Surviving in poker for many years isn’t easy. One man who has made surviving look like child’s play is the permanently optimistic Rob Mariano, also known as ‘Boston Rob’. A reality television star and the first-ever six-time Survivor participant, the popular poker player also represents PokerGO at the felt and has enjoyed deep runs in lots of recent tournaments.
The perfect time, then, for him to face our ‘15 Bigs’ – a set of questions that will require him to be all-in in order to survive, just like if he was down to 15 bigs in a tournament.
Can Boston Rob knock them out of the park, or will our teasers finally mean the most famous Survivor of all cannot escape elimination? We’re about to find out.
1. You’re on a long-haul flight and can only choose one TV Show or Movie to watch on repeat, which is your pick?
I’m loving High Stakes Poker (on PokerGO) – always have from way back in the day and especially enjoying the newer rendition!
2. If you were stranded on a desert island with one book for company, what would it be?
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a book I read many times. Lots of great information and lessons, so would definitely be my go-to.
3. What’s the song you could listen to on repeat forever?
Tom Petty – Free Fallin’.
4. What’s your favourite place to play poker and why?
I absolutely love playing at the PokerGO studio, what an awesome place!
5. If you were to be shot at dawn, what would be your last meal and drink?
I love food, so this one is tough but probably my favorite is homemade cheese pizza (I’ll do the cooking) and a Diet Coke!
6. Where’s your favourite non-poker holiday destination?
Any tropical island with a great beach – I love them all! Hawaii, Bahamas, Fiji, Tahiti – take your pick!
7. You can play poker every day for a year or play no poker for a whole 12 months – which do you choose?
Play!
8. Who is the person you don’t have around anymore that you miss the most?
My grandparents on both sides. My maternal grandfather introduced me to poker – five card stud – when I was about six years old and my paternal grandmother was the best cook in the entire world.
9. Which person would you most like to meet but never have?
I am a big fan of David Pastrňák of the Boston Bruins! We have traded DMs on Instagram. Would love to meet him in person someday, the kid has sick skills.
10. When was the last time life put you on tilt?
Man, if you ask anyone that knows me, they will tell you I am the luckiest guy alive. Not a lot of people know this, but my friends at home in Boston actually call me ‘Horseshoe’. It’s been my nickname since I was a kid. I’ve always run pretty good.
11. If you couldn’t play the WSOP Main Event next year, which family member would you put into the action in your place?
My eldest daughter, Lucia, who is only 13 is definitely the smartest person I’ve ever met. She is an absolute crusher when it comes to accomplishing anything she sets to her mind to it and does it! She is tenacious and she doesn’t even play poker, but I promise if I put her on a task, she will no doubt deliver!
12. What’s your best poker skill?
I think my best poker skill is my self-awareness, and my ability to accurately assess how I am perceived as well as perceiving others.
13. And your biggest leak?
My biggest a leak is definitely the theory aspect of the game. I grew up learning to play one way and now adapting is sometimes difficult. I have to shout out to Chance Kornuth and Chip Leader Coaching who are helping me with this, getting my game to the next level.
14. If you could make one rule change to poker, what would it be?
I loved it when people showed cards more. I wish they would let that back into the game.
- You have just ten seconds with the person of your dreams… what do you say?
I don’t even know how to answer this; the people of my dreams are my family. I guess I will just tell them I love them and thanks for always being in my corner and standing with me and believing in me!
It was never really in question that the world-famous Boston Rob would survive, was it? They say that no man is an island, but if ever there was an example of a man who is at home on one, probably surrounded by his family, and cooking dinner himself, it’s him!
