Paris, France – February 21, 2026 – Spanish poker prodigy Adrián Mateos is making waves in the high-stakes poker world, currently competing in the European Poker Tour (EPT) Paris. The consistently top-performing player recently shared his insights on the current state of high-roller tournaments and his own impressive career trajectory in an interview with Winamax, the French poker room that sponsors him as a Team Pro. Mateos, widely considered one of the best poker players of all time, offered a candid assessment of his recent successes and areas for improvement, as well as his thoughts on the evolving landscape of major poker events like the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Mateos’s career has been marked by consistent success, earning him significant recognition within the poker community. He has amassed over $16.7 million in live tournament winnings, according to his profile on PokerNews. His ability to adapt and consistently perform at the highest level has cemented his status as a formidable opponent and a respected figure in the game. The interview with Winamax provides a glimpse into the mindset and strategies of a player who consistently finds himself at the final tables of the world’s most prestigious poker tournaments.
Reflecting on 2024 and 2025: A Tale of Two Years
Mateos candidly discussed the contrasting fortunes he experienced in 2024 and 2025. He described 2024 as his “best year, by far,” a period of exceptional results that proved difficult to replicate. “The 2024 is going to be very difficult to surpass,” he stated, acknowledging the high bar he had set for himself. While 2025 saw a downturn in live tournament performance, despite winning a World Series of Poker bracelet, he maintained a positive return on investment (ROI) in online play. This highlights Mateos’s versatility and adaptability across different poker formats. He noted that his bracelet win in 2025 came in a lower buy-in event, contrasting with the high-stakes tournaments where he typically excels.
Despite the financial challenges of 2025, Mateos emphasized that his overall performance remained strong. He explained that a series of unfavorable outcomes in high buy-in events negatively impacted his financial results, while 2024 had been exceptionally profitable in that regard. “Even so, I finished the year with a positive ROI in terms of buy-ins, but negative financially,” he explained. He attributes this shift to a “bad run” with higher buy-ins in 2025, a reversal of the favorable variance he experienced in the previous year. However, he remains optimistic, citing his strong online results as a testament to his continued skill and dedication to the game.
The Importance of Study and Collaboration
Mateos attributes a significant portion of his success to a dedicated approach to studying and improving his game. He revealed that hiring assistance with solvers and other analytical tools proved invaluable in enhancing his workflow. Solvers are computer programs used in poker to calculate optimal strategies, helping players identify and exploit weaknesses in their opponents’ play. He also highlighted the benefits of collaborating with a study group consisting of fellow professional poker players Juan Pardo and João Vieira. “We have a study group with Juan Pardo and João Vieira. It’s an incredible group with some of the best players in the world right now. We learn from each other,” Mateos shared. This collaborative approach allows him to continually refine his strategies and stay ahead of the competition.
A Disappointing Beat at the 2024 WSOP Main Event
The interview also touched upon a particularly painful moment in Mateos’s 2024 campaign: a devastating bad beat in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker. A “bad beat” occurs when a player with a statistically strong hand loses to a player with a statistically weaker hand due to a lucky draw on the final card. Mateos described the emotional impact of the loss, but emphasized his ability to remain focused and avoid dwelling on uncontrollable factors. “It clearly hurts inside after a bad beat like this. But when I play poker and sit at a table, I try to produce sure that the things I can’t control don’t affect me. I just focus on what I can control; that’s my way of playing,” he explained.
He recounted a critical decision he made just before the bad beat, folding pocket kings. While acknowledging some uncertainty about the correctness of the fold, he ultimately trusted his instincts. “I knew it was a big opportunity, and then the bad beat came. I couldn’t have done more; just before the bad beat, I folded the Kings. That hand was on my mind given that I wasn’t sure that fold was 100% correct all the time, but I followed my instinct,” he said. This anecdote illustrates Mateos’s disciplined and analytical approach to the game, even in the face of adversity.
Calls for More High-Stakes Action at the WSOP
Perhaps the most notable takeaway from the interview was Mateos’s critique of the current structure of the World Series of Poker schedule. He expressed his belief that the WSOP lacks sufficient high buy-in tournaments, particularly those in the $25,000 to $50,000 range. “I think there are missing tournaments with higher buy-ins. They put all the big buy-ins in the first two weeks, and then there are only the $50,000s after the Main Event. I would like to observe more $25,000, $50,000 and even $10,000 tournaments, because many players play them,” he stated. This feedback highlights a growing demand among professional players for more opportunities to compete in high-stakes events, which offer substantial prize pools and prestige.
The 2026 WSOP schedule, recently published on February 20, 2026, according to PokerNews, does feature a number of high buy-in events, but Mateos’s comments suggest that the current offering may still fall short of meeting the demand from top players. The WSOP’s response to this feedback will be closely watched by the poker community as the series approaches.
Adrián Mateos’s continued success and insightful commentary solidify his position as a leading voice in the world of professional poker. His dedication to continuous improvement, collaborative learning, and a pragmatic approach to the game serve as an inspiration to aspiring players worldwide. As he continues to compete at the highest levels, his contributions to the game are sure to be significant.
The next major event on the poker calendar is the continuation of the EPT Paris series, where Mateos is currently competing. Fans can follow his progress and the results of other top players on the EPT website. We encourage you to share your thoughts on Mateos’s insights and the future of high-stakes poker in the comments below.
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