Matteo Crapanzano

Matteo Gerolamo Crapanzano (born in Milan, Italy, age 50) is a passionate poker enthusiast who has made a name for himself in the European live poker scene, particularly in mixed-game events. Despite being an amateur who runs an advertising agency, he has captured two notable titles: a WSOP Circuit ring and an ISOP (Italian Series of Poker) bracelet.

Crapanzano's poker journey began in 1996 when a close friend taught him a variety of poker variants after a summer in Las Vegas. Together with a group of about 10 people, he learned games like Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, 8 or Better, and Seven Card Stud. For years he also played Texas Hold'em, but eventually returned to his roots, focusing exclusively on mixed games for the last three years (as of 2020). He strongly believes that variant games are true skill games, whereas Hold'em relies more on luck.

WSOP Circuit Ring in Rozvadov (2018)

At the WSOP Circuit event in King's Casino Rozvadov, Crapanzano won Event #6: €330 Seven Card Stud, defeating fellow Italian Antonio Turrisi heads-up to claim the ring and €4,430. He also reached the final table of Event #4: €300 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, finishing 5th for €2,528. Altogether, his WSOP-related earnings from these events amount to €6,958.

ISOP Bracelet in Campione d'Italia (2026)

On June 4-5, 2026, during the 57th edition of the Italian ISOP Championships (powered by PokerStars) at the Casino di Campione d'Italia, Crapanzano won the first bracelet of the series in the Campionato Italiano Sviten (a variant of Swiss poker). The tournament attracted 64 entries (47 unique players), generating a prize pool of €10,624. Crapanzano earned €1,907 for the victory. Reports highlight that this was the first ISOP bracelet of 2026.

Earlier Victory in Brussels

Approximately two years before his WSOP Circuit ring (around 2016), Crapanzano won a HORSE event in Brussels, which he describes as a small economic prize but a treasured trophy.

Crapanzano is an outspoken advocate for mixed games. He criticizes the Hold'em-dominated poker world, stating that Hold'em requires "just a bit of luck" and is not a true skill game. He finds variant games like Stud, Omaha, and HORSE more technical and rewarding. Despite limited tournament availability for these games, he travels across Europe to play them, prioritizing trophies over large payouts.

Crapanzano lives in Milan and runs his own advertising agency. He views poker strictly as a hobby, balancing his professional work with his passion for the game. He actively seeks out European mixed-game events and plans his schedule around them.

Though not a household name, Crapanzano represents the dedicated niche of mixed-game specialists. His success at both the WSOP Circuit and ISOP demonstrates that passion and skill in non-Hold'em disciplines can lead to notable achievements, even for an amateur player.