From city boy to poker degenerate, Karl Mahrenholz ditched the life as a banker to become a fully fledged poker professional, initially plying his trade at the Gutshot before setting his sights further afield. Bolton was the obvious destination of choice, and in 2007 he finished second to fellow Hit Squadder Praz Bansi for £35,500 in the first ever GUKPT.

At over seven feet and boasting a terrific set of eyebrows, Mahrenholz is a menacing sight, and even more so at the felt where he combines both relentless aggression and calculated thought. But striking fear into his opponents has clearly paid dividends, as impressive results at the Poker Meltdown, WSOPE and Luton Springfest eventually led to a much-deserved sponsorship with Blue Square.

As a regular presence on the UK circuit, you can follow the progress of the Hit Squad on their increasingly popular blog where Mahrenholz and co. share (cough) writing duties and offer a unique, but honest perspective on the lifestyle of a poker pro.