World series of poker 2006
Carlos Mortensen
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
When it comes to the art of the bluff, few champions of the World Series of Poker can hold a candle to Carlos Mortensen. A natural master of psychological warfare, Carlos was born in Ecuador in 1972 and rumor has it that he was bluffing his classmates by the time he reached elementary school. As with many great champions in a wide array of sports, some of these childhood tales may be apocryphal, but what cannot be disputed is the ice-cold mastery with which Mortensen has dominated players on the professional poker circuit.
Mortensen began his rampage at the tables in the late 1990s when he moved to America after having spent the majority of life in Spain. His rise to prominence peaked at the 2001 WSOP's main event, which he walked away from $1,500,000 better than when he arrived. But, those who may have felt that Mortensen was a flash in the pan were proved wrong just three years later when he won at the World Poker Tour's Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship for another cool mil.
For Carlos Mortensen, the game is a family affair. He is married to another formidable poker player in her own right. Cecilia Mortensen has proven her poker acumen in a number of high-profile money tournaments, including earning a seat at the final table of this year's Ladies Only WSOP. Cecilia can always be seen proudly rooting on her husband when he appears in major televised events.
Because of his wily and fearless approach to bluffing, Mortensen has justly earned the nickname, "The Matador." A devoted fan of the Beatles, Carlos nonetheless displays a bloodthirsty and merciless attitude on the poker table that has little in common with the saying: "All you need is love".
When not playing poker, Carlos can be found bowling, shooting pool, playing chess or hanging out at the local movie theater. His easygoing approach to life is in rather sharp contrast to his tenacious performance at the tables. But it is precisely this dichotomy of character that makes his bluffing so effective and makes Carlos such a consistently entertaining player to watch. Because when trying to gauge his mental machinations, even sophisticated students of the game find themselves totally baffled, like a bull staring at a red flag. One thing is for certain: he will be around the professional circuit relieving people of their chips for a long time to come.
Author: Mark