Dario Sammartino

Dario Sammartino
Dario Sammartino in 2016
Born (1987-04-05) 5 April 1987 (age 37)
Naples, Italy
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)10
Money finish(es)40
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		2nd, 2019
European Poker Tour
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)12
Information last updated on 27 June 2024.

Dario Sammartino (born 5 April 1987) is an Italian professional poker player from Naples. In 2019 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 2019 Main Event he had live tournament earnings of more than $8 million and was second on Italy's all-time money list.[4] His largest cash was a third-place finish at the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the 2017 WSOP, where he earned $1.6 million.[5] Sammartino had eight WSOP final tables, including two in 2019, and finished 43rd in the 2017 Main Event.[6]

Playing under the name "Secret_M0d3", Sammartino has won three Spring Championship of Online Poker events, including a $21,000 No Limit Hold'em high roller in May 2016 for $718,000. He also has 12 cashes on the European Poker Tour, making the final table of the Monte Carlo Grand Final in 2016 where he finished in eighth place. He finished fourth in the €100,000 High Roller at the 2015 Grand Final for $782,465 and third in a $25,000 High Roller at the 2017 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $542,160.[7][8]

Sammartino made the final table of the Main Event at the 2019 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 earned $6 million for his runner-up finish.[9]

Away from poker, Sammartino runs a company named Rent, Sell, Cars that loans out Ferraris.[10]

As of 2019, Sammartino's live tournament winnings are more than $14 million.[11]

On June 27, 2024, Sammartino won his first WSOP bracelet at the 2,500$ Mixed Event.[12][13]

  1. ^ "50th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2019, No Limit Hold'em - WSOP Main Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. ^ Kirschen, Robert (13 July 2019). "MAIN EVENT FINAL TABLE IS SET, HOSSEIN ENSAN LEADS". WSOP.com. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Dario Sammartino's Life: Net Worth, Biggest Profits, Losses and Private Life". So Much Poker. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Italy All Time Money List". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  5. ^ "48th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2017, No Limit Hold'em - High Roller for One Drop (Event #6)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  6. ^ "48th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2017, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Championship (Event #73)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  7. ^ "European Poker Tour - EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller (Event #14)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  8. ^ "PokerStars Caribbean Adventure - PCA 2016, #74 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller 8-Handed". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  9. ^ Fiorvanti, Tim (17 July 2019). "Ensan pockets $10M with pocket kings at WSOP". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  10. ^ Saxton, Ben (13 July 2019). "2019 WSOP Main Event Final Table Profile: Dario Sammartino". PokerNews. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Dario Sammartino's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  12. ^ Borea, Andrea (27 June 2024). "Le parole di Dario Sammartino: "sono così felice, il braccialetto dopo 12 anni"". Assopoker (in Italian). Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Dario Sammartino Wins First Bracelet in Event #61: $2,500 Stud 8/Omaha 8 for $222,703". PokerNews.com. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.