There are many interesting and unusual personalities in the world of poker, and it is a real pleasure to watch them play. One of these people is the legend of many TV shows, successful businessman and outstanding player Tony G, whose full name is Antanas Guoga.
We tell you about his biography and main achievements. And in the end, we give recommendations on how to start a successful career as a player in 2022.
Who is Tony G?
Tony G is not the player's real name and surname, but a creative pseudonym that he chose for the poker world. The full name of the Lithuanian player is Antanas Guoga. He ranks first in terms of the amount of money earned among all Lithuanian poker players.
Does Tony G still play poker? Absolutely. If you tune in to an event like Triton, he’s sure to be in one of the seats. He also plays online on CoinPoker, a cutting-edge crypto poker room he is affiliated with.
Tony G is fun to watch because he does some incredible things at the table. His catchphrases like, “On your bike!” are etched in the minds of many players, just like his clashes with Phil Hellmuth and countless others. He is not a weak player, but rather a very experienced amateur who is not under pressure from the money. He is a welcome but extremely dangerous opponent at the table.
Tony is a successful businessman, so he doesn't pocket most of his poker winnings, but spends them on charity, which is highly appreciated by the poker community. For this, along with significant entertainment value, he is forgiven for his extravagant behavior.
Tony G's game and his mannerisms are better seen than read. Therefore, we suggest you watch a selection of Antanas' hands played against Phil Hellmuth. Although it isn’t difficult to get under the Poker Brat’s skin, Tony is an expert.
The Short Biography of Tony G (Antanas Guoga)
Tony was born in Kaunas, but at the age of 11 his family moved to Australia. While still in school, fate brought him together with poker. By the end of his studies, Antanas already had Australian citizenship, but the young man decided to leave his second homeland for the sake of traveling and participating in various live tournaments.
Success in poker was not long in coming, but we will tell you about it below. First of all, Tony is a very successful businessman and built much of his net worth as an entrepreneur. In 2002, he founded one of the largest poker news portals, PokerNews. In 2009, Antanas opened the bookmaker TonyBet. In both businesses, he sold shares in the late 2010s.
In 2010, Tony G founded the Lithuanian Poker Federation, and the following year he received a prestigious award for his significant contribution to the development of the country. Tony also developed his own cryptocurrency room – CoinPoker, which he has now stepped away from, though it still thrives.
Tony G reported assets of around $36 million. The staggering net worth comes from business, poker winnings, and his work as an elected official for the European Parliament.
Tony G’s Poker Achievements
During his poker career, Tony G has won over $8 million in live tournaments. Here are his three biggest wins:
On August 29, 2021, Antanas won his biggest prize. It happened in Cyprus in the $100,000 short deck tournament at the SHRB series. For first place, in addition to the cup, Tony G received $1,196,000. Interestingly, this was the second short deck tournament he won at that series (the first was for $25,000, Tony earned $382,500).
In October 2019, Tony came close to winning a seven-figure prize, but settled for fourth place in the €250,000 tournament, for which he received $882,942.
The third-largest prize came in the €25,500 tournament in Monaco. For third place, he received $552,239.
Also, Tong G was involved in what appears to be the largest online poker pot ever. Against the two-pair and nut flush draw of “HannibalGetya,” his straight held for a massive 7,750,652 USDT pot.
Televised Poker Appearances
Tony G's image and game have always been liked by the audience. At the table, the businessman always behaved freely, easily supporting any conversation. All this led to Antanas often being invited to poker shows. Two of the most famous:
- The Big Game
- Poker After Dark
These days, Tony can be found in most of the biggest games. This includes the international Triton series and even the Hustlers Casino in LA.
Anyone can learn to play and win money in poker. However, success like Tony G's does not come instantly – you will have to work hard at the game, and GipsyTeam can help you with this:
- Use programs: Additional software allows you to improve individual aspects of the game. For example, FlopZilla is ideal for training postflop play and is ultra-affordable.
- Practice in freerolls: If you are at the start of your poker journey, there’s no need to pay to play. Even once you have learned fundamentals, freeroll tournaments off players a real money prize with no entry fee. Practice tournament concepts, slowly refine your strategy, and go for a cash prize.
- Take your skills to new levels: There are plenty of methods for learning, but it’s best to focus on specific areas. In our catalog, we have a second dedicated to every area of the game. Need to learn more about 3-betting and 4-betting? Curious about what a donk bet strategy looks like? Unclear on terms like VPIP or WTSD? You’ll find it all there.
