Patrik Antonius
  • Name: Patrik Antonius
  • Nickname: Pate
  • Current Residence: Monte Carlo
  • DOB: December 13, 1980
  • Birth Place: Vantaa, Finland
  • Sponsored by: Full Tilt Poker
  • Online site he plays at: FullTiltPoker
  • First win: 2005 EPT Baden
  • First Place Finishes: 1
  • WSOP Bracelets: None
  • Total winnings : $2,861,029 (March 2010)
  • Marital Status: engaged to Maya Geller
  • Children: daughter Mila
  • Age Started Playing Poker: 12

Who is Patrik Antonius?

Patrik Antonius was born in Vantaa, Finland in 1980. He is a former model and tennis coach who turned into a poker pro. He is one of the best known faces in poker and it is no wonder as he has been hugely successful ever since he took poker as a professional career in 2002.

Before becoming a poker player, Antonius was mainly focused on tennis but a back injury stopped him from pursuing that career. At the same time as he practiced tennis, he would play poker at the tennis club with his friends and later on at Grand Casino Helsinki (during this time he also met Ilari Sahamies for the first time at a local billiards hall). For the first two years Patrik did not have a proper bankroll and was just spending his money at the casino every weekend. Then he started taking poker more seriously and his game improved along with his results.

He moved to the United States to attend university and to play poker. When his game got better he took a break from school to play at bigger casinos and some higher stakes games. He built up his bankroll and quickly made his way up at big tournaments. He won a satellite entry to the WSOP just before returning to Finland and he played very well, this got him even more hooked on poker.

Now Patrik is one of the best players on the circuit and has amassed over $2,800,000; but that is just his tournament winnings. He is first and foremost a cash game player and can be seen at the biggest games both live and online at Full Tilt Poker, where he is a member of Team Full Tilt.  According to Highstakesdb, Patrik had won almost 5 million dollars at Full Tilt Poker from January 2007 to November 2008 (only Phil Ivey had won more). Besides poker he likes to play golf - for big money, of course.

In tournaments his only major title so far came in EPT Baden in 2005. Just a couple of months later he came very close to winning his first WPT title in the Five Diamond Classic at Bellagio, but had to settle for second place after a bad beat. He has also made three final tables at the WSOP.

Where does the nickname 'Pate' come from?

His fellow Finnish pros call him Pate after his first name Patrik (it is a common nick name in Finland, like Mike for Michael).

Public Perception and Reputation

Patrik is a player who is not afraid to acknowledge his mistakes in order to improve, which is probably why he is such a good player. From the beginning he has been known for being insatiable when it comes to practice and learning. He has been called "the Mozart of heads up Pot Limit Omaha", and in Limit hold'em Patrik recently won so much money from heads up Limit Hold'em specialist Matt Hawrilenko that he threatened he would never play Patrik heads up again.

Many pros consider Patrik to be the best player in the world alongside Phil Ivey.

He is known for his extremely calm, almost languid style at the table - although he confesses that many times he is steaming inside after some bad beats!

He is also known for being one of the most handsome young poker pros on the circuit! Patrik comes from a very humble background and says he is now living the life that he always dreamt about.

Tournament History

Click to view Patrick Antonius tournament history.

Media Exposure