World Poker Tour

Cecilia Reyes

Hometown
Madrid, Spain

Total Winnings
$11,600

Cecilia Reyes was born in Amazonas, Ecuador. Her family moved to Spain when she was 18. She worked several jobs to pay for her education in Dramatic Arts. Carlos Mortensen introduced her to the game of poker just before she graduated. 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, Reyes was only playing poker part-time. Reyes 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. Reyes 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 final-tabled a World Poker Tour event. She placed 4th in that Ladies Night No Limit Hold'em tournament at Legends of Poker 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 web site, Reyes says, "the success will happen," and she will not stop until her game is the best that it can be.