Antanas Guoga

Antanas Guoga, also known as Tony G in poker, is an exceptional poker player. He transcends poker stardom, embracing roles as a politician, businessman, and philanthropist. He doesn’t use a poker face like other poker players, though. Instead, his candid opinions, charisma, unique playing style, and relaxed demeanor have played a role in bringing poker closer to the mainstream.

Tony G is celebrated for his poker achievements, philanthropic efforts, and unwavering passion. This profile dives into his life, poker career, winnings, and personal journey.

Tony G: Early Life

Tony G hails from Kaunas, Lithuania, specifically the Alytus neighborhood. He and his family relocated to Melbourne, Australia, when he was eleven. Before the move, he held the title of Lithuania’s Rubik’s Cube champion. His entire childhood was spent in Melbourne, where he attended high school and worked various jobs, including car washing and sewing machine repairs, before pursuing higher education.

During his college years, Tony G Poker, engaged in chess and poker games with his family. He pursued a degree in Accounting and Finance, and after graduating, he started as an assistant to Bill Buchanan, the CEO of Australian Mortgage Brokers. Later, he joined an investment bank in Hong Kong operated by Citibank. Starting poker at 18, he gained notoriety for bold table talk and intimidation tactics, adding flair to his game. In 2002, Tony G founded PokerNews.com and began making his mark in real poker events. Simultaneously, he started winning money in live tournaments, strengthening his reputation in the poker world. Tony G’s global recognition didn’t occur until the 2004 World Series of Poker.

Tony G: Poker Career

His live poker journey began in 2002 in Austria, winning a $200 buy-in 7-card Stud tournament, securing $6,491. Soon after, he achieved a significant breakthrough, finishing second in a $2,000 buy-in event in Austria, earning $38,449.

He secured his first six-figure tournament win at the $10,000 WPT No-Limit Hold’em event in Paris. He finished second, earning a $414,478 prize. It propelled him into the spotlight, with frequent appearances in televised cash games and the renowned ‘The Big Game’ on partypoker.

In August 2005, at the World Series of Poker Europe in London, he achieved a remarkable victory. He earned $456,822 by defeating Norwegian Sverre Sundbo in a heads-up battle. Over the years, he continued to rack up significant wins in prestigious tournaments. This includes the 2006 Asian Poker Tour ($451,700), 2007 Moscow Millions ($205,000), 2009 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final ($552,239), and the 2012 Aussie Millions Poker Championship ($249,133).

Tony G, with his witty table talk and unique poker style, won hearts and put Lithuania in the poker spotlight. This led to many clashes with the famous ‘poker brat’ Phil Hellmuth. In 2010, he got a PartyPoker sponsorship, played WSOP, WPT, and PartyPoker Premier League tournaments as their sponsored pro. Eventually, he left PartyPoker to launch his own online gambling platform, TonyBet, where he continues to act as an ambassador.

Despite a brief hiatus from 2013 to 2017, Tony G’s passion for poker remained unshaken. In recent years, he fearlessly tackled High Roller tournaments, yielding impressive results. He won $1,196,000 at the 2021 SHRB Europe $100,000 Short-Deck tournament, with Paul Phua taking second place. Additionally, he triumphed in the $25,000 Short-Deck tournament, claiming $382,500, just four days earlier.

Tony G is no stranger to the Triton Poker Series. In May 2022 in Madrid, he secured second place in a $100,000 buy-in event, winning $1,389,436. He narrowly lost the final heads-up to English High Stakes expert Steven Chidwick. Months later, at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Cyprus, he performed admirably, finishing 10th and earning $485,000. The event’s victory went to Sam Grafton.

Tony G’s Current Ventures and Life

He was a former member of European and Lithuanian Parliaments, European People’s Party and juggled multiple successful businesses. However, he retired from politics in 2021. Though poker fans saw less of him, his passion for the game still endures. Tony G is also one of the founders of CoinPoker. He not only hosts high-stakes poker games on the platform as part of his sponsorship but also highlights the badge during live events, including prestigious Triton tournaments.

Moreover, Tony G is now the executive chairman of Tony G Co-Investment Holdings, which invests in various industries, including blockchain, cryptocurrency, and online gambling. He also founded the Blockchain Centre Vilnius, assisting start-ups in the blockchain field. He’s actively involved in charity, generously donating portions of his winnings to organizations like Vilnius University, Bėdų Turgus, and Maisto Bankas. He also established the A. Guoga Foundation.

Since 2014, he has been happily married to Aistė Šlapokaitė, raising two sons together and children from a prior relationship.

Conclusion

Poker history boasts numerous remarkable players like Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Chris Moneymaker, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, and Viktor Blom. Tony G undoubtedly belongs among them, an established fixture in the poker world. Boasting a remarkable total live earnings over $11 Million it places him at the top of the Lithuania All-Time Money List. Audiences adore him; he’s a captivating presence and an exceptional poker player, indisputably so.