When a player wins over a million dollars, the world usually hears about it through numbers, stats, and leaderboards. But sometimes, the story behind the result is even more compelling than the prize itself. This is one of those times and this interview is an exclusive.

We sat down with Fausto Tantillo, a Sicilian-born poker professional now based in Austria, who recently took third place at the WSOP 2025 High Roller for a staggering $1,191,972. For a man who had planned to take a year off from poker, this result became not just a win, but a quiet triumph of focus over fortune.

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A Year of Pause, and a Million-Dollar Reward

“I had decided that 2025 would be the year I’d play very little,” Fausto begins, his tone calm and measured. “After four years of nonstop grinding, nine months a year playing live, I needed to reset, to understand where I was in life.”

He talks about those months with a sense of maturity and detachment, the kind that only comes after thousands of hours spent under the lights of poker rooms. “When you play live for so long, handling big sums of money every day, you risk losing perspective: the value of things, the rhythm of normal life. I wanted to find that balance again.”

That pause, ironically, brought him his biggest single payday ever. While most pros fear losing their momentum, Fausto discovered that stepping back gave him clarity and a sharper edge at the tables. “I studied more, thought more. I played with more awareness. Sometimes taking a break does more for your game than endless grinding.”

The WSOP Run: Composure Over Chaos

Talking about the High Roller itself, Tantillo shrugs off the drama. No hero narrative, no hand of destiny. “People expect a ‘key hand,’ that moment when you know you’re going to make it. For me, it doesn’t work that way,” he says. “I just play my tournament hand by hand. The goal is not to make the big play, but the right play.”

From 80 players left down to the final 12, he hovered between chip leader and second place before a brutal KK vs AA cooler sent his stack tumbling. “That hit me hard,” he admits. “I thought the tournament might be over right there. But with focus and patience, I rebuilt. Step by step.”

That calm persistence, more than any lucky break, is what defined his run. “You just can’t afford to lose focus. Poker punishes distraction more than bad luck.”

From 20 Tables to One

When asked how he prepares for big events online, Fausto laughs softly. “I used to play 20 tables at once, like a machine. Ten years ago that was my rhythm. But now? If I open more than six tables, I lose focus.”

For major events like the WSOP, he goes monotable. “One table, one goal. I give 100% to that single screen. I drink water, maybe coffee, but I don’t multitask. You can’t play a $10K event distracted, not if you respect the game.”

It’s a reflection of his evolution: from volume grinder to precision player. “With age comes awareness,” he says with a smile. “Less quantity, more quality.”

Live Poker, Real People

While his recent success came online, Tantillo’s heart clearly belongs to live poker. “I love human contact. Talking, reading faces, the energy of a table. Online feels cold to me now. I only play when the event is big - like the WSOP - where there’s prestige.”

The reason, he explains, isn’t nostalgia but connection. “Live poker is social. It’s human. Online, that part disappears. And I’ve realized I miss it.”

On BetKings

Despite his preference for live events, Tantillo speaks highly of his experience playing through BetKings on the GGPoker platform. “Honestly, if I still play online, it’s thanks to BetKings. They give me access to tournaments like these. GGPoker is the best platform in the world right now, transparent, reliable, professional, and BetKings makes it possible for me to be part of it. And their support is top notch".

No Superstitions, Just Math

When asked what sets him apart from other players, Fausto takes a moment. “Maybe the fact that I don’t believe in luck or rituals. Many players have their superstitions, their ‘lucky hoodie,’ their routines. I trust math. Nothing else.”

That rational discipline is what keeps him grounded both at and away from the table. “In live poker, your instinct sometimes helps: body language, tone, small tells. But online, it’s pure mathematics. No instinct, no superstition, only optimal play.”

In a world where players chase fortune, Fausto Tantillo chooses focus.