Adrián Mateos, one of the best poker players in the world, started his journey at just 18 years old. With a competitive spirit, a passion for risk, and tons of dedication, he threw himself into poker, betting everything on the game. Less than a year later, he won his first tournament. By 22, he became the youngest player to win three World Series of Poker titles, and today, his total winnings are over 48 million euros.
Mateos says that the pressure during a poker final is what makes the game so exciting. “I thrive under pressure, I love when people are tense. It’s in those high-stakes moments when I play my best,” he shares. Over time, he’s learned to manage his emotions better, and it’s become second nature to him. While online poker has its perks, it doesn’t compare to the adrenaline of sitting at a table surrounded by real players, feeling the heat of the competition in person.
For Mateos, reading the emotions of his opponents is key to success. He observes everything—the speed at which they bet, their reactions, even their body language. In professional poker, the more you know your opponent, the better you can predict their moves. That’s why Mateos spends up to 8 hours a day training. His focus is on perfecting his technical strategy, reducing the impact of luck. “Luck matters in the short run, but in the long run, the best players always win,” he says confidently.
Money is a huge part of poker, but for Mateos, it’s the risk and thrill of the game that makes it so special. “The feeling of being able to win or lose everything, that’s what makes poker interesting,” he explains. Even though sponsorships could remove the need to bet, he believes it would ruin the essence of the game.
A big part of his success is his deep understanding of poker’s mathematical side. His love for math is what led him to drop out of his Economics degree and move to London to pursue poker full-time. “Mathematics makes the bad luck fade. If you work at it, you’ll win over time,” says Mateos. He believes in the power of the numbers, and the odds always balance out in the end.
Despite his highly strategic approach, what keeps Mateos hooked on poker is the need to compete and the excitement of the risk involved. At just 16, he knew poker was his thing, and by 18, he was playing in Madrid’s top casino. “I was bold, and my playing style was aggressive,” he recalls, and it’s a style he’s kept ever since.
Even though he got into the casino scene at a young age, Mateos doesn’t play other gambling games. “I saw how the other games worked and quickly realized you couldn’t win, so I stopped playing them,” he says. He also stresses the importance of protecting minors from gambling, but believes adults should be allowed to make their own decisions and learn from their mistakes.
For now, Mateos has no plans to quit poker. He’s determined to stay at the top of the game. The intense competition is what makes him happy, and knowing he’s one of the best in the world only adds to his drive.