites offered training and tuition to poker players (Cardrunners, Stox, Pokerpwnage, etc) and Parttimepoker.com had a strangle-hold over the staking market. There was no-one, however, combining both of these areas, offering mentoring and backing to up-and-coming players, looking to make a career in poker.

And so, 'SNG Mentors' was born, a website dedicated to the instruction and financial support of poker players - and with it, an opportunity for young talented amateurs to develop their skills and define thier style with the help of seasoned professionals and without the risk of going broke. With their primary focus on the SNGs on Pokerstars, the experts in their ranks include Vers, Shen888, Manhat10ite, Jontsef, Whoopsy_Dazy, Wutank, Rat Sauce 89 and of course Draqq himself. Combined, these 8 players have almost half a million dollars in Pokerstars SNG earnings.

One year in, Draqq and his co-investors are looking to extend their operation. The Full Tilt market is their target and with that in mind, they are adding Full Tilt based pros to their coaching staff. I welcomed Draqq's offer to join his troupe and my first student is the talented Danish SNG grinder, Rasmus 'Sibist' Sibast. As the weeks and months go by, I expect to take several other students under my wing. Using Hand History Analysis and any other teaching tools at my disposal, my distinctly hermeneutic approach to coaching will allow players to grow and evolve from within their existing games, developing a style with which they are comfortable. Private one2one coaching with me will be advertised on the site but I hope to put in 30-40 hours a month with the students of SNG mentors, adding to the success of this fine enterprise.