Tony G to stake "Isildur1" in 2010

Poker News / Matthew Pitt / 04 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Tony G, the professional poker player, has agreed to stake the mystery Swedish online player Isidur1 in some big cash games in 2010.

In a recent blog entry, Tony G revealed he had been talking to the mystery man "Isildur1" and planned to stake him to play during 2010. "I have had a few conversations over the phone with him and I really love the kid. He is like me 15 years ago. I just wish I had as much talent as he does," he said. "He can play the world's best on eight tables and he only learned PLO about eight months ago. Anyway, it is likely I will stake him in some big cash games in the future, this is what I do after all. I like to give people a chance in life to do well."

"Isildur1" shot to fame after winning over $5,000,000 in the space of a few weeks before crashing back to reality and losing all his winnings, plus an extra $2,500,000 in the same amount of time. Most of his losses were at the hands of Brian Hastings who won close to $4,000,000 from him in an epic heads-up battle.

Tony G had previously outed "Isildur1" as being Viktor Blom but has since retracted this statement adding, "I know who he is, no doubt. I also have to say that earlier I was guessing and I will never reveal who he is from here on out. I think it's more exciting for everyone, leaving the mystery as a mystery."

Tony G, is a Lithuanian-born Australian famed almost as much for his acid tongue as he is for his poker ability. When you hear his trash talk it is hard to believe he has over $3,900,000 in tournament winnings and countless more millions of profit from the cash tables.

Almost as hard to believe, especially after watching the clip of him tearing into Ralph Perry is the fact that Tony G is also one of poker's biggest philanthropists.

In November 2006 he won $451,700 at the Betfair Asian Poker Tour and decided to give half of it to charities chosen by Betfair. The following year he won the $10,500 Moscow Millions Main Event for a cool $205,000 and donated all of it to various Russian orphanages. In fact in more recent times he has followed in the footsteps of Barry Greenstein in donating all of his live tournament winnings to charity.

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