Nationality
Carlos Mortensen is Ecuadorian by nationality with Danish descent. He is the first South American to win the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
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Born (date and place of birth)
Carlos Mortensen was born on April 13, 1972, in Ambato, Ecuador.
Residence (current location)
He currently resides in the United States, having moved there from Spain in the late 1990s to pursue a professional poker career.
Education (institution, specialization)
Carlos Mortensen studied at the University of Madrid. He holds degrees in physics and mathematics, indicating a strong analytical and educational background.
Children (number, ages)
There is no verified public information about Carlos Mortensen’s children or parental status.
Year started playing poker
Carlos Mortensen began seriously playing poker professionally in the late 1990s, with his first World Series of Poker cash recorded in 2000.
Age when started playing
He began serious poker involvement around his mid to late 20s, correlating with his move to the U.S. in the late 1990s.
Year turned professional
Mortensen transitioned to professional poker status approximately in the late 1990s, with formal tournament play starting by 2000 at the earliest.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
His first major tournament victory was the 2001 WSOP Main Event, where he won $1,500,000 by outlasting a 613-player field.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
There is no specifically verified information about an individual mentor; Mortensen is known for studying opponents at the table and evolving his own style independently.
First important tournament
His first significant tournament cash was a seventh-place finish in a $3,080 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2000 WSOP.
Main motivation for turning pro
Mortensen’s primary motivation for turning professional was the pursuit of success in poker after moving from Spain to the United States, developing his skills and realizing potential in major poker events.
Initial bankroll
There is no exact verified public information on his initial bankroll or financial backing arrangements before embarking on his poker career.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Mortensen did not rely heavily on formal poker education or books, instead learning primarily through live play experience and analyzing opponents directly at the table.
First sponsor/backing
His first known major sponsorship deal was with Full Tilt Poker, where he became a signed professional after establishing his reputation.
Total live tournament winnings
Carlos Mortensen has total live tournament winnings exceeding $12.1 million as of 2017.
Number of tournament wins
He has won multiple prominent tournaments including two WSOP bracelets and three World Poker Tour titles.
Number of final tables
Mortensen has made multiple final tables at major events, including three final tables at the 2006 WSOP.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest single win was $3,970,415 at the 2007 World Poker Tour World Championship, the biggest prize of his career.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Carlos Mortensen has won two WSOP bracelets—2001 Main Event and 2003 $5,000 Limit Hold’em.
WSOP cashes (number)
He has cashed 21 times at the WSOP.
WSOP final tables
Mortensen has made multiple WSOP final tables, including three in 2006 alone.
Best WSOP Main Event result
He won the WSOP Main Event in 2001 and also finished 10th in the 2013 Main Event.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
There is no detailed verified information on Super High Roller ($100K+ buy-in) results for Mortensen.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
No publicly confirmed victories in high roller $25K-$100K buy-in events are noted.
Online tournament winnings
Specific online tournament winnings for Mortensen are not publicly detailed.
Major online titles
No major online tournament titles publicly available for his record.
Poker team
He was affiliated with Full Tilt Poker as a sponsored professional during his career.
Main cash game limits
Specific preferred cash game stakes are not publicly known; Mortensen has mainly been known for tournament play.
Highest stakes played
No verified public info about the highest stakes cash games he has played.
Notable high stakes sessions
No detailed public accounts of specific high stakes cash game sessions available.
"Big Game" participation
No verified participation in famous "Big Game" style cash games publicly recorded.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Estimated cash game profits are not publicly disclosed.
Country ranking
In the Ecuador poker scene, Mortensen is the top-ranked player historically.
All Time Money List position
He ranks among the top 30 on the All-Time Money list for poker tournament earnings.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Public data does not provide a calculable tournament ROI percentage.
Average tournament win
Typical large cash prizes include seven-figure wins such as his WSOP 2001 Main Event, smaller cashes average in the thousands; no exact average public record.
ITM percentage
In-the-money percentage is not universally published but Mortensen has 21 WSOP cashes and other tournament cashes indicating a strong ITM record.
Final table percentage from cashes
His ratio of final tables to cashes indicates a solid percentage of deep finishes though exact percentage is not published.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Detailed year-by-year stats are limited publicly; peak years include 2001, 2003, and 2007 with major victories.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Mortensen specializes primarily in No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Limit Hold’em tournaments.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily known for live tournament play rather than cash or online specialization.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
He typically plays full ring tournaments but has adapted to various table sizes including standard and shootout events.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Known mostly for No-Limit Hold’em and Limit Hold’em formats, less for Omaha or mixed games.
