World Poker Tour

Cecilia Reyes Mortensen

Birthplace
Ecuador

Hometown
Madrid, Spain

Total Winnings
$

Cecilia Reyes Mortensen was born in Amazonas, Ecuador, though her family moved to Spain when she was 18. A passionate and persistant young woman, she worked several jobs to pay for her education in Dramatic Arts. Just before she graduated, a fellow Ecuadorian transplant named Carlos Mortensen introduced her to the game of poker . In 1998, she and Mortensen, who were married at the time, moved to the United States so he could pursue a professional poker career.

Although she watched some of the best players in the world, Cecilia was only playing poker part-time. She soon began to play in tournaments. In 2003, she had her first big win. It was a Limit Hold'em event at The Fourth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open in Tunica, Mississippi. First prize in that event was more than $58,000. The following year, she made two big tournament showings. At the World Series of Poker, she placed eighth in a Limit Hold'em event for a $25,000 pay day. A few months later, she went deep in a World Poker Tour event, the Borgata Poker Open in Atlantic City. She went out in eighth place in this event as well, taking home more than $16,000. Reyes and Mortensen divorced in 2006. Both continue to play poker professionally. Cecilia is now one of the top-ranked female poker pros in the world. In 2005, she showed off her poker prowess in two ladies events. At the 36th World Series of Poker, she placed 4th in a Ladies Only No Limit Hold'em event. She took home more than $38,000 for that tournament. Then in September, she placed 4th in the WPT Ladies' Night special tournament at The Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles.

She says she is often the last woman standing, but someday soon she hopes to be the last person standing. She plays tournaments almost every day online and live, usually at the Bellagio. On her website, Reyes says, "the success will happen," and she will not stop until her game is the best that it can be.