Newcomer Dominik Panka and Online Legend Viktor Isildur1 Blom with Similar Live Performance Records

They are both 23 years old and typical representatives of the online poker generation; they both took on the live tournament scene with major wins at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and so far have about 1.5 million in live earnings; last but not least, both @Viktor "isildur1" Blom and @Dominik Panka come out as thoroughly likeable, ‘normal guys', humble and yet sincerely proud and happy about their live poker achievements. Both are currently in Vienna for the EPT.

The swede had achieved legendary status as #Isildur1 already in 2009 and was the most-talked about online player, famous for winning and losing the largest pots in online poker history and for playing 9 tables at once against the likes of @Patrik Antonius (FI) , @Phil Ivey AND @Tom Dwan. He had started making a name for himself in the live field by 2010 but his big breakthrough came in 2012 when he won the PCA Super High-Roller event and $1,254,400.

In August 2012 Blom parted ways with PokerStars and signed a deal with Full Tilt Poker a few months later.

The arrogance and recklessness, and the intimidating and aggressive style of play associated with his online persona, however, seem to have little to do with the real-life character - "Viktor emanates happiness and kindness from the moment you meet him. He’s one of those guys that you can instantly tell is a truly nice and genuine good person" (@Phil Galfond), “great kid, unassuming, kind of quiet” (@Daniel Negreanu).

Meanwhile, nobody outside Poland knew much about Dominik Panka who described himself as “just an Internet player” and he took poker journalists by surprise with his incredibly good run at the PCA Main Event when he ultimately defeated Mike McDonald after a 16-hour final table and more than 3 hours of heads-up.

He immediately followed up by winning the EPT Deauville High Roller and has now established himself firmly in the live poker world. As for his personality, it is hard to find a public appearance, statement or interview by Panka where he doesn’t pay tribute to his opponents and where he doesn’t come out as genuinely nice, humble and down-to-earth.

More is to come, no doubt, since he has just made a deal with PokerStars and is sure to be playing more live tournaments. Dominik is at EPT Vienna (as a PokerStars sponsored player) where he dropped out of the EPT Main Event but had a deep run in the Eureka High Roller (ultimately won by @Eugene Katchalov).