Italian poker player (born 1987)
Dario Sammartino (born 5 April 1987) is an Italian
professional poker player from Naples. In 2024 🤶 he was runner-up to Hossein Ensan at the
Main Event of the World Series of Poker.[1]
Sammartino was taught to play 🤶 5-Card Draw
poker by his father after his grandfather died.[2] He later discovered Texas Hold'em
around the time of the 🤶 Moneymaker Boom.
Around 2005, Dario Sammartino started playing
in Italy’s newly opened poker clubs. He also registered on PokerStars under the 🤶 screen
name “Madgenius87”.[3]
Prior to the 2024 Main Event he had live tournament earnings of
more thanR$8 million and was second 🤶 on Italy's all-time money list. His largest cash
was a third-place finish at theR$111,111 High Roller for One Drop at 🤶 the 2024 WSOP,
where he earnedR$1.6 million.[4] Sammartino had eight WSOP final tables, including two
in 2024, and finished 43rd 🤶 in the 2024 Main Event.[5]
Playing under the name
"Secret_M0d3", Sammartino has won three Spring Championship of Online Poker events,
including 🤶 aR$21,000 No Limit Hold'em high roller in May 2024 forR$718,000. He also has
12 cashes on the European Poker Tour, 🤶 making the final table of the Monte Carlo Grand
Final in 2024 where he finished in eighth place. He finished 🤶 fourth in the €100,000
High Roller at the 2024 Grand Final forR$782,465 and third in aR$25,000 High Roller at
the 🤶 2024 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure forR$542,160.[6][7]
Sammartino made the final
table of the Main Event at the 2024 WSOP in sixth chip 🤶 position and got to heads-up
with Ensan. On the 301st hand of the final table, he went all-in on the 🤶 turn with
straight and flush draws holding 8♠ 4♠ but lost to the pocket kings of Ensan.
Sammartino earnedR$6 million 🤶 for his runner-up finish.[8]
Away from poker, Sammartino
runs a company named Rent, Sell, Cars that loans out Ferraris.[9]
As of 2024,
🤶 Sammartino's live tournament winnings are more thanR$14 million.[10]
