Max Pescatori Profile

They call him the Italian Pirate, and not because he swings from the rigging with a cutlass clenched in his teeth to the strains of Carmina Burana. (But wouldn’t THAT be cool.) No, it is due to his penchant for wearing a bandana covering his pate with the Red, White and Green of the Italian flag whilst playing poker. As anyone who has watched the World Series of Poker on TV can tell you when they run their “Nuts” segment, there are plenty of odd outfits and accessories that poker players chose to wear when sitting at the felt; fortunately for Max Pescatori, he plays poker well enough to get away with it.

In 1994 Max left Milan, Italy, for Sin City. Arriving in Las Vegas he discovered the poker room at the Luxor and quickly found himself a regular at the seven-card stud game. Once he saw the money there was to be made at hold’em, however, Max jumped ship and boarded the more lucrative game. When Max met fellow Italian, and the only Italian to win a WSOP bracelet, Valter Farina, his game got even better. It wasn’t long after that when Max began to raise his levels, and soon was making a living playing long hours at the $15-$30 game.  Max continued to improve his game and gain mentors. Evelyn Eng and Alan Young, and later another fellow Italian Marco Traniello, who introduced him to the person who would not only take his game in new directions, but his life as well.

When Marco introduced Max to Jennifer Harman, his future wife, Jennifer offered Max a glimpse into a serious high stakes level. Max got to see each hand Jennifer played and learned from a master.

2005 was the best year ever for Max. 3 cashes in the LA Pokr Classic, 2 in the Mirage Poker Showdown, 2 in the WPT Main events, and an incredible 6 in the money finishes in the WSOP shows that the Italian Pirate just keeps getting better and better.

To keep up with Max, check out his site at http://www.maxpescatori.com/

* (The Poker Pro Company Picnic is a figment of the author’s fan-boy imagination.)