Isabelle Mercier: 9 Poker Players and Friends Who Matter The Most

“When you think about it a little, you realize that life is all about people. Happy encounters that help you evolve, progress, and become a better version of yourself, and then less significant encounters, people you cross but who do not mark you.”

Gus “The Great Dane” Hansen

Gus Hansen is a Danish player who stole the spotlight in the early days of televised poker. His aggressive and unfiltered style (both on and off the table) made the Copenhagen-born player a fan favorite.

Isabelle Mercier on Gus Hansen: “It is an understatement to say that Gus was one of the personalities in the poker world that marked me the most. Avant-garde in his game, it is quite simple thanks to him and the brainwashing he gave me regarding aggressiveness, that I was able to win the WPT Ladies Night and obtain my nickname “No Mercy” Mercier. It kicked off my career and got me my first sponsorship deal.“

“For younger people, it should be understood that at the time, in the early 2000s, the 3-bet and the continuation bet were not used at all. Gus was one of the first players in the world to display disproportionate aggression at the tables. I took his advice. Thanks, Gus.”

Antanas “Tony G” Guoga

Both inside and outside of poker, Tony G is influential. He is an avid player, but also a businessman, philanthropist, and also a former member of the European Parliament. He became heavily involved with CoinPoker in the first years of operation and also played the biggest ever pot on our high stakes tables. At the PLO 1,000,000 tables, his straight held against a flush draw and top two pair for a whopping $7.75 million dollar pot.

Isabelle Mercier on Tony G: “When it comes to strong personalities in poker, Tony G’s name immediately comes to mind. I was completely a fan of his legendary trash talk and his loudmouth which over time had become for him a weapon that destabilized his opponents, but which made me laugh out loud.“

“Today, it is thanks to Tony that I became an ambassador of CoinPoker and COO of CryptoNews. Tony is a man of vision, and it was also thanks to him that I became an early adopter of cryptocurrencies.”

Bruno Fitoussi

Bruno Fitoussi is a French professional poker player who even made appearances on the legendary Late Night Poker show. He currently has over $3.5 million in live earnings and still plays in the World Series of Poker.

Isabelle Mercier on Bruno Fitoussi: “A third avant-garde in my life since it was Bruno who brought poker to France by managing the very first club, the ACF, where I had the immense pleasure of working for five fabulous years.”

“Bruno was more than a mentor, he was and still is one of my best friends, with whom I have had the opportunity to travel and share the best restaurants tables in the world. We swapped in tons of tournaments and played hundreds of heads-ups games ahead of the Heads-Up Championship in Vienna…. which he ultimately won against Amarillo Slim in the last duel. Well done Captain!”

Stu Ungar

Stu Ungar lived a life that most poker players would envy. He rose from playing gin rummy in his youth to dominating the World Series of Poker Main Event three times—something only one other player has achieved to this day. Unfortunately, substance use took their toll on one of poker’s brightest stars, but not before he solidified his legacy. Read more on what made Stu Ungar a special poker player here.

Isabelle Mercier on Stu Ungar: “No, I have never met him, but I wish I had known him! One of the greatest figures of poker who left us too quickly and for whom I have an unfailing admiration.“

Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth

Not many players have reputations like Phil Hellmuth. He is known for his record of 17 WSOP bracelets, but also his temperament. YouTube is littered with Phil Hellmuth moments, from blow-ups to big wins. His specialty is No-Limit Texas Hold’em.

Isabelle Mercier on Phil Hellmuth: “Phil Hellmuth is quite simply my worst poker memory ever! It was against him that I tried a rookie bluff in the 2006 WSOP NLH 5K final table, known as the “Little Big One” at the time.“

“He paid me off with King High and I still blame myself for being such a chicken and not going all-in on that bluff, the only move that would have gotten me out of this. We learn from our mistakes so thank you, Poker Brat!”

Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu (also known as “Dnegs” and “Kid Poker”) went from poker dreams in Canada to a long career full of success, sponsorships, and even his own MasterClass. He’s become one of the sport’s ambassadors, showing the world that decades later, he can still adapt and win against a new generation of professionals.

Isabelle Mercier on Daniel Negreanu: “Lots of memories with this compatriot Canadian, especially through the events of the days of the PokerStars team, the shoots of commercials that turned into giggles. I admire Daniel both his consistency and his love of the game, still intact after so many years, and his fair play which we saw yet another example recently when he lost his heads-up duel to Doug Polk.”

“Some would have gone off in insults, not Daniel, who was remarkably calm even after this loss.”

Patrick Antonius

Patrick Antonius was a tennis player, tennis coach, and male model before becoming well known for poker. He rose to stardom around the same time as Gus Hansen and Tony G, and still plays to this day.

Isabelle Mercier on Patrick Antonius: “A neighbor of a building in Monaco for a few years, Patrick is as a shy man in life as he is aggressive at the poker tables, which is to say how shy he is!”

“I first met him in a nightclub in Las Vegas, I admire his game and the way he has adapted it over the years.”

Dave “Devilfish” Ulliott

Devilfish was an English player with underworld connections, a lack of inhibitions, and a keen mind for poker. Seldom afraid to speak his mind, Devilfish won the admiration and respect of the poker world before his unfortunate passing in 2015.

Isabelle Mercier on Devilfish: “I have so many fond memories with Dave Ulliott that I could have devoted this article just to that!”

“He often went out with us ACF employees and he regularly went on to grab a guitar and start singing at the club restaurant! A rocker in soul and in attitude and a very high class.”

Paul Magriel

Paul Magriel’s name is often tossed around as one of the best backgammon players ever, though he also played poker at a professional level, became a chess master and an author.

Isabelle Mercier on Paul Magriel: “He is one character that I miss so much today. It is probably thanks to him that my career was launched in two stages.”

“The first time in Amsterdam when I played my first real live event and where he gave me valuable advice on the first break after seeing me for two hours at his table: “Open your game, be more aggressive and take more risks!” he told me. I listened to him religiously and adapted my game. I finished 2nd in this tournament which literally gave me wings!“

“The second vivid memory with Paul was in Los Angeles. He and Gus Hansen invited me to collaborate with them at a book on poker theory that admittedly never saw the light of day, but gave birth to my “No Mercy” era style of play following my WPT victory!”

Final Thoughts from Isabelle

I could go on for hours on end to recount all my poker memories and all the people who created them, but space is lacking.

Looking forward to the next few years with future live encounters…