Poker Profiles: Juan Carlos Mortensen

Carlos Mortensen is a passionate Poker player. He is best known for his type of play, which is loose, peppered with bluffs, and accentuated with a distinctive chip-stacking style.

Born Juan Carlos Mortensen on April 13, 1972 in Ambato, Ecuador, Carlos moved to the United States in late 90's to pursue a Poker career. Since then, he has had two World Series of Poker bracelets, one in 2001 and the other in 2003, and a total of $8,400,000 cash winnings.

El Matador, as he is fondly called at the Poker table, the Spanish player made history when he appeared in three final tables at a single tournament. All his three final table appearances at the 2006 WSOP did not make for a successful end but it was an achievement nevertheless. Carlos also appeared in numerous tournaments outside WSOP and made interesting marks there as well. He was a World Poker Tour champ, winning $1 million at the 2004 Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship and over $3 million at the Season Five World Poker Tour championship event. Aside from WPT, where he already gained two titles and the distinction of being the all-time money leader, Carlos also appeared to play at the World Heads-Up Poker Championship, the Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament, and the European Poker Tour among others.

Carlos is best known for his passionate takes at the Poker table. He plays with his heart on his sleeve, always aggressive, always wild, always unpredictable. He is always involved with every game and tries not to lose his concentration for whatever it takes. Carlos is one focused player from which all promising Poker players must take a winning lesson or two.

Spain's pride took interest in Poker amid his strict, military upbringing. Carlos's Danish father was an alumnus of Georgetown Military Academy and a diplomat at the Latin American country. The first fifteen years of his life were spent in Ecuador, after which the Mortensen family moved to Madrid. Carlos took a degree in Math and Physics there and along the way married his then girlfriend Cecelia Reyes. They did everything to earn a living, even taking three jobs at a time. Carlos's only escape from his busy family and college life is Chess, which he played during his free time. That's up until he discovered Poker, started playing for money, and decided to make the move to the United States. His better-half Cecelia made him a divorcee recently after over a decade of marriage and is now pursuing a Poker career for herself.