Markus Onni Antero Ristola

Markus Onni Antero Ristola, a Finnish poker professional, first gained attention on the live tournament circuit in 2009. At the 2009 World Series of Poker Europe, he finished 48th in the £1,000 No Limit Hold'em event for £2,359, then went on to make a spectacular run in the £10,000 WSOPE Main Event. Ristola reached the final table and eventually finished fifth, earning £200,367 – his largest live cash to date. During the Main Event, he was noted for a bold all-in move with 620,000 chips against Chris Bjorin and Daniel Negreanu, forcing both opponents to fold.

Ristola built on his WSOPE success with strong results in European Poker Tour events. In 2011, he finished 34th in the EPT Grand Final Madrid Main Event, taking home €30,000. Two years later, at the 2013 PokerStars.fr EPT Deauville Main Event, he placed 47th for €13,500. These results helped establish him as a consistent contender in major European tournaments.

In addition to his WSOPE exploits, Ristola has cashed in WSOP events in Las Vegas. At the 2011 World Series of Poker, he finished 46th in Event #35: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six-Handed, earning $10,246. More recently, at the 2026 WSOP Europe, he cashed twice: 27th in the €3,300 Mixed PLO / PLO8 / Big O for €6,545, and 122nd in the €2,200 Turbo Bounty NLH for €2,090. His total live tournament earnings exceed $1.1 million, according to The Hendon Mob.

Ristola has also performed well in his home country. In June 2011, he finished runner-up in the Midnight Sun Poker Tournament 2K No Limit Hold'em Event at the Grand Casino Helsinki, losing heads-up to Lauri Varonen. The event had 128 entries and a prize pool of $366,464. This result earned him his second PTPR score of the 2011 season.

Known online as "Resteala," Ristola is recognized for his aggressive, attacking style and precise hand reading. He excels at applying pressure in deep-stacked stages and demonstrates a deep understanding of range balancing. His online success has translated well to live tournaments, where he has proven his ability to compete against the world's best players.

Ristola continues to compete in high-level events, as evidenced by his cashes at the 2026 WSOP Europe. While he has not yet won a major live title, his consistent deep runs and significant earnings have made him a respected figure in the Finnish poker community. His career serves as an example of how online grinding can build the skills necessary for live tournament success.