Marc Karam

Marc Karam was born on August 28, 1980, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He began playing poker in late 2001, starting with micro-stakes home games and small local tournaments. Eventually, he deposited money online and chose the screen name "myst," short for "Mysterio," after his favorite professional wrestler, Rey Mysterio Jr. Over the next five years, he moved up stakes, building a bankroll exceeding $100,000. In early 2006, Karam won an entry into the 2006 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) through an online satellite. He requested a six-month sabbatical from his job at Transit Glass & Aluminum and proceeded to also qualify for the 2006 European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo via another satellite. At the EPT Grand Final, he finished fourth, earning a substantial prize that allowed him to quit his job and become a full-time professional poker player.

After turning professional, Karam quickly posted impressive results. He placed in the money at the 4th Annual Five Star World Poker Classic and the 2006 World Series of Poker $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event. He then achieved an unprecedented feat: finishing in the top six at three consecutive major tournaments—the 2006 North American Poker Championship, the 2007 Aussie Millions, and the 2007 EPT Grand Final. No other player had accomplished that. At the 2007 WSOP, he earned over $9,000 for 33rd place in the World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em, where he defeated 2005 NBC National Heads-Up champion Ted Forrest. Later in 2007, Karam won the Harvey's Lake Tahoe H.O.R.S.E. Championship, a WSOP Circuit event with a $550 buy-in, taking home $13,879. His career best live cash is $1,416,175, and his total live earnings exceed $2.4 million, ranking him 52nd on the Canada all-time money list and 1,129th globally according to The Hendon Mob.

Karam is known for his versatility, excelling in both no limit hold'em and mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. He is particularly noted for his strong limit hold'em play, relying on precise pot odds calculations and positional value betting. Online, he plays under the alias "myst" and has built a significant bankroll through online cash games and tournaments. In 2010, he signed a sponsorship deal with Full Tilt Poker, becoming one of their featured pros. His analytical approach and patience are hallmarks of his game.

Karam resides in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is a fan of professional wrestling, which inspired his nickname. Despite the highs of his poker career, he has maintained a relatively low profile compared to some peers. His achievements, especially the unique streak of top-six finishes, have cemented his reputation as a skilled and consistent tournament player. He continues to play both live and online events.

Karam has two WSOP money finishes, both in 2006 and 2007, with no bracelet. His best WSOP result was 33rd in the 2007 World Championship Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em, where he defeated 2005 champion Ted Forrest. On the World Poker Tour, he has two final tables and four money finishes, though no title. In the European Poker Tour, he has two final tables and three money finishes, including his fourth-place run at the 2007 EPT Grand Final which launched his professional career.

In 2010, Karam entered into a sponsorship deal with Full Tilt Poker, joining their roster of professionals. He also authored strategy content for poker publications, including an article titled "What's at Stake?" for CardPlayer. His online alias "myst" remains active in high-stakes cash games and tournaments, though he maintains a relatively low media profile compared to other sponsored pros.

As of 2025, Karam's live tournament earnings exceed $2.4 million, placing him 52nd on the Canada all-time money list and 1,129th globally according to The Hendon Mob. His best live cash remains $1,416,175 from an event in 2007. He was also ranked as high as 119th on the all-time money list. His unique streak of top-six finishes in three consecutive major tournaments—the 2006 North American Poker Championship, 2007 Aussie Millions, and 2007 EPT Grand Final—remains unmatched.