Mortensen, who won the Main Event in 2001, is stacked with chips in the 2013 Main Event and has a legitimate shot at making the final table.
No former champ has won a second Main Event title in the modern era of poker.
Only Johnny Moss, Stu Unger, Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan have multiple Main Event bracelets but they all achieved it prior to 2000, when field sizes were much smaller.
“Being here again is like a dream come true,” said Mortensen on break with 20 players left. “Hopefully I make it.”
2013 Main Event is 10X Bigger than Mortensen's 2001 Win
Clik here to view.
The WSOP has changed drastically since Mortensen won in 2001. The online poker boom didn’t begin in earnest until 2003 and since then the numbers have rocketed into the stratosphere.
To put things in perspective Mortensen outlasted 613 players to win his Main Event title in 2001. He’s already outlasted 6,332 to get this far in the 2013 tournament.
“The biggest difference from 2001 is the number of players and the level of the game right now,” he said.
“There are players you’ve never heard of and they play perfectly. We are playing on another level these days.”
Mortensen has never been the most high-profile poker player but he’s quietly amassed one of the most impressive records in tournament poker ever.
The Spaniard has over $10 million in lifetime winnings including a WPT World Championship title for $3.9 million. No other player has WPT and WSOP World Championship titles.
Mortensen came close to winning the ultimate Triple Crown in poker by placing 11th in the 2007 EPT Grand Final.
Perhaps the most impressive facet of Mortensen’s results is that he doesn’t play many events. His return on investment is astronomical.
It could have something to do with the amount of confidence Mortensen brings to the table every time he plays.
“Every year when I buy into the Main Event I’m expecting to make it this far,” laughed Mortensen.
“I haven’t gone this far in many years but it’s amazing to be in this position right now.”
Visit www.pokerlistings.com
