One World Poker Tour title.
There are many things about Tony G that don't appear as they seem. For starters, the name on his birth certificate is actually Antanas Guoga. Secondly, the Aussie-accented trash-talker was born in - and spent the first decade of his life - in Lithuania. Finally, despite telling his opponents that “I'm going to destroy you,” and “I'm going to punish you,” he has a reputation away from the table as a very nice guy.
Tony always loved puzzles and games. Growing up in Lithuania, he attended a chess school and was a Rubik's Cube champion. He would display that same knack for problem solving when he played in the casinos around Melbourne. After beating everyone Down Under, Tony decided to try his hand in the big leagues – Las Vegas. It turned out to be a quick trip. The caliber of players was far above what he was used to, and he ended up losing his entire bankroll – over $200K. But instead of giving up, Tony regrouped. He went back to Australia to rebuild his confidence and bankroll. He went to play in European casinos where he received his signature nickname. When Tony Guoga wanted his name added to waiting boards it was written down as Tony G – and it stuck.
Tony is known as a very aggressive player and his table taunts have not won him many fans among his fellow pros. That doesn't bother Tony. After all, it's not their admiration he's after, it's their money. And if he can get under their skin and knock them off their game, then he's done his job. Though primarily a cash game player, Tony recently won the World Poker Tour's Bad Boys of Poker, the Betfair Asian Poker Tour, and came in second at the Intercontinental Poker Championship.
