Ray Qartomy

Ray Qartomy is an American professional poker player with deep roots in the Florida poker scene, though recent tournament reports have also identified him as a Houston local during events in Texas. Over a career spanning more than a decade, he has become one of the most consistent live tournament performers in the country, amassing close to $6 million in recorded earnings and more than 160 cashes. He has been ranked in the top 400 of the Global Poker Index and remains a fixture at major series in both the United States and abroad, active in both online and live poker.

Qartomy has been a regular on the World Poker Tour for many years, and his trophy cabinet is still missing the one title he wants most. He has reached six WPT final tables, including two standout runs in 2022. At WPT Choctaw that year, he finished third for $235,000; at WPT Legends of Poker, he went one spot further, taking second place and $380,000 behind the champion Joshua Pollock. Those finishes, while lucrative, only deepened his hunger for a WPT victory. Speaking at the 2025 WPT Cyprus Championship, he said, "It's my dream actually. It's my dream to just finish it up. I tried many times. I wish I could do this one. I have a belief. I'm playing really well right now, so I have a belief that I will do something here." Qartomy made the roughly 6,400-mile (10,300-kilometer) journey from Florida to the Chamada Prestige Hotel & Casino in Cyprus to take his shot at the $3,500 championship event.

A milestone arrived for Qartomy at the 2025 Texas Poker Open, where he captured his first PokerGO Tour title. He outlasted a tough field in High Roller #1, a $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em event, earning $40,500 along with the tournament's signature belt buckle and 41 PGT points. The win represented his seventh career PGT cash and his fifth PGT final table, and it lifted his lifetime tournament earnings past $5.31 million. It also moved him to 203rd on the United States All-Time Money List.

The final table featured several notable storylines. Qartomy held nearly a three-to-one chip lead over his heads-up opponent, Ed Sebesta, but Sebesta doubled through with two pair against Qartomy's aces before the Florida grinder regained control and sealed the victory. David Chen was eliminated in third place for $12,000 when his ace-king suited could not improve against Qartomy's pocket sixes. PGT regular Jeremy Becker bubbled the event, his ace-ten outdrawn on the turn by Ed Sebesta's ace-eight. The victory gave Qartomy his first cash of the 2025 PGT season and set the tone for a career-best year.

Qartomy's live tournament statistics illustrate a steady upward trajectory. By December 2024, he had recorded $5,270,646 in earnings from 153 cashes. Just over a year later, his totals had grown to $5,961,928 across 164 cashes, with a $27,080 cash on 18 December 2025 among the latest additions. His 2025 campaign was especially productive, with more than $597,330 won during the calendar year. Those earnings placed him among the higher-performing American tournament regulars and kept him at or near the top of the Global Poker Index's American leaderboards, with a world ranking around #389.

Throughout his career, Qartomy has been characterized as a tight-aggressive player with sharp hand-reading skills and a methodical approach to late-stage tournaments. He is particularly effective in deep-stack situations, where he uses his stack to apply pressure while avoiding unnecessary risks. His calm, unflappable demeanor at the table has led some peers to refer to him as "The Silent Hunter," a nickname that reflects his quiet intensity. Off the felt, Qartomy maintains a low profile and shares few personal details, preferring to be known primarily by his results.

Even after accumulating millions in live tournament earnings and securing a PGT title, Qartomy has made clear that a WPT victory remains his biggest ambition. His decision to travel across the Atlantic for the WPT Cyprus Championship in 2025 was a direct reflection of that goal. With his game peaking and a strong 2025 season behind him, he continues to be a threat in any event he enters. For aspiring players, his patient post-flop play, disciplined bankroll management, and composure in enormous fields provide a model for sustained success on the tournament circuit.