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Patrik Antonius

Born in Helsinki, Finland in December 1980, Patrik Antonius has led a diverse and fascinating life prior to his professional poker career. Originally a tennis player and coach, he also dabbled in modeling. As he embarked on his journey into the world of professional poker, Antonius found guidance and mentorship in the esteemed "Circle of Outlaws," with renowned poker player Marcel Luske serving as his mentor. Jennifer Harman later took on the role of his mentor. Currently, Antonius is in a relationship with Maya Geller, with whom he shares a child. Within the poker community, he is well-known by his aliases PA, Black Lotus, and The Finn, solidifying his presence as a respected figure in the poker scene.

Antonius as a Professional Poker Player

Antonius's debut in the professional poker scene came in early 2005, where he gained recognition for his remarkable performance in both the European Poker Tour (EPT) and the World Poker Tour (WPT). His journey to the final table was commendable, as he narrowly missed it during these events. Remarkably, he secured an impressive 12th place finish at the EPT PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, followed by an equally impressive 15th place finish at the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Stars Event, just two months later.

During the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Antonius achieved notable success in three separate events. His journey began by securing the third-place position at the EPT Main Event held in Barcelona. Following this, he emerged as the champion at the EPT-Event in Baden, near Vienna, where he triumphed over Gunnar Østebrød and collected a total prize of €288,180. Finally, he showcased his skills once again at the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic Event in Las Vegas, Nevada, earning a respectable second-place finish and a prize money of $1,046,470.

During the summer of 2006, Antonius achieved a commendable 9th place at the $50,000 HORSE Event at the WSOP, pocketing a substantial $205,920, which stood as his most significant prize that year. In 2007, he actively participated in multiple WSOP tournaments, successfully making it to the final table in the World Championship of Pot Limit Omaha, where the stakes were high. Securing the 3rd position, he triumphantly walked away with $311,394. This remarkable win marked his 9th cash prize at the WSOP, bringing his total WSOP earnings to an impressive sum of $569,964. Unfortunately, due to the immense popularity of the event, Antonius was denied entry to the WSOP Main Event in 2009. By 2010, Antonius had accumulated 13 WSOP cashes under his belt, resulting in a cumulative income of $774,046.

Further achievements and online poker

Antonius made three appearances on NBC's Poker After Dark. Initially, he secured the second position, trailing behind his former mentor Jennifer Harman. Subsequently, he triumphed over Brad Booth, claiming the top spot. However, when pitted against Johnny Chan, he settled for second place. Antonius also engaged in esteemed online poker tournaments, such as the Full Tilt Poker $25,000 Buy-in Heads-Up Pot Limit Omaha Championship, where he attained second place and won $320,000. When it comes to online poker and playing for stakes, Antonius can be deemed a specialist in heads-up matches. At Full Tilt Poker, he operated under the pseudonyms Luigi66369, CryMeRiver9, and Finddagrind. During the early stages of his poker career, he competed on various poker networks using usernames like I_knockout_U, try_hrdr_fish, and -Antonius-. However, since becoming a member of "Team Full Tilt," he has returned to playing under his actual name. Antonius was previously associated with a team connected to Martinspoker.com.

Antonius, a regular participant in the renowned Big Game at Bellagio, is known for his fearless approach to high-stakes gambling. His outstanding poker skills have earned him a prominent role in three seasons of GSN's High Stakes Poker, where he played a pivotal role in securing the show's largest pot to date, a staggering $998,800. However, it was Antonius' legendary showdown against Isildur1 in November 2009 that solidified his status as a poker icon. Not only did he emerge victorious, but he also claimed the largest online poker pot in history, raking in a jaw-dropping $1,356,946.