Dario Sammartino

Dario Sammartino was born on April 5, 1987, in Naples, Italy. He learned poker from his father, who taught him five-card draw as a bonding activity after the death of Sammartino's grandfather. Later, during the Moneymaker boom, he discovered Texas Hold'em and began playing in Italy's newly opened poker clubs around 2005. He initially worked in public relations before transitioning to poker full-time. Sammartino registered on PokerStars under the screen name "Madgenius87" and later played online as "Secret_M0d3." He moved to Nova Gorica, Slovenia, to maintain access to global online poker markets.

Sammartino's first recorded live cash came in November 2008, when he finished in the money in a €1,100 buy-in tournament in Egypt. Five months later, he earned his first five-figure prize of €16,700 for a third-place finish in another Egyptian €1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event. His first WSOP cash came in 2011, placing 207th in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $3,088. He claimed his first live victory in April 2013, winning a €5,250 Italian Poker Tour event in Sanremo for €30,000. From that point, five-figure scores became routine.

At the 2014 WSOP, Sammartino finished sixth in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event for $91,670. Between 2015 and 2017, he amassed over $5.8 million in live earnings. This included a fourth-place finish in a €100,000 Super High Roller for €709,500 and a sixth-place finish in a €25,500 High Roller for €257,400 at EPT Monte Carlo in 2015. In 2016, he made the final table of the EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, finishing eighth. He also placed third in a $25,000 High Roller at the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure for $542,160. At the 2017 WSOP, he finished third in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop, earning $1,608,295. He also cashed in the 2017 WSOP Main Event, finishing 43rd.

Sammartino entered the 2019 WSOP Main Event final table in sixth chip position. He battled through a long heads-up duel against Hossein Ensan. On the 301st hand of the final table, Sammartino moved all-in on the turn with a straight and flush draw holding 8♠4♠, but Ensan called with pocket kings, and Sammartino failed to improve, finishing second. The runner-up prize was $6,000,000, the largest cash of his career. This result cemented his status as one of Italy's greatest poker players and vaulted him to second on Italy's all-time money list. Prior to the Main Event, he had already accumulated over $8 million in live earnings.

Despite numerous close calls, Sammartino was long considered one of the best players without a WSOP bracelet. He had eight WSOP final tables before his breakthrough. In 2019 alone, he also finished third in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship for $184,854, fourth in a $1,000 online event for $75,094, and ninth in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for $93,764. Finally, on June 27, 2024, Sammartino won his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 Omaha/Stud Hi-Low 8 or Better event, earning $222,703. In 2026, he continued to notch deep runs, including a fourth-place finish in the $1,500 Dealer's Choice event for $49,383 and multiple cashes in the WSOP.

Online, Sammartino achieved significant results under the alias "Secret_M0d3." He won three Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) events, including a $21,000 No-Limit Hold'em high roller in May 2016 for $718,000. He also won millions more online, though his online results are no longer tracked.

Sammartino is known for a sophisticated, empathy-driven, and highly analytical playing style. While he understands modern Game Theory Optimal (GTO) concepts, he places a heavy emphasis on live tells and psychological reads. He describes empathy as a core poker skill, focusing on understanding opponents' fear and courage in high-pressure situations. This makes him an elite mixed-game specialist, excelling in variants like H.O.R.S.E., 2-7 Lowball, Omahahi-Lo, and Big O. He is patient and solid in deep-stacked tournaments, leveraging position and stack size. He often appears at final tables in a tailored suit and bowtie, reflecting his belief in professionalism and respect for the game's history.

Outside poker, Sammartino runs a company called Rent, Sell, Cars, which loans out Ferraris. He continues to live in Nova Gorica, Slovenia, and is a central figure in Italian poker. He is widely respected for his consistent results and humble demeanor, often described as a "silent assassin" who lets his results speak. As of 2026, his live tournament earnings exceed $16.8 million, ranking him among the top Italian earners of all time. His career stands as a testament to patience, discipline, and technical versatility.