Zigmund Sahamies

Ilari Sahamies was born in 1983 in Helsinki, Finland. He is a professional poker player, also known online by the name of Ziigmund. Sahamies specializes in playing high stakes pot-limit Omaha cash games. To this day, Sahamies remains a resident of Helsinki.

Sahamies had his first taste of poker aged 15 when he took back in a game at the home of fellow Finnish professional poker player Patrik Antonius. Sahamies and Antonius first met at Sahamies frequent hang-out, the local billiard hall. Sahamies won two Finnish junior billiards championships during his youth.

Sahamies first visited the Grand Casino in Helsinki at the age of 18. It was not long after that Sahamies decided to become a professional poker player. Sahamies was a regular playing of live poker before making the transition to online poker.

It is through online poker tournaments that Sahamies makes the majority of his winnings. Sahamies has not turned his back on poker live, however. He regularly makes an appearance on television shows such as Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker. Sahamies has won $327,241 through live tournaments, rendering him the 20th greatest Finnish poker player.

Sahamies placed 10th in €1,000 Pot Limit Omaha tournament in June 2010. He walked away with €2,085 in prize money. In 2009 he came 6th in the £20,000 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller European Poker Tour tournament in London, England; 1st in the Caesars Cup, also in London, England; and 2nd in the €2,850 No Limit Hold’em – Main Event in Helsinki.

Notable first place finishes include those achieved at the 2004 St Maarten Open, St. Maarten in September 2004; the $500 No Limit Hold’em 2004 Ultimatebet.com Poker Classic, Palm Beach in November 2003; the $500 Pot Limit Hold’em 2002 Caribbean Poker Classic, Palm Beach in October 2002; and the $500 Pot Limit Hold’em 2002 Caribbean Poker Classic, Palm Beach in September 2002.

Sahamies’ playing style is aggressive in nature. This often results either in significant wins or significant losses. He is not known for hiding his dissatisfaction following a loss at the table. Sahamies does not follow any particular daily schedules in relation to playing poker. He plays only when the mood takes him yet on rare occasions, he has been known to play online poker for 15 hours at a time.

Sahamies is well-known for his ability to trash-talk which is usually aimed at his opponents and fellow players. His talents in this area have led to him gaining an avid online following. In an interview, Sahamies made it clear that his trash-talk should not be taken seriously and claims that he is good friends with those on the other end of his insults. He claims that no one is immune from his trash-talk and that he only does it for the fun of it.

Sahamies is known to enjoy alcohol and used to engage in online poker tournaments while under the influence of alcohol. This habit lost him in excess of $3 million over the course of four years. He once lost $700,000 in one day. Sahamies has now refrained from playing online poker under the influence of alcohol and drinks only when he is facing fellow poker players at the table in live games.

Sahamies has a sponsorship deal with the online poker website PowerPoker.com. He is a big fan of hip hop music deriving from Finland and was invited to star in the rap music video entitled “Pojat on poikii”. The video has sponsored by Sahamies sponsor, PowerPoker.com. In addition to playing poker, Sahamies enjoys going to the gym, jogging and swimming. He is the 2009 Finnish water-sliding champion.

Sahamies is the co-founder of Coinflip.com, a popular online poker hub which he set up with the help of fellow Finnish-born poker professional Sami Kelopuro.