Specialization limits
No detailed public data on preferred tournament buy-in limits; he has competed successfully in events from $1,500 to $25,500 buy-ins.
Online rooms where plays
Past affiliation included Full Tilt Poker, no current known regular online rooms publicly noted.
Favorite casinos/locations
Frequently played at the WSOP venue in Las Vegas, Commerce Casino, and other major US poker venues.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Mortensen’s playing style is characterized as loose-aggressive with frequent bluffing and elaborate chip-stacking tactics.
Known for bluffs/traps
He has a strong reputation as a strategic bluffer who exploits opponents’ weaknesses aggressively.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Emphasizes intuitive and exploitative play by analyzing opponents’ systems and playing an anti-system style rather than relying strictly on Game Theory Optimal (GTO).
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable player with ability to adjust strategies according to opponents and table dynamics.
Playing strengths
Key strengths include opponent analysis, memory, aggressive betting, and mental focus.
GTO strategy usage
Mortensen’s play is more exploitative and opponent-based rather than strictly GTO-focused.
Poker software usage
No verified details about poker software use for training or analysis.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Has appeared on televised poker shows including WSOP broadcasts and WPT televised final tables.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Participated in High Stakes Poker, but specific season and episode details are limited publicly.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Known to have appeared on Poker After Dark episodes; exact details not fully documented publicly.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured in various poker documentaries and profile segments; no specific titles publicly noted.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Interviewed by major poker publications such as PokerNews and Card Player; specific articles available online.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
Has appeared as a guest on poker podcasts, though specific episodes are not broadly indexed.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
No known personal podcast or video channel ownership.
Facebook (account link)
No verified Facebook profile or page statistics publicly available.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
No personal YouTube channel; many tournament clips and interviews featuring him exist on poker content channels.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
No known Twitch streaming channel associated with him.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
No verified TikTok presence.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No verified LinkedIn professional profile known.
Posting frequency in social media
Social media postings are sporadic, focused on poker-related updates and historical achievements.
Type of content in social media
Shares content largely related to poker achievements, tournament results, and personal milestones.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Formerly sponsored by Full Tilt Poker; no current sponsorship publicly documented.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Sponsored by Full Tilt Poker during his peak career years.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Served as a poker site ambassador for Full Tilt Poker during sponsorship tenure.
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
No public records of independent business ventures.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
No publicly known poker-related investments.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
No verified public availability as a poker coach.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable due to no public coaching service.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
No known authored poker educational materials.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No documented affiliate program partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
No known personal merchandise.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
No authored poker books known.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No public participation in formal training series.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
No known masterclass or seminar presentations.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
No documented professional coaching.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No publicly known notable students.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No personal educational YouTube content.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Featured in poker magazine articles, interviews, and profiles by major poker outlets.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
No known regular magazine columns.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
No documented conference speaking engagements.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
No known scandals or controversies involving Mortensen.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No public cheating accusations.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
No reported conflicts with casinos or poker rooms.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
No known legal proceedings.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
No known public disputes with other players.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No documented tournament rule violations.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
No public details on tax matters.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Mortensen has occasionally been described as overly aggressive but no significant community criticism documented.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Maintains focus on his playing style and learning from opponents with no public responses to criticism.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2016.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
Poker Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 2016.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Respected among peers for aggressive play and strategic depth.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
No other formally noted poker publication awards besides Hall of Fame induction.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
First player ever to win both the WSOP Main Event and a WPT World Championship.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Holds records as the first South American WSOP Main Event winner and first to secure both WSOP Main Event and WPT World Championship titles.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Popularized aggressive, exploitative strategies and chip manipulation; contributed to the growth of South American presence in international poker.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
No public records of charity poker participation.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered as a pioneering South American poker champion and a competitor who helped bridge poker across continents.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influenced poker playing styles with his loose-aggressive and psychological approach; elevated South American player recognition globally.
