Phil Ivey and martonas have been clashing(credit:
runtcake)
‘martonas’ has been crushing the Full Tilt nosebleed stakes of late. With over $1.3 million in profit from just over 8,000 hands, he beat Phil Ivey out of $100k in five minutes, and was seen with an $850k stack at a 6-max NLH table – ‘Railheaven’.
Yet his true identity remains a mystery, and the source of great speculation. Apparently heralding from Sweden, poker-king.com suggest he is, ‘some sort of wealthy businessman who enjoys playing high stakes poker from time to time (similar to Guy Laliberte)’.
Although the fact ‘martonas’ plays in bursts would support this theory, he seems too good to be a recreational player, with Di ‘urindanger’ Dang commenting ‘dude you are really good’, in a heads up encounter. Other suggestions include king of the now disbanded Crypotologic network ‘Gulkines’ and high stakes Swedish player Martin de Knijff. The most credible suggestion, however, is De Knijff staking Jonas Danielsson (nebuchad on Ladbrokes – who was known for his high stakes domination of the Prima/Microgaming network). As one sharp twoplustwo-er pointed out, the name ‘mart (in) (j)onas’ is a combination of both names.
Regardless of his identity, martonas has been involved in some monster pots, dropping a $515k pot to Ashton ‘theASHMAN103’ Griffin. Tabling 6
8, martonas 3-bet Griffin (A
6) pre-flop. He led out for $18k on a 5 10 7 board, tabling an OESD and back door flush, only to be re-popped for $52k. martonas moved all in for his remaining$228k, and received a quick call. The 3
and 4 on the turn and river gifted martonas his straight but Ashman the nut flush and the pot.
Martonas returned to winning ways against Phil Ivey, scooping a $335k pot. Ivey made it $9k pre-flop with Q Q, and martonas called with 9 8. With a 7 5
10h J 7 board, Ivey led out on every street with his overpair, getting flat called by martonas, who had turned a straight.