Poker From The Rail

More than $1.7 million

Just under $400K (live tournaments only)

This isn’t quite fair, since according to the bio up on Full Tilt, Turner has made more than a million in online tournaments. But we can’t start amending meaningless rules at this stage of the game; it just wouldn’t be fair to those who’ve already been hampered by this phenomenon. Stevie Z takes down the first category and is off to the early lead.

Two WSOP bracelets

Turner is such a good tourney player that I have no doubts he’ll top Zolotow’s WSOP bracelet total one of these days. Until then, this one has to go to big Z. He leads 2-0.

Established tournament veteran.

Hot shot young gun looking to take the tourney circuit by force.

This one’s really a tough call. I’d usually go with the established vet over the young gun on this one, but Turner has so much talent and plays a much tighter style than most of his online brethren I just feel like he’s going to do some really big things one day. So I’m going to pull an about face here and go with my instinct, which is telling me Turner is the guy here. The score now stands at 2-1 in favor of Steve.

Born and raised on cash game play and honed his skills at the world-famous Mayfair Club.

Not known as much of a cash game guy, but I’m sure he still holds his own.

It’s a funny thing, with most of these old pro versus young pro matches I’ve found that the old pro is a better tourney player while the young gun is a better cash game guy. But that’s clearly not the case here. Zolotow is a guy who honed his chops playing in the cash games, while Turner is more or less a straight tourney grinder. Life can be a funny, funny thing – oh well. You look for the patterns, think you find them, and as soon as you do they’re gone. Wacky! At any rate, this round goes to Z – he leads 3-1.

Old school TAG

New school TAG

Turner is an anomaly in that not too many big time online guys have cultivated a successful tight aggressive (TAG) style on their way to the top. And while these two TAG-tards might approach the game in a similar manner, I’m still more liable to go with the online guy on this one (if only to keep this a close match). Let’s give this one to Turner and hope he can make a real match out of this.

Stevie Z, or The Bald Eagle (my preference)

Talk about something being over before it even started. I mean, it’s cool that Turner’s nickname (and online handle) stems from his love of the band Pearl Jam (those of evil gnome, butt on fries fame), but come on – The Bald Eagle? Classic, just absolutely a gem. I’d give anything to have a nickname as cool as that. “Hey You” seems to be catching on, but that’s really not by my choice. At any rate, this one goes to Steve, who has effectively sealed a victory in this match and leads 4-2.

Not too much, although he does own several bars across the country.

Also not too much. Who needs a life when poker provides so much pleasure?

You gotta hand it to these hardcore poker players; they sure are committed to their craft (and not much else). This category has to go to The Bald Eagle though; if there’s one thing America needs, its more places to get hammered.