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Max Pescatori is a legendary Italian professional poker player and a towering figure in the history of the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Known globally as “The Italian Pirate,” Pescatori is a four-time WSOP bracelet winner, a feat that cements his status as one of Europe’s greatest mixed-game specialists. Originally from Milan and a longtime resident of Las Vegas, he was a pioneer of the early 2000s poker boom and remains a highly respected veteran of the high-stakes circuit. In 2026, he continues to be a formidable presence in the “Dealer’s Choice” and Mixed Game championships, adding to a resume that spans over two decades of elite competition.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings now exceeding $4,894,600 (according to The Hendon Mob), Max Pescatori is a pillar of Italian poker, currently ranked 4th on the Italy All-Time Money List. His career reached a historic peak in 2015 when he became the first European player to win two bracelets in a single summer, taking down both the $1,500 Razz and the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Championship. Proving his continued relevance in 2025 and 2026, Pescatori recently secured multiple cashes at the 56th Annual WSOP, including a deep run in the $1,500 Limit Seven Card Stud event. His combined success across three decades contributes to an estimated poker net worth of over $5.5 million.
Major Tournament Results:
| Year | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | WSOP $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em (1st – Bracelet) | $682,389 |
| 2015 | WSOP $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Championship (1st – Bracelet) | $292,158 |
| 2008 | WSOP $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold’em/Omaha (1st – Bracelet) | $246,509 |
| 2015 | WSOP $1,500 Seven Card Razz (1st – Bracelet) | $155,947 |
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1971 in Milan, Italy , Massimiliano “Max” Pescatori moved to Las Vegas in the late 1990s to pursue the professional game. He initially established himself as a Limit Hold’em specialist before mastering the full spectrum of mixed games. Pescatori is credited with helping spark the poker explosion in his home country, co-authoring several Italian-language poker books including “A scuola di poker.” Beyond his technical skill, Max is known for his philanthropic efforts; in a famous display of benevolence, he auctioned his 2015 Stud Hi-Lo bracelet to raise funds for victims of the 2016 Central Italy earthquake. In 2026, he remains a beloved figure in the PokerGO Tour (PGT) and WSOP, recognized as a true ambassador for the international game.
Play Style & Strategy
Pescatori is renowned for a “highly versatile, balanced, and expert-level mixed game” play style. While many of his contemporaries specialize in No-Limit Hold’em, Max’s greatest technical edge has always been in Stud, Omaha 8, and Razz, where his ability to read board textures and player tendencies is considered world-class. Strategically, he is a proponent of game diversification; he famously advocates that the key to longevity in professional poker is the ability to adapt to more obscure variants where the edges remain larger than in solver-saturated Hold’em games. His approach emphasizes patience and discipline, making him one of the most difficult veterans to out-maneuver in grueling, multi-day mixed game championships.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow “The Italian Pirate” as he hunts for his fifth WSOP bracelet during the 2026 season? You can find his official profiles and updated stats here:
