Gus Hansen

Gus Hansen stands as an extraordinary poker player. His achievements include not just three World Poker Tour titles. He also boasts the a prestigious WSOP gold bracelet, an Aussie Millions championship title, and other global victories. Over the course of his illustrious poker journey, he has amassed over $10 million solely from live tournaments. 

Explore Gus Hansen’s journey from youth to professional poker player.

Gus Hansen: Early Life

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1974, Gustav B. Hansen showed early promise and was homeschooled by his mom and aunt. He excelled in tennis but had to abandon his professional aspirations due to a severe injury. Seeking a new competitive outlet, Hansen turned to backgammon, a game his father had taught him. He quickly became a master of the game, organizing and winning large tournaments, even at a national level.

When not playing backgammon, Hansen dedicated himself to studying, leveraging his mathematical skills to earn an academic scholarship. After mastering the backgammon scene in Denmark, he pursued an accounting degree and later ventured to the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Hansen, while living in California, was introduced to Texas Hold’em poker at a friend’s house. Despite being a beginner, he quickly grasped the game’s complexities — sparking his interest in poker. He regularly played poker at Ocean View Card Room, recognizing talent but realizing he had more to learn. This challenge only fueled his passion for poker.

After two years of college, Hansen had to return to Denmark for compulsory military service. During military downtime, he improved his poker skills, tested strategies, and explored different variants. Once he completed his military training, he wasted no time returning to the United States to pursue his poker ambitions further.

Gus Hansen: Poker Career

In 2002, Hansen scored his first major victory, clinching the WPT Five-Diamond World Poker Classic and a $550,000 prize. Within a year, he triumphed at the WPT No Limit Hold’em Championship, pocketing an additional $530,000. Recognizing poker’s superior earning potential compared to his accounting career, Hansen made a pivotal choice. He decided to dedicate himself entirely to the game.

In 2003, he launched Poker Champs, a small online poker room. Though he drew a few thousand players, his extensive travel for poker tournaments left him with insufficient time to nurture the company. Consequently, he sold it to Betfair for a substantial $15 million.

Hesitant about the $400,000 buy-in, Hansen received an invitation to the inaugural Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament in 2005. Seeing it as a chance to showcase his poker skills, he decided to participate despite facing strong opponents like Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey. Surprisingly, Hansen emerged as the champion, winning the grand prize of $1 million. This victory earned him the nickname “The Great Dane” in recognition of his exceptional skill and Danish heritage.

With a more substantial bankroll, he embarked on a global tournament circuit. In 2007, he ventured to Australia, for the Aussie Millions event. After consistently performing well in smaller tournaments, Hansen secured the top spot in the main event. He defeated 747 competitors and pocketed a hefty $1,192,919. He authored “Every Hand Revealed“, which was widely sold in Denmark and the USA, inspired by his poker experiences.

During this period, it appeared that Hansen is consistently achieving success. His pinnacle came in April 2008 when he participated in the $25,000 WPT Championship Event. Despite finishing in second place, he walked away with a substantial $1,714,800 prize—his largest earnings to date.

Hansen was also featured in Season 2 of High Stakes Poker. He won a remarkable $575,000 pot by defeating poker pro Daniel Negreanu with his quads—a truly legendary showdown.

Hansen’s success secured him a sponsorship with Full Tilt Poker, and he proudly represented the brand for over five years in various tournaments.

In 2010, Hansen achieved a major milestone in his poker career by securing his first WSOP bracelet. He emerged victorious in the No Limit Hold’em High Roller Heads-Up event, earning both the coveted gold bracelet and $444,925. During that year, he also won in the Poker Million IX tournament. Hansen masterfully executed a bluff against Tony Bloom in their heads-up showdown, securing another $1 million prize.

In January 2012, Hansen secured third place in the Aussie Millions $250,000 No Limit Hold’em Challenge, his last major achievement. Despite not winning, he earned a respectable $823,579 by finishing behind Phil Ivey and Patrik Antonius at the final table. 

Hansen’s Ups and Downs

“The Great Dane”, was a dominant force in live poker tournaments for several years, using a strategy rather than GTO. Yet, this strategy didn’t work in online cash games, resulting in millions in online losses. His live tournament success also declined after 2012. By 2014, he had incurred over $20 million in online losses, making him one of the biggest losers in high-stakes poker. Around this time, Hansen considered leaving poker for other opportunities.

Conclusion

In 2014, Hansen temporarily stepped away from poker following a staggering $5 million loss that year. It was 2019 when Hansen last played poker at lower stakes compared to his high-roller days. Reports indicate that he still possessed the skills to excel in tournaments. Moreover, Gus Hansen’s profound influence on the poker world remains undeniable. His innovative style and strategic contributions left a lasting legacy, highlighting the blend of luck, skill, strategy, and boldness in poker. Hansen’s poker journey, with its triumphs and losses, shows how complex and varied the game can be.