Patrik Antonius

Childhood

Patrik Antonius was born on December 13, 1980, in Helsinki, Finland. He spent his formative years in Hakunila, Vantaa, a city near Helsinki. Before becoming a poker professional, Antonius pursued a career in sports, specifically as a tennis player and coach. His competitive nature and strategic thinking in tennis would later serve him well at the poker tables.

Career

Antonius has appeared multiple times on popular poker television shows, including NBC's "Poker After Dark" and GSN's "High Stakes Poker," where he was involved in some of the largest pots in the shows' histories. His most notable tournament achievements include:

• 2nd place in the 2018 Super High Roller Bowl in Macau, earning $3,153,551
• Victory in the 2022 Triton Poker $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $825,000
• Winning the €100,000 Super High Roller title at the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo, earning €1,967,440
• Claiming the $200,000 NLH Invitational title at the 2024 Triton Poker Series in Monte Carlo, winning $5,130,000

In July 2024, Antonius was inducted into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame, cementing his status as one of the game's legends.

While tournament play has brought Antonius substantial success, he is perhaps better known as a formidable cash game player. Antonius is particularly renowned as a heads-up specialist and has been a regular participant in high-stakes cash games both online and live.

Online, Antonius has played under various nicknames, including Luigi66369, CryMeRiver9, and Finddagrind, before eventually playing under his real name as a member of "Team Full Tilt." In November 2009, he won the biggest pot in online poker history, $1,356,946, against Viktor Blom (known at the time only as "Isildur1").

In live cash games, Antonius has been a regular in the "Big Game" at the Bellagio and has appeared in multiple seasons of "High Stakes Poker." During these appearances, he was involved in numerous massive pots, including one against Sammy Farha that totaled $998,800.

Personal life

Antonius has resided in Monte Carlo, Monaco, since 2008, having previously lived in Las Vegas. He is married to American professional poker player Maya Geller, whom he met in 2008, and they have two children together.

Before his poker career, Antonius also worked as a model, adding another dimension to his diverse professional background.

Revenue

As of 2024, Patrik Antonius's total live tournament winnings exceed $29,300,000. His most profitable year in tournament poker was 2018, when he earned over $5 million.

Interesting facts

Antonius won the biggest pot in online poker history at the time in 2009, totaling $1,356,946.

In February 2023, he won the biggest pot in U.S. poker stream history, amounting to $1,978,000.

Before becoming a poker professional, Antonius had careers as both a tennis player/coach and a model.

He was mentored by poker legend Marcel Lüske and later received advice from Jennifer Harman.

Despite his success in poker, Antonius was unable to enter the 2009 WSOP Main Event as he was turned away due to a capacity field.

Legacy

Patrik Antonius's induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2024 solidifies his legacy as one of poker's all-time greats. He is widely respected for his skill across multiple poker variants, his success in both tournaments and cash games, and his ability to compete at the highest stakes consistently.

Antonius is known for his calm demeanor at the table, his exceptional reading abilities, and his aggressive playing style. His contributions to poker's popularity, mainly through his appearances on televised poker shows like "High Stakes Poker" and "Poker After Dark," have helped bring the game to wider audiences.

His legacy also includes being one of the most successful European poker players in history and a pioneer in the high-stakes online poker scene.