Gustav Hansen

Childhood

Gustav "Gus" Hansen, born on February 13, 1974, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a renowned professional poker player celebrated for his aggressive and unconventional style. Before his poker career, Hansen was a world-class backgammon player and a youth tennis champion, showcasing his competitive spirit from an early age. He began playing poker seriously in 1997 and has lived in Monaco since 2003, a hub for many professional gamblers.

Career

Hansen's poker journey took off while he was an exchange student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he played at the Ocean View Card Room. His breakthrough came in 2002 when he won the World Poker Tour (WPT) Five Diamond World Poker Classic, earning $556,460. He followed this with victories at the 2003 WPT LA Poker Classic ($532,490) and the 2004 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure ($455,780). These wins made him the first player to claim three open WPT titles. He also won the inaugural WPT Bad Boys of Poker invitational event.

Hansen's tournament success continued with a win at the 2007 Aussie Millions main event, where he defeated 747 players to take home A$1,500,000 (approximately $1.19 million). In 2010, he won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the £10,350 No Limit Hold'em High Roller Heads-Up event at the World Series of Poker Europe, earning £288,409 (about $451,880). That same year, he won the Poker Million IX tournament, securing a $1 million prize after a notable heads-up victory against Tony Bloom.

Hansen was inducted into the World Poker Tour Walk of Fame in 2004 alongside legends like Doyle Brunson. He also made final tables in prestigious events such as the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions and finished second in the 2008 WPT Championship, earning $1,714,800.

Personal life

Hansen resides in Monaco, a popular location for professional gamblers due to its favorable tax laws and vibrant poker scene. Beyond poker, he has engaged in various ventures, including founding online poker sites and launching poker strategy platforms. He also dabbled in the music business in Denmark, humorously noting that it went "probably as bad as my online poker career".

Revenue

Hansen's live tournament winnings surpass $10 million, with notable prizes including over $1.7 million for second place at the 2008 WPT Championship and nearly $1.2 million for winning the 2007 Aussie Millions. However, his online cash game losses have significantly impacted his overall financial standing.

Interesting facts

Hansen was the first player to win three open World Poker Tour titles.

He earned the nickname "The Great Dane" for his Danish heritage and poker prowess.

He won the first season of the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, taking home $1 million.

Hansen is known for his strict pot odds-deductive playing style, which was highly successful during the poker boom but later became more volatile.

He has appeared on popular poker television shows like High Stakes Poker and Poker After Dark, where he won the first-ever episode.

Hansen has been featured in instructional poker DVDs and authored the book "Every Hand Revealed," detailing his 2007 Aussie Millions victory.

Legacy

Gus Hansen remains a significant figure in the poker world, known for his fearless and aggressive style. His early dominance in live tournaments helped popularize poker in the early 2000s. Although his online losses tempered his career trajectory, his contributions to poker strategy and his memorable tournament performances have cemented his place in poker history.