Michael Desiderio

Michael Desiderio is an Italian poker player born in Rezzato, near Brescia. He first gained attention as a youth football player for Brescia Calcio, but two serious knee ligament injuries ended his football aspirations. He turned to poker, initially playing casually with friends, then online, and finally in live tournaments.

Desiderio was a promising talent in Brescia's youth system until repeated cruciate ligament injuries forced him to abandon professional football. He started playing poker as a hobby with friends for small stakes, gradually moving to online Texas Hold'em tournaments. After some online success, he began competing in live events.

In October 2011, at age 22, Desiderio won the first Italian Series of Poker (ISOP) deep stack event at the Casino Perla in Nova Gorica, Slovenia. With a €400 buy-in, he defeated a field of 180 players to take the top prize of €18,315. This victory marked his first major live title and solidified his decision to pursue professional poker.

He also has recorded cashes in WSOP Circuit events at Casino Sanremo:

• In November 2023, he finished 88th in the €1,000 Main Event (WSOPC Event #5) earning €4,440.
• In December 2023, he placed 21st in the €250 No-Limit Hold'em Bigstack (WSOPC Event #8) for €540.

According to WSOP.com records, his total live earnings from those events amount to approximately $4,980 (€4,980). He has also demonstrated success in ISOP tournaments, including being the chip leader after Day 1A of an ISOP Stage 2 event in 2022 with 311,000 chips.

Desiderio is described as a mentally tough and focused player. He emphasizes that poker requires more than luck—it requires concentration, mental endurance, and the ability to read opponents. His deep stack victory suggests a strategic, patient approach suited to deeper structures.

Outside poker, Desiderio helps his mother run the family bar in Rezzato. After his ISOP victory, he expressed a desire to turn professional and attract sponsors. He remains active in the Italian and Slovenian live poker circuits, particularly at Casino Perla in Nova Gorica.