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Mark Patrickson
Professional Poker Journalist
Mark Patrickson is a poker journalist and semi-professional player with over 20 years at the tables and more than a decade of experience writing about the game. At VIP-Grinders, he covers poker news, live tournament reporting, strategy, and industry trends, bringing a player’s perspective that comes from thousands of hours of actual play across MTTs, Sit & Gos, and cash games up to 100NL 6-max No Limit Hold’em.
Before joining VIP-Grinders, Mark built a substantial body of published work across well-known poker platforms. He served as an Expert at PokerVIP, where he produced 194 strategy articles and was listed as a professional coach. He also contributed news and high-stakes reporting to HighStakesDB, one of the go-to sources for tracking high-stakes online poker action. He has been a freelance poker and iGaming writer since 2015, working across multiple publications.
What makes Mark’s writing different from typical poker journalism is his direct playing experience. He has spent years grinding cash games and tournaments across major online networks, giving him a practical understanding of concepts like rakeback value, game selection, table dynamics, and bankroll management that goes beyond theory. When he writes about a poker room’s traffic, rake structure, or software, he is drawing on first-hand experience as a regular player.
Based in Southeast Asia, Mark is also a chess and motorsport enthusiast.
Areas of expertise: Poker News, Live Tournament Reporting, Cash Game & MTT Strategy, Poker Room Reviews, Industry Analysis, High-Stakes Poker Coverage
Latest Articles by Mark Patrickson:
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- Online Poker News
- Live Poker News
- Poker News
WSOP 2026 Patch Rules: Approved Brands, Submission Guide, and What Grinders Lose
Rule 52 now requires written patch approval 24 hours in advance. CoinPoker denied, GGPoker and ACR approved. The full compliance guide for sponsored players.
WSOP 2026 Preview: Storylines That Will Define the Summer
Hellmuth chases #18, Mizrachi defends, ESPN returns with Omaha Productions, and the POY race hits $1M. The storylines heading into the biggest poker summer of the decade.
Manig Loeser Joins BCPoker as First Global Ambassador
BCPoker signs two-time WSOP bracelet winner Manig Loeser as its first dedicated poker ambassador.
BCPoker Cuts Rake Caps by Up to 70% Across All Cash Game Formats
NL200 cap down from $10 to $3. AOF slashed 87%. Full old-vs-new tables for every stake and format.
WSOP 2026 Rule Changes: Dealer Ratings, Chips in Play, and Anti-Collusion Updates
Four new rules drop less than three weeks before the WSOP kicks off on May 26.
ACR Poker’s $20M Online Super Series Returns May 11 With 171 Events
ACR Poker’s $20M Online Super Series kicks off May 11 with three Main Events and 171 tournaments across 15 days.
Albert Daher Wins Record-Breaking €100K One Drop at EPT Monte Carlo
Daher defeats Chidwick heads-up for €2,055,000 in the largest €100K field in EPT history.
2026 National Heads-Up Poker Championship Bracket: Hellmuth, Negreanu and Dwan Return
Hellmuth, Negreanu and Dwan are back for the 2026 National Heads-Up Poker Championship at PokerGO Studio.
GGPoker Partners With Grosvenor Casinos to Sponsor UK Live Poker Events
GGPoker sponsors Grosvenor’s full UK live poker circuit with cash boosts up to 20% for online qualifiers.
WPT Global Festival Series 2026: Win a €1,600 Package from $0.55
Qualify from $0.55 for a €1,600 Festival Series package to Rozvadov or Tallinn on WPT Global.
GGPoker Signs Chilean Football Icon Arturo Vidal as Newest Ambassador
Chilean two-time Copa America winner Arturo Vidal becomes GGPoker’s first footballer ambassador in a quiet LatAm push.
Lodge Card Club Cleared by Grand Jury After Seven-Week Shutdown
A Williamson County grand jury has declined to indict the Lodge Card Club’s ownership on illegal gambling charges.