Juan Carlos Mortensen, "El Matador"

Carlos Mortensen is the only player in the world to have won two major titles at the WSOP and WPT. It is not only the best poker player in Spanish, he is also the most brilliant player of tournament Texas Hold'em, winner of the WSOP Main Event in 2001. Juan Carlos Mortensen can boast one of the most beautiful in the world ranking. It is the second player to win the most money with $ 5,260,360 in the WPT.Only Daniel Negreanu is better. Won the prestigious WPT World Championship Season V, a title in addition to that of his first title at the Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship. Gains in tournaments El Matador, his nickname, are $ 8,551,201, which ranks 10th in the world and the first European leader in player rankings poker tournament. Born in Ambato, Ecuador, April 13, 1972, Juan Carlos Mortensen moved to Spain with his family. It was during a 15-year passion for chess, but it takes more and more fun to play poker with the boys as to be quickly noticed. Unfortunately, poker is illegal the time in Spain, he can only dream about living one day of his art, content to live for the moment, odd jobs such employee in a food factory of leather or bartender. Precisely in this bar where he works that chance will do its work and that a meeting will change his destiny. One evening, in the back room of the bar, Juan Carlos approaching a group of customers who play poker and more specifically No Limit Texas Hold'em.At the table, one customer is Gonzalo Garcia Pelayo other. Both men are sympathetic and Gonzalo decides to initiate the young man to this variant of poker that will soon become fashionable in the world. Although chaotic, the beginnings of Juan Carlos is considered promising by Gonzalo who ceases to provide advice and strategic teaching tricks of Texas Hold'em No Limit (see article). On his arrival in the United States, Juan Carlos Mortensen goes, gradually developing his game, this game so personal, loose and aggressive, which became his trademark and earned him rave items. He enjoys playing many hands and reading it post-flop is terrible. Talk to his opponents. He became a regular winner at cash game tables in Las Vegas and Atlantic City and became the attraction Hold'em poker tournaments. His victory in the $ 300 Limit Hold'em LA Poker Classic $ 1,000 and that of the Shooting Star, which allow him to pocket more than $ 160,000, are behind her decision to become a professional player. In summer 2001, saw Juan Carlos Mortensen make history. He won the WSOP Main Event. At the "Heads Up" Ultimately it has a carpet twice that of Dewey Tomko. He KQ of clubs. Tomko, he has top pair, two aces The flop is a J of diamonds, a 10 of clubs and a 3 of clubs. The turn brings a 3 of diamonds, but the river, she brings a 9 of diamonds. Juan Carlos is thrilled he has a touch more.He is the Champion WSOP 2001 and pocketed $ 1.5 million. In 2003, Mortensen Wins 2nd WSOP bracelet in the $ 5,000 Limit Hold'em tournament. Despite qualifying for three final tables, he misses a few third bracelet in 2006. In 2007, he entered history by becoming the first player to win the WSOP Main Event and a WPT tournament. In 2008, he finally cashed in 15 tournaments. In winning the $ 25,000 Five Star World Poker Classic, Mortensen pocketed $ 3,970,415, one of the biggest gains of the circuit outside the WSOP Main Event. Who would have thought in the back room of this small bar in Madrid of the 90s, future Double World Champion would receive his first lessons about the game of poker on the part of one who, several years later, would create the first school-room poker Spanish, Los Pelayos Poker quickly became the No. 1 in Spain