Max Pescatori Bio

Life has always been an adventure for Pescatori. Born and raised in Milan, Italy, this pro grew up loving two very different sports, soccer and poker. Fortunately, by the time he realized he wasn't going to be a striker on Italy's national team, he was already skilled in poker. Having been introduced to cards by family friends while on vacations, he took to the game almost immediately.

Nicknamed the "The Italian Pirate" because of his rampaging ways and often-worn skullcap, Pescatori has worked his way up the poker ranks and shown himself to be one of the game's best grinders. He's cashed in dozens of tournaments and has two World Series of Poker bracelets, one in a 2006 $2,500 no-limit event and the other in a 2008 $2,500 buy-in half pot-limit hold'em half Omaha event. In 2005, he finished in the top 10 of Card Player's Player of the Year rankings.

The life lessons Pescatori has learned have given him a balanced philosophy that now spills from his life into his poker play, giving him piece of mind when others just find tilt.