Isildur1 – Online Poker’s Mysterious High Roller

Everyone loves a great mystery, and online poker in 2009 produced one more compelling than a Hollywood movie, centering around the identity of a newcomer to the otherwise well-known world of high-stakes poker.  Only known to be a Swedish-based player with the screen name Isildur1, this player has become a true superstar of the online poker world, while remaining an enigma that has challenged the upper echelon of poker’s finest players.

Isildur1 made his appearance in September of 2009 and within a month became the subject of great speculation in the poker world.  Although it was known that he created an account at Full Tilt Poker from Sweden, no one could determine the identity of this mysterious player.  As his notoriety for playing high-stakes online games grew,  the only question that remained was who this person might be.  Poker forums and Twitter buzzed every time he showed up, as railbirds flocked to see this dynamic player in action.

One mystery that was quickly shattered was the intensity of Isildur1 and his determination to play poker at the highest levels.  Specializing in Omaha, Isildur1 first made his mark with a series of challenges to Tom Durr.  Durr, long recognized as perhaps the finest online Omaha player in the world, lost a staggering $3 million to the challenger in a very short time, leaving the champion playing lower limit games to rebuild his bankroll.  Once word of this destruction got out, railbirds rushed to Full Tilt to witness history in the making.

A true high roller, Isildur1 showed a willingness to risk his bankroll and absorbed as many staggering blows as he delivered.  As he targeted other big-name players and they targeted him, his losses took on the colossal proportions of his wins.  Through November, Isildur1 had lost millions to Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius and Brian Hastings, with one particular loss to Antonius setting a record of $1.3 million.  Even more amazing is the fact that in his sessions with Ivey and Antonius, Isildur1 has now been involved in the 10 largest pots ever online.

In spite of these losses, Isildur1’s mystery and his exploits created a cult following, as well as an intense desire to find out the identity this intriguing player.  Feeding on the speculation, media outlets scoured Sweden without conclusive confirmation of his true identity.  The most likely candidate has been rumored to be Viktor Blom, a Swede that is apparently from the same town as Isildur1.  Blom also burst on to the high-stakes poker world, only to burn out and bust a short time later.

Regardless of who this mystery person is, the legend of Isildur1 created a captivating story in late 2009.  This player generated interest in online poker like no one before him.  With crushing losses and staggering defeats, Isildur1 brought attention to the game that heightened its interest worldwide like nothing before.  While only time will tell if the identity of Isildur1 is ever known, his impact as a high roller in online poker is already secure.

Catch Isildur1 in action now at Full Tilt Poker >>>