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2013 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | 10th | $573,204 | 6344 | 458 | 94 |||| 2003 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | $5,000 Limit Hold'em | 1st | $251,680 | 155 | 300 | 37 |||| 2001 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event | 1st | $1,500,000 | 613 | 500 | 100
EPT (European Poker Tour) - all seasons
(No participation recorded)
WSOP Europe
(No participation recorded)
WSOP Circuit events
(No participation recorded)
WSOP Paradise
(No participation recorded)
WSOP Online events
(No participation recorded)
WPT Online series
(No participation recorded)
WPT500 events
(No participation recorded)
WPT DeepStacks
(No participation recorded)
WPT Prime events
(No participation recorded)
EPT Online events
(No participation recorded)
EPT National events
(No participation recorded)
Triton Poker Series
(No participation recorded)
Super High Roller Series
(No participation recorded)
Aria High Roller Series
(No participation recorded)
Bellagio Cup
(No participation recorded)
PokerGO Cup
(No participation recorded)
US Poker Open
(No participation recorded)
Poker Masters
(No participation recorded)
Macau Millions
(No participation recorded)
Aussie Millions
(No participation recorded)
APPT (Asia Pacific Poker Tour)
(No participation recorded)
LAPT (Latin American Poker Tour)
(No participation recorded)
Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP)
(No participation recorded)
UK & Ireland Poker Tour
(No participation recorded)
SCOOP (Spring Championship of Online Poker)
(No participation recorded)
WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker)
(No participation recorded)
FTOPS (Full Tilt Online Poker Series)
(No participation recorded)
partypoker MILLIONS Online
(No participation recorded)
888poker XL Series
(No participation recorded)
GGPoker WSOP Online
(No participation recorded)
Natural8 series
(No participation recorded)
Winamax series
(No participation recorded)
Unibet Open Online
(No participation recorded)
PokerStars Sunday Million
(No participation recorded)
partypoker Sunday LIVE
(No participation recorded)
888poker Sunday Challenge
(No participation recorded)
Borgata tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Commerce Casino events
(No participation recorded)
Bicycle Casino tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Thunder Valley events
(No participation recorded)
Bay 101 tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Lucky Chances events
(No participation recorded)
Venetian tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Wynn Classic
(No participation recorded)
Aria tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Bellagio tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Caesars events
(No participation recorded)
Flamingo tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Golden Nugget tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Crown Australian Poker Championship
(No participation recorded)
Star Poker tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Casino de Monte-Carlo tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Aviation Club de France
(No participation recorded)
Concord Card Casino events
(No participation recorded)
Holland Casino tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Spielbank tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Campione tournaments
(No participation recorded)
San Remo tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Malta Poker tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Cyprus tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Rozvadov tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Heads-Up Championships
(No participation recorded)
Mixed Games Championships
(No participation recorded)
PLO Championships
(No participation recorded)
HORSE Championships
(No participation recorded)
8-Game Mix tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Short Deck tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Bounty tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Turbo tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Deep Stack events
(No participation recorded)
Freezeout tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Re-entry events
(No participation recorded)
Satellite tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Spin & Go tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Celebrity Poker tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Charity poker events
(No participation recorded)
Media tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Industry events
(No participation recorded)
Invitational tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Exhibition matches
(No participation recorded)
Poker After Dark
(No participation recorded)
High Stakes Poker
(No participation recorded)
Poker Night in America
(No participation recorded)
Live at the Bike
(No participation recorded)
PokerGO events
(No participation recorded)
ESPN Featured Tables
(No participation recorded)
Live cash game sessions (documented)
(No participation recorded)
High Stakes cash games
(No participation recorded)
Private game participations
(No participation recorded)
Casino cash game sessions
(No participation recorded)
Online cash game results
(No participation recorded)
Mixed game cash sessions
(No participation recorded)
WSOP Circuit stops
(No participation recorded)
WPT Regional events
(No participation recorded)
EPT National stops
(No participation recorded)
Local circuit events
(No participation recorded)
State championship events
(No participation recorded)
Regional poker league events
(No participation recorded)
PokerStars tournaments
(No participation recorded)
partypoker events
(No participation recorded)
888poker tournaments
(No participation recorded)
GGPoker events
(No participation recorded)
Natural8 tournaments
(No participation recorded)
Winamax events
(No participation recorded)
Unibet tournaments
(No participation recorded)
iPoker network events
(No participation recorded)
Other platform results
(No participation recorded)
No public poker tournament commentary roles documented.