Ricardo ‘Tromex’: Welcome to the Team of The Festival Series!
We are going back to the Coolbet Open, one of our online partners, in Bratislava 2023. This is the moment when we met three enthusiastic poker dealers from Chile. Fast-forward to 2025, and one of them, Ricardo 'Tromex', moved to Bratislava to follow his dream: Work in Poker, in Europe! For all upcoming events of The Festival Series, 'Tromex' will take care of our live blogs. Let's give him a warm welcome!
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Ricardo ‘Tromex’ Matamala, a passionate poker professional from Chile whose journey in poker has been over many years by now. From his humble beginnings as a dealer to becoming a live blogger, tournament director, and entrepreneur, Ricardo has seen the poker landscape from various angles. His dedication to the game, love for travel, and drive to keep poker alive in his home country make his story truly inspiring. Of course, we would like you to introduce him to all of you. In this article, Ricardo shares his experiences, thoughts on the future of poker in Latin America for example, and what he hopes to achieve as part of The Festival Series.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Who is the man behind 'Tromex', and what brought you to poker?
Hi, I’m Ricardo ‘Tromex’ Matamala, and I’ve been involved in the poker world since 2007. The two things that initially drew me to poker were the “Moneymaker effect” and the fact that I was about to become a father. At that time, I needed a job that would allow me to balance spending time with my daughter, Emilia, and working, so I started as a dealer. From there, my journey in poker grew organically. I’ve worked in various areas of the poker industry, including as a live blogger for one of the biggest poker pages in Latin America, where I spent six wonderful years covering events throughout Chile and Latin America. This role exposed me to the deep world of poker and helped me develop a love for travel while combining it with work.
In 2022, I decided to create my own company in Chile focused on poker events at restaurants. I took on the role of tournament director and built a team of six rotating dealers, all trained by my company. Then in 2023, a close friend, Michaela Piaf, offered me the opportunity to bring a group of my dealers to Bratislava to work at two major events, where I also met my dear friend Melvin. In 2024, one of the biggest online poker platforms gave me the chance to help with their LATAM market, which really pushed me out of my comfort zone. Through this experience, I learned a lot of new skills and discovered more about myself. I consider myself to be a lucky guy for having such unique opportunities.
Tell us a bit about your background. What did he do before poker? How is life in Chile? To Bratislava now, what’s the take on that?
Before poker, life was a bit more conventional. I wasn’t really involved in anything that stood out in the same way that poker does now. But everything changed when I became a father, and that’s when I realized I needed something more flexible—something that would allow me to both provide for my family and spend time with them. So, poker was a perfect fit.
Life in Chile has always been full of ups and downs when it comes to poker. Before the pandemic, poker was thriving, with fields of 300 or more players, and we hosted some big circuits, like the LAPT and KSOP. But after the pandemic, the scene completely died down. This is part of the reason I launched my own poker company in Chile—to keep the love for poker alive. However, it became clear that the local poker community was stagnating, and the federation was inactive, which was frustrating. I decided to leave Chile a few months ago because I felt the poker scene there wasn't progressing, and I knew I could grow more professionally by being in a place like Bratislava, where poker is alive and well. The move has been amazing, and the city is perfect for someone like me who is passionate about poker and development.
You are our newest addition to the team. What are your expectations of The Festival Series?
I’m really excited to be part of The Festival Series, especially since it’s a platform where everyone shares a deep love for poker. It’s not just a job for me—it’s an opportunity to grow and be part of something bigger. I expect to contribute as much as I can, bringing my experience from my years of poker involvement, and helping make the events unforgettable. I think the people behind The Festival Series really understand what it takes to create high-quality events, and I’m sure this year will build on the success of previous years.
Can you elaborate a bit more about what live blogging looks like in your vision? What people can expect during the upcoming events of The Festival Series?
Live blogging is a unique role in poker—it’s about capturing the essence of the event and making it accessible to everyone, no matter where they are. From a personal perspective, I see live blogging as more than just reporting hands; it’s about telling a story. People want to feel connected to the event, to the players, and to the atmosphere. When I cover an event, I try to give as much detail as possible to help people feel like they’re right there with us. Expect a lot of energy, excitement, and real-time insights. I want to bring the intensity of each hand and the emotions of the players to life. It’s going to be a fun ride!
What is the reason for travelling so much in the poker world?
Many people might see poker as just a gambling game with cards, but it’s so much deeper than that. Sure, poker is about playing with money, but in my view, it’s a great way to discover who you really are. It teaches you how to deal with setbacks, bad beats, and the glory of good times, even if those are less frequent. When you make money, at the core, you’re really winning time—because money is just a way to exchange your life’s hours for something you need or want.
Poker also opens the door to meeting incredible people from all walks of life, each with their own stories. Through these interactions, you begin to learn more about yourself, and that’s the real prize. It’s like a mirror to your soul, helping you discover your strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between. Knowing yourself is the hardest journey, but poker can guide you through that process. I believe a well-rounded poker career is like a life-saving tool because, through it, you build the mental resilience and critical thinking skills that can help you make the world a better place. We need more skilled and smart people to create a world full of opportunities, and poker can teach you how to recognize those opportunities and grab them when they appear. How do you prepare to see opportunities? By studying the world around you and, more importantly, by studying yourself.
Thank you, Ricardo ‘Tromex’ Matamala, for sharing your journey with us! We look forward to seeing all your contributions at The Festival Series and beyond.
