Patrik Antonius is the newest member of the Poker Hall of Fame, World Series of Poker officials announced on Sunday. Antonius is a longtime poker pro with $23 million in live tournament winnings and considerable online poker earnings as well.

Poker fans may recognize Antonius from popular televised cash games, such as High Stakes Poker. He was celebrated during a ceremony surrounded by friends, family, and fans before the beginning of the Poker Hall of Fame Bounty at the WSOP.

“Obviously it’s a very big honor to become a new Hall of Famer,” he said. “It was a little bit unexpected for me at this young age. Obviously, a big thanks to family and all my closest friends, also a very big thanks to all the poker fans, all the colleagues, all the players. Everywhere I’ve played around the world, I’ve been getting really nice support. This has been one of the nicest things.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the game. I’ve been a student of the game. I think I’m going to stick around for a long time. That’s my plan, to keep playing the highest tournaments and cash games. I really think that’s the key to my results … that I’ve always had so much passion and love for the game.”

Originally from Helsinki, Finland, Antonius is one of poker’s most successful European players. In 2023, he made history by winning a $2 million cash game pot, the largest ever on a U.S. livestream broadcast. 

Antonius’s photo will be displayed at the Hall of Fame Poker Room inside the Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. The room opened in July 2023 and features an exhibit acknowledging poker’s most legendary players with a gallery of champions and WSOP bracelets and championship rings.

Sean Chaffin is a full-time freelance writer based in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He covers poker, gambling, the casino industry, and numerous other topics. Follow him on Twitter at @PokerTraditions and email him at seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net.